Queen Her

by Laine, Terri E.

  I picked up my phone where it had fallen on the floorboard. The battery indicator was on red, but I was able to read that it was just before noon before it shut off. A view in the rearview mirror showed my purpling bruises though I looked worse than I felt. The throbbing was gone until I probed the bruises and was reminded how tender the area still was.

  At least I was likely safe from the men that had intended to kill me. Or maybe they’d just wanted to scare the shit out of me. Time would tell. I turned on my truck and was grateful when the engine turned over. I remember turning off the car, but I could have left something on that would have drained the battery. That wasn’t the case.

  The problem was I didn’t have the car phone charger with me. For whatever reason, I’d taken it into my apartment and when I left in a hurry to see Natalie, I’d forgotten to take it. I hadn’t noticed a text from Natalie before my phone died. I hoped she was okay.

  I drove to the King residence and parked my truck at the front. I opened the car door and tumbled out, clasping the handle to regain my balance. It took me a minute to reach the house, given my state.

  The housekeeper opened the door and with wide eyes, “Come in,” she urged and led me back to the living room I’d been in several times before.

  Within minutes my brothers and their wives showed up one after another. Upon seeing my face, Bailey’s distress was evident even as she said she’d be back.

  “What happened?” Connor asked.

  “Let’s wait for Bails. She’ll want to hear,” Lizzy said.

  Bailey appeared in short order with a first aid kit and began nursing my wounds as Connor repeated his question.

  “Natalie,” I said, flinching while Bailey tried her best to clean my wounds.

  “A woman,” Kalen said. “Should have guessed.”

  “It’s not just that,” I went on. “She was taken.”

  “What is it with this family?” Lizzy tossed up her hands. “Are you all cursed?”

  I wanted to ask what she meant but Connor went on. “Wait. A woman was taken?” Connor repeated.

  “Not against her will.” When Connor’s brows shot up with confusion, I continued. “She went willingly but she really didn’t want to go.”

  Kalen and Connor both shook their heads.

  Lizzy jumped in. “Don’t start. You took me all over the world to keep me safe. And you,” she eyed Kalen, “You did basically the same for Bails. Let’s hear the man out.” Her eyes found me. “I presume this woman was also the cause of your face looking like that.”

  “It’s a little more complicated. Her father wanted me dead,” I said.

  She held up her hands. “Some fathers are like that.”

  “He didn’t even know me when he tried to have me killed. From what Natalie tells me, her father’s bad news. He warned me not to follow her as she was getting married.”

  Connor stood. “Okay, this doesn’t sound like anything we need to get involved in.”

  Bailey stopped him. “Let him talk.” She nodded at me.

  “Okay, from the beginning...” I started at the point I was waiting for Natalie at the hospital and how she appeared afraid. I continued from there all the way to the point I ended up at the airport.

  Connor got up again and disappeared from the room.

  I looked at his wife.

  “He probably went to get his computer.”

  That was a damn good idea. I hadn’t googled David Royal’s name yet.

  When he returned, he said, “What is her name?”

  “Natalie Peterson.”

  Everyone was silent except for the sound of clicking keys. “According to her birth certificate, her father is Nicolas Cortez. His main residence is in Chicago. David Royal also lives in Chicago. It’s likely she’s there.”

  “Great.” I got to my feet.

  “Where is it you think you’re going?” Lizzy said. “If you show up looking like that, you’re likely to get arrested.”

  “She’s right,” Kalen said. “It doesn’t sound like she’s in immediate danger.”

  Connor agreed. “It’s best if you have a plan. Not having a plan didn’t work the first time. He’s a heavy hitter. He owns a pharmaceutical company, but the dark web has him as a player in the drug game.”

  It finally hit me how easily he was coming up with this information. “How do you know this?”

  Lizzy grinned. “My husband is a genius with a computer.”

  “I don’t think I can wait. You didn’t see her face,” I said.

  “But everyone can see yours. You admitted, he didn’t see you before the—” Connor circled his fingers around his face. “If you show up now, he’ll spot you coming. Best to heal first. I can keep an eye out on any chatter about her marrying this guy. If I see something, we can push up the timetable.”

  “You have a plan?” I asked.

  Connor pointed at Kalen. “Let’s call Griff and talk this out.”

  I’d had an idea, but among the six of us, we made it better. Though I wanted to leave right away, from what we could tell, Natalie’s father’s estate was impenetrable without a small army running defense. With Natalie a willing party, we had no legit reason to go in guns blazing. That didn’t mean I wouldn’t do whatever it took to get her out.

  Five

  Natalie

  The next day when food was brought to me, I demanded to see my father. I made enough of an uproar: he eventually came to shut me up.

  “You said I could talk to my mother if I followed your directions,” I demanded.

  “Yes, I did, didn’t I?”

  I didn’t answer his rhetorical question but scowled instead.

  He pulled my phone from his pocket. “Go ahead and call your mother.”

  I snatched the phone from his hand, eager to speak to her. I hated the idea she was worried about me. I didn’t take the time to look for messages or texts because I didn’t know how long I’d have the phone.

  “Mom,” I said hurriedly when she answered. I moved to the window to put distance between me and my father as he hadn’t left.

  “Natalie.”

  I fought back tears. “How are you?”

  “I’m fine. You don’t have to worry. I’m finished with the medication and treatment. I feel much better.”

  I exhaled. “Mom, there’s something I have to tell you.”

  “I know. Your father called.” If he wasn’t in the room, I would have asked exactly what he told her. Instead, I hoped my silence would urge her on. “He tells me you’re getting married.” Her voice wavered as if she wanted to cry, much like I felt.

  “Yes.”

  “It isn’t to the boy, Liam, you told me about.” Mom and I were close, and I’d given her some of the information about meeting Liam and the crush I had. I kept the more salacious details to myself.

  “I wish things could be different.” I paused before adding, “I wish I could be there with you.”

  “Your father’s there, isn’t he?”

  I wanted to nod, but forced myself to say, “Yes.”

  “Whatever this is about, don’t do it unless you want to.”

  “Mom,” I croaked.

  “I know my daughter and I know your father. My guess is that you are doing this for me. Don’t.”

  “I have to,” I said, glancing over my shoulder to see if he was coming to end the call. He hadn’t moved yet, but his eyes were on me.

  “If he’s threatened you in any way about me, I’ll be fine. If not, I’ve lived my life, Natalie. You need to live yours.”

  I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. “It’s not that simple.”

  The phone was yanked from my hand. I never heard her reply.

  “Your daughter is well, Michelle. I know you may not agree to all her choices, but she is an adult.” I reached for the phone and he stepped back. He didn’t leave because he wanted me to hear. “If you want an invite to the wedding, I suggest you get used to the idea.” Mom shouted as I could hear muffled words, b
ut not enough to make them out. “Such language. Now I know where our daughter got that foul tongue. But I remember all the ways yours could be sweet.”

  I closed my eyes and turned away because no matter how old you were, hearing about your parents’ sex life was so gross.

  He grinned at whatever she said, and I knew it wasn’t nice. “Bye, Michelle.” He made a show of holding up my phone before pocketing it.

  “All I am is a commodity to you, huh?” I accused.

  “I should get a return on my investment.”

  “Investment? You think a sperm donation is an investment?”

  His face went hard. “I bought that house you grew up in. Your mother was able to afford the rent out of the kindness of my heart. I bet she didn’t tell you that.”

  I would have tasted blood if I bit my tongue any harder. “You might have saved money if you didn’t pay for someone to watch me and intimidate my boyfriends.”

  His dark chuckle gave me hives. “That came cheap. A former FBI Special Agent I know needed a fresh start when his wife died. He wanted a place to raise his young daughter.” My skin crawled as my brain leaped to the unthinkable. “Yes. Little Jody turned out to be worth more than I could have imagined.”

  “She wouldn’t!” I cried.

  “She did. Unlike you and I, she respects her father. They talk about everything. And he has been there when I couldn’t to warn the little assholes to keep their hands to themselves.”

  I turned away from him as my heart broke yet again. Liam was gone and now I found out my best friend was a two-faced traitor. How long had she been feeding my father information? She’d lied to my face and pretended like she understood why I hated my dad.

  What a fool I’d been all around. I didn’t blame my mother. She did the best she could in a bad situation. I’d been too young for her to confess the truth about their arrangement. I couldn’t have thought of a good point in my life she could have shared with me the truth. Instead, she had warned me to steer clear of him, and I hadn’t listened. In a weak moment, I’d called him of all people for help. Look where it had gotten me.

  It was too late to regret. Time for action. There was one thing I could do.

  Six

  Liam

  Waiting was the worst. There were many times I had to fight myself from heading to Chicago ready for all-out war. I had to be convinced or convince myself that waiting was for the best even when it didn’t feel like it.

  When the time came, we met Grant at a private airport in New Jersey.

  “Cousin,” I said, giving him a bear hug. After, I began introductions. “Connor, you’ve met Grant.”

  They traded greetings. Connor was all smiles and made a comment about their adventures months ago. I watched Grant, who looked like hell. Yet I still trusted him with my life.

  “This is my brother, Kalen,” Connor said, introducing them.

  I explained the plan. There were flaws. Natalie’s father had money to burn, and his reach was unclear. I had no idea how much he knew about me or if he could tap into my phone conversations. For that reason, I hadn’t told Grant when I called any more than that I wanted him to come to New York and he’d come without question.

  “And you want me to leave you in Chicago?” Grant asked me after we explained it all.

  “This isn’t a two-man job,” I explained.

  Grant balked. “The hell it isn’t.”

  Kalen cut in. “It isn’t ideal. But Connor’s wife’s brother is a cop in Chicago. Liam will have backup if necessary.”

  “I don’t like it,” Grant said.

  “None of us do,” Connor said. “But Liam is insistent on going. The good thing is we don’t think this Natalie is in mortal danger.”

  “She’s just a pawn,” I blurted. “I need to talk to her.”

  “That’s the thing,” Connor said. “He’s going in to talk, not to save her life.”

  “That’s what you think,” I said.

  Kalen sighed. “The point is we have no reason to believe anyone is trying to kill her. Liam is going there to have a conversation, aren’t you?”

  I’d thought Grant could only give me that big brother look. Kalen had it mastered as well. I tossed up my hands. “She’ll see reason.”

  “If she wants to leave, we have an extraction plan,” Kalen said.

  Grant wasn’t happy, but he gave in. Connor and Kalen left as we boarded the plane Grant had flown in. It only needed one pilot, but I sat in the cockpit with him.

  We’d flown together before and ran through the checklist. Once we were cleared, he said, “Dad’s going to kick my ass if anything happens to you.”

  I grinned. “He always liked me better.”

  Grant shook his head. “Only because he could give you back. He was stuck with me.”

  Their relationship was always strained. “You know I’m joking. He’s never had a bad word to say about you,” I said.

  “To me, I’m a disappointment for him. The son that doesn’t want to work in the family business.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. Uncle Ted knows exactly how you feel, and he respects the hell out of you.”

  Grant didn’t say any more about that, and I exhaled when he turned the conversation back on me.

  “Is she worth it? This Natalie?”

  I didn’t have to think. “Yes.”

  “Good for you.”

  “What about you? When are you going after her?” Her being the smokeshow that had been at his cabin.

  “She said her goodbye and hasn’t called. Why should I chase her?”

  The answer was easy. “Because no woman has made you look like shit. It could be she wants to be chased. She could want you to show you care enough to fight for her.”

  “Now who’s the little brother?” he said.

  I grinned and didn’t correct him for his slip of the tongue. He’d always felt like my brother and still did even after meeting my biological ones.

  “Tell me more about Natalie.”

  With time to kill, I told the story from start to finish, even the parts I might not have shared with anyone else. Retelling only solidified my feelings for her that much more. I had to make her see reason and leave with me. I could be a persuasive guy when I had to be.

  When we touched down in Chicago, Grant caught me by the arm before I exited the plane. “Don’t get yourself killed. Your mother would kick my ass and then I’d have to deal with Dad.”

  “I can watch my back. You go and handle your business. Take your own advice and go after her,” I cajoled.

  He ruffled my hair. “Go get yours and bring your ass back home.”

  I saluted him and exited down the stairs.

  Griffin had everything waiting when I arrived. There was a black Yukon waiting in the parking lot exactly where he told me it would be. I was hit with the new car smell when I got in.

  I found the key to the car tucked above the driver’s seat sun visor as promised. I drove to the agreed location, somewhere outside of the city in a heavily wooded remote area. When I pulled near the house, the area opened up into a clearing. A guy stood outside waiting. He matched the picture I’d seen of the guy I was meeting.

  He looked relieved as I stepped out of the car. “Any trouble finding the place?” he asked.

  “No. Though I admit, if you hadn’t warned me about the blind turnoff, I would have missed it even driving at speed.”

  “That’s the point,” he said and held out a hand. “I’m David, by the way.”

  I hadn’t been sure because all the Royal brothers looked similar.

  “Liam,” I said, returning his handshake before taking a moment to take in the place. It was a large home, longer than it was wide. But, in a clearing out back, I saw the prize.

  “Is that her?” I asked.

  He followed my line of sight to the helicopter parked on the landing pad in the backyard.

  “That’s her. I hope you like her.”

  “Can I see?” I said, pointing
in that direction.

  “Sure. It will be dark soon anyway.”

  As I walked, I got a view of just how deep the house was. It was an interesting design. Though I wasn’t an architecture guy, I could appreciate the unconventional home.

  “Yeah,” he said, obviously seeing where my thoughts were. “It’s an old house. Legend had it the original owner had designed an upscale saloon that offered more than drinks.”

  “I would have never thought you’d find something like that outside of Chicago.”

  He nodded. “A little-known gem my father would like to keep that way.”

  We reached the helo, and it wasn’t as new as the one Royce owned. But it was in decent shape. “I’d like to take her for a test run before I fly anyone.”

  “Yeah. Sure thing.” He scratched his head. “I’m going to be honest. I’ve never done this before. I’m not sure how it works. Your company came highly recommended by some friends I know.”

  That had been the bait David Royal had taken.

  He rambled on. “It’s just I don’t think I need personal security.”

  I nodded, not wanting to say anything to make him call this off. He was my way in to see Natalie. He was also the competition.

  “I just don’t know,” he said.

  “Many people think that, but something made you call.”

  He rubbed at his forehead. “Yeah.” He glanced down like the world rested on his shoulders. “The city is upside down. This virus. The protests. I just thought it would be better just to have someone watch my back. The fact that you can fly is a bonus. I can get back and forth between the city and here without driving.”

  Though he was speaking to me, he was trying to justify this to himself. I wanted to dislike him on the spot. But the guy was conflicted about something. I hated that maybe he wasn’t the bad guy I thought him to be. Time would tell.

  “Why don’t you show me the inside and your current security?”

  He shook himself out of his thoughts. “Yeah. Yeah. Sure.”