by Tia Louise
Zelda
“NOOO!!!!” I scream as I see Ava’s green eyes change from joy to horror. She falls so fast. She’s on the ground like a rag doll, and people scatter in all directions away from her like oil fleeing a drop of water.
As I run to her, I notice another figure in a red jumpsuit also running in my direction. It’s Rowan. We meet at my sister, and he has her in his arms before I can breathe.
“Follow me!” he shouts, heading toward the stands.
I’m right behind him, but I’m looking everywhere over my shoulder. I know who did this, and I’m afraid it’s not over. They could be anywhere, aiming for us right this second.
“Run, Rowan! Run!” I shout. “Faster!”
We’re through the metal door into the restricted area beneath the stands, and I push the doors closed behind us.
“Paramedics are here.” He’s at a red phone, dialing zero, but I see his fingers tremble. “The best emergency response crews in the country are on hand in case of an accident.”
I’m at Ava’s side, holding her hand. “Hang on, Ava-bug!” My voice breaks. My throat hurts and tears blur my eyes. She’s ghastly pale, and blood soaks the navy dress she’s wearing. “Don’t die on me, Ava-bug! Please… Please, Ava-bug…”
My whole body is shaking. I’m searching all over for where they hit her when I’m shoved out of the way, and paramedics surround my sister.
Rowan is at my side, and I look up to see his jaw clenched. His eyes are wild, and I know it’s taking all his power to stay back and let them work.
Plastic bags and tubes are drawn out and run to her body. I grip his arm as they move her onto a hard plastic stretcher.
“She’s losing blood,” a woman says, shoving a card at me. “We’re taking her to Memorial East.”
As fast as they appeared, they’re rushing her out the door, into an ambulance and speeding away.
“NO!” I scream, running after them.
“Zelda! This way!” Rowan runs in the direction of a side door, and I’m right behind him.
Hajib has the car waiting, and we’re in it, driving as quickly as possible after the ambulance.
It feels like hours pass before a female doctor with short brown hair comes out to tell us what’s happening.
“Majesté,” she does a little bow to Rowan. “Bonjour.”
“Comment est-elle?” he says quickly.
“La dame est bien—”
“English, please!” I practically shriek, startling them both.
“Pardon!” The doctor says in a thick French accent. “I did not realize…”
“Will she be okay?” I plead.
The woman continues almost too quickly for me to follow through her accent. “She lost a lot of blood, so she’s very weak. The bullet passed cleanly through her upper arm just missing her brachial artery. I stitched up the wound, and we’re monitoring her vitals. She’s very lucky it did not hit her heart.”
My head goes light, and I’m sure I’ll faint. Rowan catches me, helping me to a nearby chair. Bodyguards have cordoned off the area, so it’s only the three of us in the waiting room. The doctor tells Rowan something I don’t understand and disappears down the hall.
Overhead a television blasts in French. I read the subtitles explaining how the entire country is on high alert following two suspected assassination attempts on the crown prince at today’s race.
Police have set up a tip line. The words tighten my chest.
Police are searching for anyone who knows anything about this attack. If you saw anything or know who might be behind this, call…
My mind is racing. I know who’s behind this, and they know I know. How long before they track me down? I’m the only witness outside their group who can testify against them, who can expose them all.
“Cal is with the men examining the car,” Rowan says, misinterpreting my dark expression. “Otherwise, he’d be here with you.”
Cal… Another pain in my heart. I won’t see him again…
“He’s okay?” I ask.
“He just sent me a text. He couldn’t reach your phone.”
“My phone was… taken.”
We don’t speak for several moments as the television continues in French. A nurse approaches us and does a slight bow. Her voice is also accented.
“Do you know the young lady’s next of kin?”
“Me,” I stand quickly, going to her. “I’m her sister, Zelda Wilder.”
I don’t miss the way Rowan looks at me.
“Very good.” The nurse hands me a clipboard. “I need you to fill out these forms as soon as you can.”
I take the clipboard and turn to face the truth. Rowan is straight in his chair, his blue eyes fixed on me.
“I need to tell you something,” I say, glancing down at the papers. “I don’t have a lot of time. Do you think… do you think it’s possible you can listen to what I have to say without asking questions? Even if it sounds ugly at first?”
“I won’t promise anything.” Rowan’s voice is tense, anger just below the surface. I’m on the verge of tears.
“Ava is my sister,” I say, clearing my throat. “We lied about her being my friend. I thought it would keep her safe. I didn’t know the person who brought us here had his own agenda.”
Rowan stands, and his hands are on his hips. “Is this about my uncle, the duke?”
I take a deep breath and walk past him to sit in the chair again. I’m not sure I can say this standing.
“I met Sir Reginald Winchester in Miami… at a casino. He hired me to come here and pretend to be an heiress, to seduce you. He said he wanted to humiliate you, to prove you weren’t fit to be king.”
I’m afraid to look up. I can’t bear to see his face as I say this. “I brought Ava with me because I never leave her behind. Our parents are dead, and it’s always been up to me to take care of us. We’ve been on our own since we were kids.”
Rowan still doesn’t speak. When I dare to glance up at him, his jaw is set, and a gleam of anger is in his eyes. My insides crumble.
“I’m telling you this because I’m so sorry, Rowan.” I fight the tears. “As soon as I met you, I knew Reggie had lied to us. But it didn’t matter. He wasn’t interested in the original job anymore. He’s been working with Wade Paxton. He used us as a distraction, a smoke screen to help him get back in the country. He was behind the sabotage of your car, and he had Ava shot… I’m next. I know too much about his plans. He’s going to kill us both.”
Rowan’s hands lower, and I see them clench into fists. Ice-cold fury is in his voice. “Reggie did this.”
He leaves me with that, and I watch as he crosses the room to one of the men standing guard. They speak in French, in low voices, and the man’s eyes harden. He nods, speaking into his cuff before turning and striding quickly to the elevator. Rowan stays in the space where the man was a few moments longer, and I watch as his chin drops.
He takes a few deep breaths before returning to me. Anger is still in his eyes, and I swallow hard, summoning every bit of strength I have left to do this one last thing. I have to get this promise before I run.
Standing, I meet him halfway. “I only have one thing… one request.”
“Zelda—”
“I know you hate me. I know you’re going to throw me out, but if you would please, please, Rowan… Take care of Ava. Please believe me, she would never be here if it weren’t for me.”
“She lied to me.”
“Only to protect me.” My eyes heat, and I feel the pressure in my chest growing tighter. “You have to understand. Not being able to tell you the truth was breaking her heart. I’ve never seen her so happy… or so miserable.”
His expression is closed, and I do the only thing I can think to do before a king. Dropping to my knees, I’m not ashamed to beg him. I look up at Rowan’s eyes, and the anger has been replaced with confusion.
“You love her, don’t you?” I’m taking a chance, but I have to do this for my
sister.
He only pauses a moment, his blue eyes traveling around my face. Another beat, and he nods. “I do.”
The slightest glimmer of hope encourages me on.
“She loves you.” I take a shaky inhale. “I promised her I’d always take care of her, but now… after all that’s happened, I realize I’m putting her in danger. Only you can keep her safe now.”
His lips press together a moment. He pauses again before answering me. “I intend to ask her to marry me.”
My eyes slide closed as relief surges through my body. “You’ll make her so happy.”
“She’s made me so happy.”
Blinking fast, I rise to my feet. “I have to go. This is just the beginning. I know what they’ve done and who’s involved. They’re coming for me.”
“No—you can’t leave. We’ll protect you—”
“Don’t you understand? They’ve been planning this for years! They’re way ahead of us. You saw how fast they got to Ava. They had a gunman at the track before I even got there.”
“I won’t let them hurt you.” Rowan’s voice is a low command. “We’ll find them.”
“The way you found the person who sabotaged your car?”
Anger burns in his eyes, and I know he’s hearing me. I’m petrified with fear, but I have to get as far away from this place, from Ava, as I can. My insides tremble at the memory of what Wade Paxton promised to do to me. After all I’ve seen, I’m sure he wasn’t bluffing now. I only hope I can stay ahead of them.
“Seth is waiting. He’ll help me hide.”
“Seth?”
Shaking my head, we don’t have time. “I owe him money. Ava can explain it to you. Thank you, Rowan. Thank you so much. I’m so sorry for what I did, for helping them. One day I hope I can make it up—”
He takes a step forward. “But what about Cal?”
Those words rip through my stomach. As painful as everything I’ve endured in the last twenty-four hours, this question has the power to gut me.
“Please tell him I said goodbye.” Tears thicken my throat. “He deserves someone better than me.”
Turning away, I run to the elevator before he can stop me or see me break down. I’m in the small box, hiding in the corner by the control panel, pressing the L button over and over as the doors close.
In the mirrored walls I see my bruised cheek. It’s nothing compared to my battered heart. Zelda Wilder is no princess. The closest I am is a dirty Cinderella, an orphan on the run, and that’s not the kind of girl for a prince.
The door opens in the lobby, and standing there in dark jeans and a long-sleeved navy sweater is Seth. His amber brow arches, and our blue eyes meet.
“Ready?” he says.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Come on, then. Let’s go.”
I take his hand and follow him to the waiting cab. He pays the man and says one word: airport. Fishing in my pockets, I find the door card to our room at the Fairmont and the black American Express. It’s a small relief.
“Thought you might need this,” he says.
I look down, and he’s holding the green ambassador’s visa Reggie gave me.
“How did you get this?” I ask.
“I went back to your room and looked around.”
My eyes narrow at the thought of him snooping in our stuff. “See anything interesting?”
“Not much.”
Shaking my head, I return my gaze out the window to the passing traffic. Ava will be safe now and live happily ever after with her handsome prince. I won’t let myself think about Cal. I’ve got to get as far away as possible, keep running, and hope the bad guys never catch me.
25
Plans
Rowan
As soon as the elevator doors close, I speak to my chief security guard. “Keep me informed where she goes.”
“Yes, your grace.” He steps to the side to make the call, and I go to the room where Ava is recovering.
My promise to Zelda had been easy to make. Her words confirmed everything Ava already told me our very first night together at the Paris Hotel. The only thing she left out was Zelda is her sister—although, she’d actually told me that, too. I understand now she was trying to tell me everything that night, but she couldn’t betray Zee.
Now it’s time for me to become her security. I’ve been ready to assume that role since the night I swore to avenge her past. Her beautiful eyes blink open, and protective warmth surges in my chest. I sit at her bedside, taking her hand in mine and lifting her knuckles to my lips.
“How are you feeling, my beautiful lady?”
Her voice cracks when she answers. “What happened?”
I hesitate, not wanting to frighten her. “I don’t have an easy way to say this… You were shot.”
I see her pulse quicken on the monitor. Her fear stokes my anger at the men who did this.
“But… Who? Why?” she says.
“Your sister thinks it was to keep her silent, to warn her against telling what she knows.”
Ava’s eyes widen, and she starts to pull away. “You know about Zee?”
My grip tightens on her hand. “Zelda told me the truth, and I promised her I’d protect you. My entire secret service is searching for Reginald Winchester. When we find him, he’ll wish he were dead.”
“Reggie did this?” Her brow wrinkles. “But… I don’t understand.”
“I don’t want you to worry,” I say, gently, but she struggles to sit straighter.
“Rowan—is Zee okay? Where is she?”
“She left with a man named Seth. She said you could explain. Who is he?”
“Seth?” Ava exhales the word, and her chin drops. I watch as she rubs her forehead. “She went with Seth? Willingly?”
“She said she owes him money.” Standing, I start to call my security team. “I can stop them if he’s dangerous—”
“No,” Ava shakes her head. “If she wanted to go with him, she must have a plan. I just… I can’t believe she left me behind.”
It’s not what I want to hear. Returning to her bedside, I take her hand again. “Ava, I want to take care of you. Zee asked me to protect you, and I was glad to say yes.”
Her pale cheeks blossom, but she’s still quiet, thinking. I’m about to tell her everything I want for us when a noise in the lobby interrupts me.
“Where are they?” Cal bursts into the room and pauses at the end of the bed. “Ava—are you okay? I came as soon as I could get away from those damn reporters.”
“I’m a little weak…” she begins.
“You’ve lost a lot of blood,” I say, explaining to her as well as to my brother what the doctor said. “The gunman was aiming for your chest. You were moving so fast, he missed by inches.”
Her eyes slide closed, and my jaw tightens. I lift her fingers to my lips. “My men are searching for the gunman now. He will pay for this.”
“Jesus,” Cal hisses, walking around the room. “For what it’s worth, Hampton De Clare called Mother,” he says quietly.
“The King of Totrington?” I glance up at his face.
“They’re searching for Wade Paxton. Supposedly, he’s a ‘person of interest.’”
“Is that so?” My voice is low, and I can’t hide my disbelief. “Hampton has been silently funding Wade’s efforts since before Father died. I wouldn’t be surprised if he knew what that dog was doing.”
“And now the dog is off the leash.” Cal looks around. “Where’s Zelda?”
My lips tighten. “She left.”
“Left?” His eyes flash at me. “What the hell does that mean?”
“She said she was afraid to stay. She said the reason they shot Ava was to keep her from talking.”
“And you let her go?” He’s out the door, and I give Ava’s hand a squeeze.
“I’ll be right back.” I’m two steps behind my brother. “I have a man watching her…”
I wait as he speaks to one of the guards. “I’m tak
ing two of your men,” he says, typing quickly on his phone. “Freddie and Logan. I’ll have them meet me at the airport with my gear.”
“You’re going after her?”
“Fucking right I am. Where is she headed?”
“Miami,” a soft voice behind us says.
I turn to see Ava is out of her bed, trying to follow us. She’s holding the monitor with one hand and the back of her hospital gown with the other. One more step, and her face pales. Her legs give out, and I’m across the room in a flash, catching her in my arms.
“You shouldn’t be out of bed,” I soothe, carrying her to the room with Cal’s help.
Once she’s settled, my brother touches her arm gently. “Ava? Did you mean to say Texas?”
“No,” she says, shaking her head. “Seth would go to Miami first.”
I see the confusion on Cal’s face, and I realize he’s still in the dark. “I can explain—”
“Save it for the plane.” He’s already at the door.
“Cal!” Ava sits forward, reaching out to him. He pauses and returns to take her hand. I see her swallow back tears. “Don’t let anything happen to her.”
The muscle in his jaw moves, and his hazel eyes burn with determination. “I promise you. I won’t come back without her.”
I step to the door to watch him leave.
“Email me everything you know,” he says before stepping into the elevator. “Fill me in on what I’ve missed.”
“I will. Be careful, brother.”
The doors close, and I return to Ava. Sitting beside her on the bed, she rests her dark head against my chest, and I wrap my arms around her, holding her body to mine.
Dropping my chin, I kiss the top of her head, speaking in a low voice. “When he returns with your sister, I will make you my queen.”
Her body tenses, and she looks up at me. “What?”
I smile down at her. “Your ring is at Occitan. I had hoped to propose to you tonight by the ocean, but I’m afraid to wait any longer. I don’t know what might happen next.”
“But… Are you saying—?”