by Avery Katz
He visibly relaxed, but his gun was still aimed at me.
“Can I be honest with you? Your weapon is scaring a lot of people, including me. It was never your intention to frighten anyone, was it?” The prince tried his best to calm the asshole who had tried to shoot him the other day. His technique seemed to work because he was able to talk the guy out of pointing his gun at me.
“You know what? You’re right. Justin isn’t the one to blame.” The man said. “You are.”
He raised the gun at Ruppy with a malicious look on his face. Blood rushed to my ears and dread washed over me like ice-cold water. I had to do something and quick. “You allowed everyone to influence you. You listened to them and ignored your biggest fan.”
I suddenly had a flashback of the day I lost my partner to a fatal gunshot. We were supposed to hire more assets before flying back to Washington. It was our final day on the job, and we were excited about going home for Christmas. The meeting was supposed to take place inside an abandoned hotel.
Scott was supposed to go in first, but I insisted on leading the way. We never expected our asset to stab us in the back. We had known him for years, and he always gave us accurate intel.
Scott was standing right next to me when the first bullet hit him right between the eyes. Watching him die was a traumatizing experience for me. History was about to repeat itself right before my eyes. I knew I couldn’t let it happen again. I had to protect Ruppy at any cost.
I took a deep breath and slowly moved my arm backward. I slipped my gun out from under my shirt and shot the asshole in the arm. He cried out in pain and threatened to shoot Ruppy, so I quickly tackled him to the ground and disarmed him.
“You son of a bitch! I will kill you both.” He seethed.
“Shut the fuck up.” I dug my knee into his back and forced myself not to pummel him. The security guard who worked at the restaurant rushed to my aid along with the owner. They dragged the man kicking and screaming to the nearest chair and tied him up before calling the cops.
“Justin!”
“Jesus, Ruppy.” I pulled him into a bone-crushing hug and kissed his forehead. “Never do that again. Do you hear me? Never divert a killer’s attention away from me. I’m supposed to protect you, not vice versa. He could have shot you like he did last time.”
“Sorry, not sorry.” He stubbornly replied. “I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
Chapter 28
RUPPY
The policemen at the station offered me their apologies for not being there when the shooting took place. Justin filled them in on what happened and we both gave them our full statements. I was still in a state of shock and bewilderment. It never occurred to me that my stalker would follow us all the way to Raplen. He was clearly sick in the head.
The chief constable spent an hour on the phone with Interpol. Thanks to his connections, they were able to find out more about the disturbed man. His name was Ted Hime. The San Francisco police raided his house in Nob Hill and discovered a shrine dedicated to me. He had been plotting my demise for months but when Justin came into the picture, his priorities shifted. He took advantage of my visit to the States to plan the whole thing. He even stole a black vehicle from a used car dealership to follow me around the city. And since Raplen was a Schengen country, he was able to travel by train so no one would accost him at the airport.
The constable told me I was lucky to be alive. Justin had saved my life twice in one month. That did not stop him from beating himself up about the horrible incident. I was more upset than anything. His first day here was officially ruined. I was supposed to take him on a boat ride down the river and feed him macarons and blueberry pie. I was supposed to show him my favorite hiking trail and the pool cave we had recently discovered in the outskirts of the city.
Justin was angry and frustrated at the same time. I told him to stop fretting over what happened. We were both alive and in one piece. He nodded and held me close to his chest. The police constable assured me that Ted would be taken care of. We thanked him and walked out of the police station to find a group of concerned citizens waiting for me. They offered me flowers while Justin attempted to keep them at arm’s length. He escorted me to my car, where I received a call from Danny, who told me to come to the hospital. Aunt Edith had apparently fainted.
“Shit. Today is so not my day.” I sighed.
“Why? What happened?”
“We need to get to the Rose Valley Hospital.”
Justin offered to drive on my behalf, so we switched seats. Fortunately, the hospital was only four blocks away, so we made it just in time to witness the doctor talking to my fmily.
“This looks serious,” I told Justin once we reached the waiting room at the end of the hall.
“Your Highness. Lady Edith should be fine, but I really don’t want to give out any more information.” He told my worried grandmother. “She’s the only one who can tell you what you need to know. This is my only update for now.”
The doctor excused himself before rushing to help another patient. I greeted my parents and cousins while Justin offered to buy everyone coffee and refreshments from the cafeteria. Nathan volunteered to tag along with him. I watched them both leave before turning to address my mother.
“So, what did he mean by this cryptic reply? Is she going to be okay?”
“She must be faking this whole fainting spell. She did it once right in front of me.” Danny said.
“Oh, hush. Edith is not faking anything. At least not this time.” My mother said worriedly. “She has been looking a little wan of late.”
Lady Edith may be a thorn in our sides, but she did not deserve to suffer and spend her days trapped in a hospital bed. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. We all sat there, lost in our own thoughts until the men returned from their cafeteria expedition. Justin handed us each a warm cup of coffee while Nate carried a tray filled with juice boxes and healthy sandwiches.
“So, how did your day go?” Greg asked. “Did you take Justin to your favorite make-out spot by the lake?” He added with a teasing smile dancing on his lips.
Justin and I exchanged glances before shaking our heads.
“Yes. I took him to the lake where we witnessed the rise of the Loch Ness monster. He devoured everyone and everything in sight before setting his sights on us.”
“Wow. You are high on sarcasm today, huh?” Freddy remarked. I honestly did not want to bring up the stalker incident. They were already in a bad place, thanks to Aunt Edith and her mysterious illness.
“Ruppy, what happened? You have that weird look on your face.” Greg observed. “The one you reserve for special occasions like state dinners and terrible thunderstorms.”
“Come on. Spill the beans already.” Quin urged me.
“Fine!” I caved in and told them what happened. Their collective gasps and cries of surprise and shock filled my ears. Mother started crying, and father started yelling at me for being too lax about my safety. Freddy was horrified, and Danny rushed over and hugged me until I could no longer breathe.
“Fuck, Ruppy! How can you just sit here and drink coffee? You almost died!”
“Danny, please stop crying. I swear, I’m fine. Justin shot the man in the arm before he could do anything to hurt me. The police arrested him and charged him with attempted murder. He is rotting in jail as we speak.”
“I had no idea you were such a crybaby, cousin.” Freddy rubbed his back and offered him a tissue. “We all know Ruppy is at risk of getting tackled and harassed by his fans. This man took his obsession with your brother to a whole new level. That’s why he hired Justin in the first place.”
“Thank God for Justin.” Grandmother finally recovered from her shock and began to talk. She insisted on getting up from her chair to offer me a warm hug. She was in good shape, thanks to a strict regimen of exercise and a healthy diet. “I cannot afford to lose another member of my family. If anything happens to you, the grief will surely kill me.”
&
nbsp; “Please, grandmother. Don’t say that ever again. You’re probably going to outlive us all.”
“Nonsense. I wish you all long and blissful lives. You deserve it.” She patted me on the back before reaching for Justin and squeezing his strong hands. “You both have my blessing. And Justin? Thank you for saving my Ruppy and having his back.”
He bent forward and kissed her hand.
“Thank you for making me feel at home with your family. I honestly didn’t expect you to be so open and warm. Your country is amazing and so are you. I promise to have his back just like he has mine.”
“Aw. How sweet.” Greg gushed. “You guys are going to make me cry too.”
“No. Please. No more crying.”
My grandmother beamed at us both. I leaned over and kissed her wrinkly cheek.
“So, how soon before you get married? No pressure. Just asking.”
We all laughed when she made a very obscene gesture with her fingers without knowing it.
“What?”
“Nothing, grandma. Nothing at all.”
Epilogue
RUPPY
2 YEARS LATER
I sat under my umbrella with a tropical drink in my hand. Justin and I were celebrating our second year anniversary in the Bahamas. The pristine shore kissed the Atlantic Ocean here onRagged Island. Our relationship was going strong thanks to our commitment and dedication. We always made time for each other, no matter what. Our love was alive and well despite the breakup rumors.
When I first came out to the public, the tabloids made it their mission to publish false stories about us. Paparazzi followed us everywhere and made it hard for us to dine in restaurants or even go to the movies. We were harassed by reporters and gossip columnists who called us night and day.
Justin handled the attention with grace. He was full of surprises. He attended several royal engagements with me and held his own, discussing all kinds of entertaining topics with my guests. He was charming in his own way.
It was hard being in the public eye, but he persevered. Every now and then, we would hop on a plane and fly to an exotic destination to get away from it all. We hated using the private jet for the sake of the environment, but we had no choice. Maintaining a private life proved to be difficult, even now.
I finished my drink and watched Justin swim in the shallow turquoise waters. He was a sight for sore eyes in his emerald green shorts. He waved at me before diving back into the ocean. The secluded beach was serene and sleep-inducing. I stretched my arms above my head and stared up at the pastel blue sky.
Tommy sent me a package last night and urged me to take up painting as a hobby. The brushes and canvases he sent me were on the beach towel next to my chair. Embracing my true self changed me in a lot of ways. I was more open to trying new things and more cautious when it came to dealing with my fans.
I took everything with a grain of salt and stopped reading the headlines I came across on gossip sites, especially the ones about my relationship with Justin. The media frenzy surrounding us reached critical levels once Prince Harry officially married. The public was hungry for more royal blood.
“The water is fantastic.” Justin jogged towards me with water droplets clinging to his chiseled chest. He gave me a kiss before plopping down on his lounging chair. “Are you up for some nude painting? We can recreate the iconic scene from the Titanic.”
I laughed and shook my head. “The next time you see me holding a brush, please arrest me. I suck at painting. There is no shame in admitting it. Tommy thinks everyone in the family has a hidden talent. Mine is playing the piano, but everybody knows that.”
“You tell really interesting stories during banquets. Maybe that’s your hidden talent.” He pointed out. “You also give amazing blow jobs.”
“Good to know. Now, where would you like to have dinner tonight? We can go to the fish restaurant you spotted earlier. I think it was in Crooked Island. Yes?”
“No. Dinner is on me.” He replied before digging into his beach bag and taking out a small card with my name on it. “All you need to do is go to the spa and allow Jessica to pamper you.”
“Ooh. I’m intrigued.”
“You should be. Now go have fun.” He pulled me to my feet and pushed me towards the golf cart that was waiting for me next to our beach house. “Meet me back here at seven.”
“Will do.” I grinned before climbing next to the friendly driver. He drove me to the main building, which was a good ten minutes away from our secluded beach house. The summer breeze felt wonderful on my sun-kissed cheeks. I loved coming to this Eco-friendly hotel to relax and unwind. Having Justin with me was the icing on my Bahamas cake.
It felt odd to be pampered in the spa without him. Jessica, who was in charge of the wellness center, greeted me at the door with a hot towel and a mug of ginger tea. She then escorted me to my very own outdoor massage table. The soothing sounds of ocean waves and wind chimes stayed with me while I received a full body massage.
I wondered what Justin had in store for me. He was an international man of mystery. He loved surprising me with little things like shipping pop tarts all the way to Raplen and throwing me an Archie themed birthday party. Well, that was no easy feat since he had to browse the internet for Jughead balloons and Veronica paper plates. He put a lot of effort into my birthday celebration. Everyone was so impressed. Danny even suggested he start his own wedding planning business. He really was my soulmate.
Once my spa session was over, I headed back to the house. It was a two-story building with two bedrooms and a lovely terrace overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The quiet solitude it provided made me want to book it for the rest of the year.
“Honey, I’m home.”
I entered the living room to find a trail of rose petals leading up to the staircase. I followed the pink trail until I reached the panoramic roof. Tea light candles illuminated the dining table. They formed a heart-shaped pattern around the blue blanket in the corner. The railing surrounding the table was decorated with fairy lights and red balloons. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Justin standing there in a salmon colored shirt and khaki shorts. He looked good enough to eat.
“This looks familiar.” I smiled and glanced around the beautifully decorated rooftop. I’d surprised him with a similar dinner once upon a time. We had professed our love to each other and made love under the stars. The full moon illuminated the ocean, making the view all the more breathtaking. I greeted him with a kiss before feasting my eyes on the seafood platter he had cleverly ordered in my absence.
“Please sit down. Would you like a glass of champagne?”
“Yes, please.”
He poured us each a glass before taking a seat across from me.
“How was your spa session?”
“Terrific. Jessica made sure I received the royal treatment. She was enthralled when she found out that I was a real prince. I made her promise not to tell anyone, though. The last thing we need is for a TMZ helicopter to crash our vacation.”
“I hate those scumbags. They have no sense of decency whatsoever. They took a photo of Sir Ian McKellen in his underwear. He was sitting in the privacy of his own balcony. He should have just raised his magic wand in the air and destroyed them once and for all.”
“Wait. Is he the wizard from Lord of the Rings? I think Danny has a thing for him or is it, Greg? I can’t remember. See? This is what happens when you have a large family. You get your wires crossed, and you end up buying the wrong Christmas gifts for everyone.”
He chuckled. “That was funny, though. Admit it. I heard you laughing afterward.”
“There was nothing funny about gifting your mother a vibrator that was meant for Lizzie.”
“Babe, you said it yourself. It was meant as a gag gift anyway.”
“Nate has officially rubbed off on you. You and he are like two peas in a pod. Nothing, and no one shocks you anymore. Not even Tommy.”
“Yep. Nate is surprisingly chill for a rock star. As for T
ommy, well...he does take after his mom.”
“True.”
We bonded over cocktail shrimp and our mutual hatred for that terrible celebrity news website.
Justin was thinking of starting his own private security company in Raplen. He was hoping to branch out into Europe and provide protection for celebrities and government officials. His company in San Francisco was doing really well, especially after news got out about my stalker. Justin was labeled the hero of the hour and my knight in shining armor by the press. My people fell in love with him too. He had his own fan page on Facebook. He found the whole thing embarrassing. I personally thought it was funny.
After dinner, we moved to the blanket and drank more champagne. Justin fed me strawberries dipped in whipped cream and kissed me until I ran out of oxygen. Our physical connection was stronger than ever. My body came alive at his touch. He took my clothes off and worshiped my body with his tongue and lips. I wrapped my arms around him and enjoyed the weight of his body when he climbed on top of me, naked and hard as a rock.
He made love to me under the stars and showered me with kisses and sweet promises. I clung to his shoulders and met him thrust for thrust. His dark green eyes held me captive while he moved in and out of me at a leisurely pace. We came together thanks to his expert hands on my cock. I shuddered and shouted his name into the heavens. He collapsed on top of me, breathless and sated.
The stars above us sparkled like diamonds while we cuddled on the soft blanket. I leaned on my elbow and fed him grapes and strawberries. He looked like a Norse God with his golden hair glowing in the moonlight and his full lips curved upwards into a sexy smile.
I took a deep breath and reached inside my discarded shorts. They had a hidden pocket where I used to hide my cash, among other things. I unzipped it and retrieved the box. It was no ordinary box. I sat upright and held it in the palm of my hand.