by June Kramin
“Did you see this?” Bix’s mom called to him from the workbench. She was holding up a green metal box like one used to hold ammunition. It looked like it had been Gramps’s during the war.
“I haven’t looked around at all yet out here. Just the office.” He made his way over as she popped it open.
She pulled out an envelope with the three titles in it. “They’re all signed. You won’t have any trouble at all.” She dug through the box and pulled out another envelope. “Insurance cards. Looks like they’re covered for another eight months.”
“That’ll help anyway.”
“You okay for money, honey?”
“I’m fine, Mom. I just didn’t know what to expect with the cars. I would have hated to start shelling out payments and insurance right out of the gate.”
“I’m sure Gramps would have taken care of that.”
“I was sure he would, but it’s nice knowing.”
“You think you’ll be able to get your girlfriend outta that machine?”
“Did you happen to find a crowbar when you found the box? Otherwise it may be a little tricky.”
Chapter Fifty-Three
The next day, Ellie’s brothers stopped to see if Bix and Ellie wanted to ride with them to the hospital. As they walked to the car, Ellie’s phone rang.
“Hey, El. It’s Holly.”
“Hey, what’s up?”
“I think you guys need to get down here.”
“We were on our way. What’s going on? Is Nancy okay?”
“Uh, she’s the same but someone is here and I really think you need to get down here.”
“What? Who’s there? Is that bastard lawyer trying to pull something?”
“Nope. Some hunk with an adorable accent and a lot of bodyguards.”
“Oh, shit! We’ll be right there.” She snapped the phone closed.
“What’s wrong, El?” Nate asked.
“The royal cheat is in town.”
“That duke?” Nate asked.
“You mean the royal asshole cheating on his wife? Yeah, him.”
They piled into Nate’s truck and sped to the hospital.
Ellie was upset that there were still some lingering reporters when they arrived at the hospital, but Nathan barged through them making it clear they weren’t giving any statements. She kept her head low and buried into Bix’s chest as they made their way into the lobby.
“You’re not taking my sister out of here. I don’t care what you are,” Nick said, storming over to the group of men.
A man stood at the desk, arguing with two nurses, a doctor, and two security guards. He was dressed in a heavy green velvet material that Ellie thought would make a great set of curtains. His shoulders were adorned with buttons and pins that made him look like a general. At Nick’s protest, he turned around. His gaze fell on Ellie and immediately his arguing stopped. “Nancina, my darling,” he said as he pushed through his four bodyguards and rushed to Ellie’s side.
To everyone’s obvious surprise, Ellie hugged him.
“They said I couldn’t see you. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She quit hugging him. Without warning, she kneed him in the crotch. The collective gasps could be heard from both men and women alike.
“That’s for your wife, asshole. Where do you get off? Is Nancy just one of fifty? You keep a girl in every state or just one in each country?”
He held his groin and doubled over, while Ellie held her side. She hurt enough to almost regret the maneuver.
One of his bodyguards harshly took Ellie by the shoulders and pinned her against the wall. That sent Bix and Nathan on both sides of the bodyguard, which started a whole chain reaction.
“Stop!” the duke called out. His men listened instantly. Ellie’s brothers and Bix took a second to realize there was no longer a battle and to stop fighting and just stand their ground.
The duke took a couple of steps towards Ellie. “It is unbelievable how you two look so identical. She never mentioned she was a twin.” Ellie had no response for him, but stood there with a glare and crossed her arms.
“I realize you feel nothing but distaste for me. Nor do I expect you to understand what it is like to be in an arranged marriage. I won’t bore you with my tales, but I do love your sister.”
“Poor little rich boy.” Ellie sneered. “You’re right, I don’t want to hear it and you’re not taking her out of here. She’s nowhere near ready to leave.”
“I have a perfectly capable doctor on staff with me at all times. I assure you — ”
“I don’t care who you have at your beck and call. She’s not ready to leave this hospital.” The duke turned and talked to one of his staff in a language Ellie didn’t recognize. That made her angry. “You can have him talk to or bribe whomever you want, but it’s not going to happen.”
“You two not only look alike, but you seem to share the same conviction,” he said with a grin. “She is just as stubborn at the simplest of things. Yet she does hold my heart. I ask you, will you at least let me see her?”
Ellie turned to Nathan; he just shrugged. He had been the first one fired up to get to the hospital and protect Nancy, but Ellie had taken charge and he let her.
“Thanks for the help, big brother.” Ellie directed her attention again to the duke. “I’m going to go talk to her.”
“My name is — ”
She cut him off. “I don’t care what your name is. I think she’ll figure it out unless she has another duke lurking in the shadows.”
He smiled. “I assure you, she does not.”
“Don’t count on it, Highness.” Ellie stormed through the doors to the rooms.
Holly came out from behind the nurse’s station. “How’d it go?”
“He wants to see her.”
“You can tell him no. She still has a guard. No one gets in without your say-so. There’s no way a doctor would have released her yet either, I just wanted you guys to know what was happening.”
“I appreciate it. Is she up? Can I go in?”
“She was up last time I was in there an hour ago. Ellie, she sure is different this time around. I’ve asked that one of psychologists stop in on her again.”
“I thought they were supposed to anyway for attack cases.”
“They are, but she keeps pitching a fit and sending them away. She says she did it to herself and to just leave her alone. She said she started it. Why would she say that, El? She can’t be trying to protect the guy.”
Ellie sighed in frustration. “Hell if I know. Thanks again for calling, Holly.”
“She’s okay,” Holly said to the policeman standing guard at the door.
“I’d say so. I was wondering how she made it past me for a second.” He pushed the door open for Ellie and she thanked him.
Ellie walked into the dimly lit hospital room and found Nancy watching TV with the sound off. “Hey.”
“To what do I deserve the honor of your presence?”
“Stop it, Nancy. I want to know how you’re doing.”
“It just keeps things simpler when you hate me, El. You know, keep my expectations down.”
“It’s not like you’re so innocent, Nancy, so don’t even start with me! Look, Damnit. I didn’t come here to fight with you.”
“Then why did you come?”
“First of all, I want to know something and I want the truth.”
“What?” Her eyes defiantly met Ellie’s for the first time.
“Why did you leave with him? What were you possibly thinking?”
“I already told you. I was bored and he was cute.”
“Bullshit! Knock it off!”
“I mean it. I wanted him and pretending to be you made me all kinds of crazy horny.”
“You need help.” Ellie turned towards the door.
“Wait!”
“What, Nance? I really don’t want to listen to this bullshit. I’ll sign anything to keep you here for as long as it takes. I don’t care what
your lawyer tries to pull or how much money you have.”
Nancy’s lip trembled. “I’m telling you the truth. I just wanted to go with him, Ellie. I wasn’t trying to kill myself. I started to feel okay and just wanted out and wanted to be a little reckless about it.”
“You were okay because you were on pain meds.”
“I know that now. I know I should have listened to everyone. I’m sorry.”
“Will you at least talk to someone? Holly says you’re not yourself.”
“I don’t want to talk to any damn shrink, El. Just let me handle this my way.”
Ellie decided to drop it for now. “There’s someone here to see you.”
“Who?”
“Your duke.”
“René is here? How the hell did he find out?”
“We certainly didn’t call him. You want to see him?”
“No.”
“All right. I’ll tell him.”
“Wait. Yes. I do want to see him. He came all this way.”
“It’s your call. I certainly don’t care.”
“You don’t approve of him. He’s a duke, El.”
“I don’t care if he’s King Tut. He’s a cheat. I expect more from men, especially future rulers of countries or whatever the hell a duke is supposed to do.”
“Like we don’t have presidents out getting blowjobs.”
“That was just as wrong. My vote was to throw his ass out of office, but I didn’t have any say in the matter, did I? I don’t here either, for that matter. I don’t have to approve of what you do; I just don’t see that you expected much of a future in that.”
“I’m twenty-five. I wasn’t looking for a future, just some fun.”
“Well, enjoy yourself,” Ellie said as she walked out of the room. “I’ll send the royal prick in.”
Chapter Fifty-Four
Ellie walked back into the waiting room and glared at René. “She said you can go in.” He hurried to his feet and walked over to Ellie. She held up her hand and hit him in the chest as he tried walking by. He stopped and waited to hear what else she wanted to say.
“I don’t understand what is going on with you two and I honestly don’t want to know. All I can say is I don’t want you upsetting her any more than she already is. I don’t know what you have heard — ”
“Enough that I assure you, I have men out looking for him, too. If this Teidelman fellow sets foot in Europe, he will be shot first and asked questions later. I love your sister.”
“If you love her so much, why do you stay married to your wife?”
“Again, I don’t expect you to understand. It simply is not done that way in my country or in my position.”
“She’s a fool as far as I’m concerned. It’s wasted years of her life.”
“A well-taken care of fool, if you insist on looking at it that way. I assure you, she is not wasting her life. There is a future in staying with me.”
“As your mistress? I don’t think so.”
“Then I am grateful she feels differently. Can I see her now?”
“Five minutes, no more. If you upset her, you can forget about ever being let back in here.”
He took her hand and tried to bring it to his lips for a kiss, but she pulled it away. “I’ll win you over yet.”
“Don’t hold your breath.”
As Ellie approached her brothers and Bix, Nathan said, “Gee, Ellie. What a ball buster. I mean, literally and then some. If you’re pissed at Nancy, I’d hate to see what you’d be like if you liked her.”
“Put a sock in it, Nate.” She took a chair and Bix sat next to her.
“You want me to take you home?”
“I’m not leaving till the royal jerk is gone.”
He gently pulled her head to his chest and held her there. She closed her eyes and finally seemed to relax against him.
“Nancina?” René said softly as he entered her hospital room.
“Hello, René.” Nancy didn’t look up; she only ran her hands over the sheet as if straightening out a wrinkle.
“René? Why so formal, my love?” He walked over and took her hand, giving it a long kiss. “Are you okay?”
“I’m healing.” Her voice had a flat tone to it. She was embarrassed to face him. It was a new feeling for her. Doing as she pleased was her lifestyle, as was never answering to anyone. She had been with him because of the gifts and the money. He was married and there was no future. No promises had to be made and not having to account for her time when he was with his wife was a bonus. She still slept around as she saw fit. The bodyguard René had for her was paid well by him and paid even better by her to keep his mouth shut.
Sure, the tabloids had caught her and René a time or two, but that only added to the thrill. Scandal always sold papers and René had excuses a mile long. His wife was either an imbecile or just didn’t care. She would never leave her husband any more than he would leave her. As far as Nancy was concerned, Europe sure kicked the hell out of rural Minnesota and she had planned on taking the ride for as long as it was offered to her.
“As soon as the doctors allow it, you will fly home with me. I’ll send Ann away for a month to one of those spas she loves so much and it will be just us.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek, but she coldly turned away. “My deepest apologies. I know you’ve been…hurt. I won’t push for…things until you are ready.”
“I’m not going back with you, René.”
“You can’t mean that. I agreed for you to come home because of your surgery, although I still feel we should have flown your sister to my doctors. This would not have happened had you listened to me.” He was beginning to raise his voice, but took a deep breath and began again at a more normal tone. “Elliot has been fired for allowing this to happen.”
“You sent a lawyer with me, not a babysitter. Hire him back. That’s not fair.”
“Since when do you care about the help? Really, Nancina, what kind of medication do they have you on?”
“Can’t you just call me Nancy? Why try to jazz my name up? I’m American for cryin’ out loud. Calling me something else isn’t going to change that, jackass.”
“Jackass?” He couldn’t help but grin. Nancy regretted it immediately. She knew her feistiness was what he liked most. No one dared insult or talk back to him.
“I’m just on normal pain meds. I’m not having a reaction. I won’t have you firing Elliot because I snuck out of here with that guy.”
“You left willingly with this man? Why?”
“Because I wanted to get out of here and he was handy. This is my fault.”
“You’ll feel differently after you get some help.” He held her hand and stroked it gently.
“No! Damnit no! I went with him. I was stupid and I paid the price. I’m done. It was fun, René, but it’s over. I’m home and I’m staying here for a while.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I am.”
“No one turns me down. I won’t have it. You’re mine.”
“You have a wife, René. Go act like it. Leave me alone now.”
He smiled at her. “You’ll be back.”
“No, I won’t. I don’t want this life. I don’t want to be your sex slave on speed dial anymore.”
“You know I don’t think of you that way.”
“Well I do and I’m done.”
He forced an over exaggerated laugh. “So what now? You are going to stay here in this godforsaken country? Hook up with some pig farmer? This life is not fitting of you. You are being ridiculous. Come home with me.”
“I am home, Damnit.”
“I don’t believe you. I think you are still very ill. I will keep your apartment for you. You return to me when you are ready.”
Her voice finally softened. “That’s not going to happen. Now please leave.”
René walked into the waiting room. Ellie asked Bix and her brothers to stay seated; she wanted to confront him alone and didn’t want them to interfere. Pullin
g herself as tall and proud as she could manage, she walked over and stood in front of him.
“Well?” she asked.
“She claims not to want to leave with me. Your mind games must be working for now. I assure you; she will come back to me.”
“You keep thinking whatever you want, just think it in your own damn country.”
“I will not stop the manhunt just because she says she does not want me. If I find him, he will pay for what he has done to her.”
“Knock yourself out.”
He took Ellie’s hand again and held on tight when she tried to pull it away. “I should very much like to have you as well. I could stand to look at all that beauty twice as much.”
“Go to hell.”
Again he grinned. “I do so love the spunk you two share.”
She finally pulled her hand free. Glancing at Bix and her brothers, she was glad their attention was elsewhere. “I won’t stop her if she’s fool enough to go back to you, but that will have to be her decision. Stay away and let her make up her own mind. She’s been through enough. I can’t see how you can say you love her after what you just said to me.”
“Just because I always want more, doesn’t mean I don’t love her. You can hardly blame me.” He eyed her up and down. “I don’t even have to use my imagination to envision you naked.”
“You’re a pig.”
“You and your sister like animal names as terms of endearment, don’t you?” He winked at her and waved for his men to come over. “It’s time to go. Call Philippe and ready the jet.” He returned his attention to Ellie. “I do hope to see you again soon.”
She wouldn’t even grace that with a response and returned to Bix.
“Well?” Nate asked.
“He’s full of himself. That’s for sure.”
“He leaving?”
“Yeah. Nance told him she’s not going back to him.”
“You think she’s just getting over the episode?” Bix asked.
Ellie shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ll try to talk to her tomorrow.”
Chapter Fifty-Five
That night, Ellie and Bix were in bed, each in deep thoughts. Ellie was on Bix’s chest while he gently stroked her back with his fingertips when Ellie finally spoke.