by Diana Ames
Five minutes later, she reached the end of that corridor as well. Only this time, a door was directly in front of her. With nowhere else to go but back where she’d come from, Gilly pulled out Stephen’s keys and began shuffling through them. She couldn’t stop the smirk when she came across the gold key labeled Master. She’d known Stephen was arrogant, but this was just too much. Did the fool really have one key to open every lock in the prison? And they called me crazy.
Putting the key in the lock, she slowly turned it. It opened with a loud click, and Gilly winced as the sound seemed to bounce off the walls. Opening the door slowly, she peeked inside to see it was some kind of utility closet. While it wasn’t a way out, Gilly saw an opportunity to arm herself.
Inside the closet, she took a quick inventory. Gilly snorted at the mops and buckets, sure they were never used. She dismissed the shovels and rakes as too bulky and heavy, but her eyes lit up when she saw the hedge trimmers. There were at least a dozen in a pile. She picked up one pair and immediately put them back down. They were heavy. After going through nearly the entire pile, she was losing hope she would be able to carry a pair of them with her. The last hedge trimmer, however, was shorter than the others. When she picked it up, she realized it didn’t weigh more than two pounds.
A smile on her face once again, Gilly pocketed the newly found weapon and left the closet. If someone saw her now, she could take care of the problem before anyone else could get involved.
***
Alondra was stunned and hurt at Anton’s sudden change. She kept telling herself that she wasn’t going to take it personally though. She remembered going through the same thing, pushing away anyone who had tried to get close to her. It was self-protection. It had nothing to do with her and everything to do with the realizations she’d forced on him.
Rising from the bed, Alondra decided to give him some time to cool down before she approached him. Heading for the shower, she mulled over some of what Anton had told her in his stupor.
His mother had made him watch her have sex. From his words and body language, Alondra knew there was more than that, but for now, she would focus on what he’d said. His mother had wanted to have sex with him. He’d been somewhat dispassionate when he said that, but then he’d mentioned Damian and how he couldn’t let her do it. Anton had said that with Gilly’s help, his mother had gone to sleep, felt no pain, and never woke up.
Alondra felt like she’d been punched in the stomach. Anton and Gilly had murdered the queen, and he’d confessed to Alondra. She knew why he was freaking out now, and she had to set him straight before he could convince himself once again that she was the devil out to ruin his family.
Skipping the shower, she picked up the discarded T-shirt and threw it over her naked body. With a disdainful shake of her head at her disheveled appearance, she wished for some of her own clothing. She would feel more confident and more in control in her own things, but she knew this conversation couldn’t wait, and she headed to the living room in Anton’s shirt.
He was standing in front of the fireplace in nothing but his jeans with a glass of whiskey in his hand. Alondra watched him for a moment and noted the nearly full glass. It seemed like he’d poured the beverage to have something to do with his hands rather than to drink.
“Anton,” she said in a light voice filled with strength. “I’m not going to let you run from me. You can trust me.”
His back stiffened, but he didn’t turn around.
“I’m not going to tell anyone what we’ve discussed, and I’m certainly not going to print a story about your mother.”
He spun around and glared at her, his nostrils flaring. “Do you know what the penalty is for murdering a royal?”
“Prison?” she asked hesitantly.
“Death,” he said flatly. “The only way to legally kill one royal is if he or she murdered another royal. Gilly is still alive because I lived through her attack,” he told her. “Had anyone else attempted to kill me, he or she would already be dead, but because she is my father’s daughter and therefore a royal princess, she got life in prison.”
“So, if anyone were to find out…” She trailed off.
“There is nothing to find out,” he said. “My mother died of natural causes in her sleep.”
“She got off easy,” Alondra said.
Alondra met Anton’s eyes and hoped he could see that she was being truthful and open with him.
“Anyone who torments children should suffer before they die.” She took a deep breath. “But that has nothing to do with you and me, Anton. What we just shared”—she shook her head—“it’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before, and I bet you’ve never felt anything like it either. I’m not willing to give that up, are you?”
Anton put his glass down and moved to stand in front of her. One long finger tipped her chin up, so their eyes met. He searched her eyes for any sign of deception.
“No story?”
“Not about this,” she whispered. “Never about this.”
“That’ll do for now,” he answered. He brought his lips to hers in a gentle kiss to seal the deal.
The telephone interrupted them for the second time that day, and Anton groaned. Pulling away from her, he marched over to the phone, muttering about how he should have smashed it when he’d had the chance. But all his grumbling came to an abrupt halt as he listened intently to the voice on the other end of the phone.
“Get Damian and Mellissandra back to the castle now!” he ordered into the phone before slamming the receiver down.
“Anton, what’s happened?” Alondra asked.
“It’s Gilly,” he said grimly, turning to look at her. “She murdered her therapist and is currently unaccounted for.”
CHAPTER 27
It was evening, and they still hadn’t gotten word on Gillian’s whereabouts. Alondra had gone to her apartment to shower, and she’d returned to Anton’s in her own clothing. They were now sitting quietly in his living room, awaiting the arrival of Damian and Mellissandra as well as any word on Gillian.
Alondra was still in shock at how easily the woman had duped her. Alondra had always considered herself to be a good judge of character and not even a little bit naive, but she had to doubt herself now. How could I be so tainted by my own past that I allowed a convicted murderer to convince me of her innocence before I saw any evidence?
Shaking herself out of her dour thoughts, she glanced around at the other three people. Everyone looked pensive and extremely worried. Anton was pacing with a whiskey glass in hand. Wally was sitting with her legs crossed, the top leg bouncing restlessly, as she tapped a fingernail against her teeth. Ryan was the hardest to read. If Alondra hadn’t met him several times already, she would have thought he was just passively waiting for news. But the lack of a smile on his normally warm face was enough to show just how worried he was.
“Tell me again what was said in the last call,” Wally demanded impatiently.
It was obvious she was not used to sitting idly by when something might be done.
Anton sighed, but he went over what he knew again. “Several guards on different occasions had observed Stephen Hastings behave inappropriately around Gilly or whenever she was mentioned. The last time he was seen alive was just before a therapy session with her. Approximately forty minutes into the session, Gilly poked her head out the door and told the guard that Stephen said he could go to lunch. The guard wasn’t going to leave without authorization directly from the doctor, but according to the guard, Gilly flashed him some cleavage and invited him to join them instead. His intent was to head to the control room and call Stephen’s office, but another inmate had some kind of fit or something and sidetracked him.
“By the time he was freed up, nearly two hours had passed. He went immediately back to Stephen’s office. Receiving no answer to his knocks, the guard went for assistance and to locate the office key. Apparently, the only spare to Stephen’s office is kept locked in the main key room. When the guards
were able to get into the office, Stephen was dead, and Gilly was nowhere to be found. His pants were down around his knees, confirming the affair. During the initial autopsy, they counted forty-two stab wounds in his chest. He had a bloody silver letter opener laying on him.”
Anton’s voice was void of any emotion, but the stress was evident. Alondra could see lines on his face where none had been previously. She knew he was blaming himself for Gillian’s insanity and the latest murder she’d committed. But Alondra knew enough about mental illness to know that while an event might trigger a breakdown, it had already been programmed into the psyche. Gillian would have eventually snapped, regardless of Anton’s actions.
“Why would this doctor have an affair with an inmate, especially one as dangerous as Gilly?” Wally asked.
“Well, when I met the man, he didn’t strike me as particularly ethical,” Alondra spoke up. “In fact, his arrogance made him seem extremely unintelligent as well.”
“When did you meet him?” Anton said, his eyes snapping to Alondra.
“He’s the one who took me into the prison,” Alondra said with a sigh. She’d forgotten that no one but Anton knew she’d had a face-to-face interview with Gillian. “He was the nephew of the owner of the boarding house where I stayed. He let me sit in and ask questions during a group session.” She hesitated a moment, but she decided it would be better to get it all out in the open now rather than have it come up later. “Then, he arranged a private meeting with Gillian.”
“So he was the security breach,” Anton said. “It makes sense, I suppose. He thought he’d gotten away with one abuse of power, why not go for two.”
“I have a recording of the interview with Gilly.”
“Get it,” he said in a quiet, dangerous tone. “We need to turn it over to security now.” He turned away and went for the phone.
Alondra was surprised at how much Anton’s body language portrayed, even more surprised that in just a few days of close contact, she’d learned to read him. The way his jaw was ticking told her that he was very close to losing his temper. Alondra was filled with warmth as she watched him for control in a situation that was pure chaos.
“Get someone down to my apartment,” Anton barked into the receiver.
When he hung up, he felt someone behind him. Swinging around, he glared down at Alondra.
“Can I talk to you in private?” she asked softly.
Alondra fidgeted under Anton’s hard stare after he led her into the kitchen. He folded his arms over his chest and tried to shut down.
“It’s on the tape,” she whispered. “About Dominic, I mean. Gillian wasn’t sure which baby or if both babies were hers, but she talked about it.” She raised her eyes to his. “I might not agree with your decision to let your brother raise your son, but I didn’t want you to be blindsided when the tape is played.”
“Anything else?” he asked harshly.
“I’m not sure,” she said. “I haven’t listened to the tapes since checking to make sure they recorded. She mostly claimed that you had her framed for the murders because it wasn’t convenient to have her around any longer.”
“So, they’re crazy ramblings,” he mused. “Perhaps no one will put any credence into her claims about the babies then.”
“She didn’t sound crazy, Anton,” Alondra protested. “She was perfectly lucid and well-spoken even. She laid it all out, and it sounded reasonable.”
“Well, it’s not going to sound so reasonable now,” Anton snapped. “She was having an affair with her therapist and subsequently murdered him.”
As the words left his mouth, his posture changed. It wasn’t an overt change, but she could see it all the same. It was as if weights had been laid on his shoulders, and he was struggling to stay upright under the onslaught.
“Don’t,” she said firmly. “Don’t start blaming yourself. You are not responsible for Gillian’s mental illness. You are not responsible for the life she took.”
“How can you say that?” he said, collapsing into a chair. “If I hadn’t touched her, none of this would have happened. I ruined her just like every other woman I’ve ever touched.”
“You haven’t ruined me,” Alondra said softly, running her fingers over his hair.
“Well, it’s only been a couple of hours,” he said. “Give it time.”
Alondra wrapped her arms around him and pulled his head into her breasts. The motion had nothing to do with sex and everything to do with comforting a man she cared about. It took a moment, but eventually, his arms went around her waist, and he hugged her back.
“It’s going to be okay, Anton,” she whispered. “They’re going to find her. It’s not that big of a country. She’s not going to be able to hide for long.”
Alondra didn’t know how long they stayed like that, but it felt good. He was allowing her to hold and comfort him. He wasn’t hiding from her or pushing down his emotions. He was vulnerable with her. She said a silent vow not to betray the trust he was showing her.
***
Anton didn’t know why he was allowing Alondra to cradle him in her arms as if he were a child afraid of the boogeyman in the closet, but he did know that it felt good. He wasn’t afraid of his emotions while she was holding him. It was as though she was strong enough to take on his darker side, to tame his beast.
Anton pulled away from her and looked up into her eyes. He was stunned by what he saw there. He was intimidated and frightened by it. He’d seen that look before—when Mellissandra would gaze at Damian. It was the look of love.
“Anton,” a voice called out.
Alondra and Anton jumped apart as if feeling guilty for something.
“Anton, where are you?”
“That’s Damian,” Anton said, rising to his feet. “In the kitchen,” he called out.
***
Alondra sat alone in the crowded room as everyone listened to Gillian’s voice on the tape. The last time she’d felt so out of touch with those around her was when she was a child being shoved into places where she wasn’t really wanted.
Alondra’s heart had cracked wide open when Anton hadn’t even tried to hide the pure joy he felt when Mellissandra had leaped into his arms. She had been sure that Anton had been as trapped in the moment as she was while they stared deeply into each other’s eyes, but that was all over the moment Mellissandra entered the room. In fact, Anton seemed to forget that Alondra even existed.
She’d been foolish to allow herself to overlook that he was in love with the other woman. Even if Mellissandra didn’t return his feelings, as long as she was firmly seated in his heart, he would have no room for anyone else there.
Alondra sighed quietly. She needed to leave this country soon. If she stayed much longer, she wouldn’t leave a whole person because Anton would have her heart. Knowing she needed to leave wasn’t going to get her out of here any faster though, especially not with the situation happening around her right now.
“So, Gilly is as nuts as ever,” Damian said. “Yes, this tape sounds like she’s sane, but evidence shows that she’s not. I haven’t heard anything on here that might help us figure out where she’s gone or what she has planned.”
“If she’s smart, she’ll try to get out of the country,” Wally said.
“She’s coming here,” Mellissandra said, stopping all the conversation around her. “She wants my children. She believes they’re hers. She’s coming here.”
“The castle is secure,” Captain Hicks, the head of security, said. “We are monitoring all cameras around the clock, and we have an armed body at each and every entry point. She’s not getting in.”
“Maybe you should let her in,” Alondra piped up from the corner she was curled up in. “Keep the babies and Anton under strict guard, and let her in.”
“Are you out of your mind?” Anton yelled at her. “That murderer isn’t getting anywhere near the children!”
“I didn’t say let her near the children,” Alondra said, rising to her feet. Sh
e’d had enough of him ignoring her, and she was ready to fight. “I said, let her in the damn castle. You have cameras and men everywhere. Lure her in, and recapture her!” Her voice rose until she was shouting right back at him.
“I don’t expect you to understand,” he spit out. “You don’t have any family, no one to care about you and for you to care about—” He broke off abruptly.
“You’re absolutely right,” she said in a hoarse whisper. “I don’t have anyone.”
She moved to leave the room, but his hand on her arm stopped her. She recoiled from him as though he’d slapped her.
“I’m going to the apartment I was permitted to use earlier in my stay,” she said stiffly. “I will remain there until this is settled. Then, I want to go home.” She shook his hand off of her, raised her chin, and walked out with her pride intact.
CHAPTER 28
The room was silent, except for the two babbling babies playing on the floor, unaware of the drama unfolding around them. The security officers were unsure if they should follow Alondra since she wasn’t permitted to roam the castle freely or stay and argue out the Gilly situation. Wally and Ryan shared an uncomfortable glance, having already come to the conclusion that there was more between Anton and Alondra than either was ready to admit. Mellissandra wore an almost smug smile, glad to see the reporter had been put in her place once and for all. Damian was red-faced and furious that Anton could be so cruel to a woman who had earned his admiration and respect, if not his trust, in the past weeks. Anton looked like he wanted to jump out of a window.
“Sires,” Captain Hicks said hesitantly, “should we escort Ms. Burkheart to her quarters and call for a guard?”
“That won’t be necessary,” Anton said with a sigh. “She’s not going to print anything dangerous or inflammatory even if she decided to go roaming around the castle. Besides, she already knows everything she came here to find out.”