by Eliza Ellis
“They missed the turn,” David said softly from his position in the front passenger seat.
“Who?” Zuri asked quickly. “Who missed their turn?”
Daemon frowned. “Your father’s vehicle. I need to get in front, or we’re not going to make it out of here.”
“Road is too narrow,” David responded. “We have to follow their lead.”
“You know I don’t do well with being a follower.”
David chuckled. “I know that all too well. But you have no choice.”
Daemon grunted. “Always a choice, even if you have to create one out of thin air.”
A spark flew off the front of their car. “Where did that come from?” Daemon asked quickly.
David angled his face to see out of the windshield. “Snipers from the roofs.”
“How can you be so calm about this?” Zuri screeched. “There are snipers on the roofs? How do they know where we are?”
“Because they knew about this meeting,” Daemon shouted. Zuri stiffened at his display of anger. “Like I said, you should’ve waited. They’re locking this area down with a radius of a few miles, would be my guess.”
“A few miles!”
“This is nothing Daemon and I haven’t done before,” David said. “That’s why I can remain calm. If you don’t, you make a mistake.”
A loud explosion boomed. Smoke filled their view. The vehicle in front hit another car and flipped on its side. Daemon cursed and slammed on the brakes before releasing and swerving around.
“My father! We can’t leave him!”
“Zuri, we have no choice,” Daemon argued.
“You work for me! Stop the car!”
Against his gut, Daemon slammed on the breaks. He and David grabbed the long guns sitting between their seats. Daemon pierced Zuri with a glare. “Don’t you dare leave this vehicle.” He didn’t wait for her acknowledgment. She wouldn’t give it anyway.
Daemon and David raced to the side of the other vehicle. Bayo and another guard had already climbed out. The guard provided them cover fire. When Daemon reached Bayo, the elder collapsed.
“Help him!”
Daemon’s head snapped in the direction of Zuri’s voice. She was bent over running in their direction. “You’ve got to be kidding me, Princess!” He grabbed her arm and pulled her down towards him. She fell against her father behind the cover of the vehicle. Daemon used his body to shield them both. “I thought I told you to stay in the car!”
She took a hold of Bayo’s arm. “Help me!” Daemon grasped the other arm.
They both dragged Bayo to the other side of their vehicle keeping it between them and the bullets. The other guard hobbled with David’s assistance.
“Where is Joqi?” Zuri cried.
After settling her father into the vehicle, Daemon took Zuri’s arm, filled his other hand with her rump, and launched her into the vehicle, slamming the door after her.
“Joqi was not conscious,” the guard said in a ragged breath. He clutched the side of his hip. “We tried…” David helped him into the front seat and over the console.
Once David was in the back and Daemon behind the wheel, they peeled out.
“We can’t just leave him!” Zuri cried. “I order you to turn around and go back!”
“You fired me, remember?” Daemon shouted. “We can’t go back.”
“You evil—”
“Daughter,” Bayo rasped.
Daemon glanced in the rearview mirror. Bayo was holding his stomach with a bloody hand. Daemon’s heart dropped.
“Joqi did his duty,” Bayo said. “We honor him by getting to safety.”
Zuri furiously shook her head, and Daemon growled. This girl was too naïve for this. David said her father had taught her how to take care of herself, but apparently she didn’t learn an important lesson in war: emotional detachment. People died because they couldn’t let go.
They reached a safehouse Daemon had secured after several hours of evading military checkpoints, switching vehicles, and walking at least half a mile. Night had fallen, and Bayo had lost consciousness in the last twenty minutes. They carried him inside, and Daemon’s people began to treat his wound. Daemon knew there wasn’t much they could do. The man had lost too much blood during the trip.
Daemon was called to Bayo’s bedside. Zuri had refused to leave father since they’d arrived at the safehouse. She gripped one of Bayo’s hands with both of hers, frequently bringing it to her lips for a kiss. She looked up at Daemon, her weary face stained with tears. Daemon’s heart lurched. The stubbornly annoying princess sat wounded, her eyes full of defeat.
Daemon took a seat opposite Zuri. Bayo’s dark color had lightened somewhat. His eyes looked glazed over, and he breathed slowly out of his open mouth. He had enough strength to reach out for Daemon’s hand. Daemon stilled his reaction from the coolness of Bayo’s skin. Bayo covered Zuri’s hand with Daemon’s.
Bayo’s eyes looked intently at Daemon’s. “Promise me…” he rasped.
Daemon quickly glanced at Zuri. He knew what the man was asking him to do. His deathbed wish. Daemon couldn’t deny him. “You have my word. I won’t let any harm come to her,” Daemon whispered. “Ever.”
A sound of a repressed sob came from Zuri. “Father…”
Bayo smiled at his daughter. “My Zuri…my beautiful daughter…”
Zuri snatched her hand from Daemon’s and cradled her father’s face. She bent to kiss him on the cheek and buried her face in his neck. Daemon left the small room to give her some privacy.
An hour later, Daemon stood over a table, staring at several maps of the city, the coast, and the neighboring countries. They couldn’t stay here. President Gohi had increased the reward for the capture or killing of Bayo and Zuri. Every person in the country would be after Zuri. He had to get her out of the country. Once Bayo’s death became public knowledge, she would be the most hunted person in the entire country. It would be easier to protect her on his turf.
He had made a promise to Bayo, and he wasn’t going to let the man down. Several men gave him options on how to flee the country. His yacht sounded like the best one—if he could get Zuri to it. Then they’d enter a neighboring country and take his plane to London, refuel, and then head to Washington, DC. Zuri wouldn’t like the idea of leaving Bendola, but she didn’t have a choice—and he was in charge now.
David came up to him, his face grave. “We just got confirmation.”
Daemon put a hand over his eyes. If Joqi hadn’t made that wrong turn…
“Confirmation about what?” Zuri came forward, sniffling. Her face dry, she squared her shoulders and waited to be included. Daemon gave her points for her composure. There wouldn’t be time to grieve until they were safely out of the country.
“Joqi is…” David’s voice trailed off.
Zuri’s eyes widened. If she hadn’t suspected before, then she was sure of it now.
Daemon cleared his throat. “Okay, this is what we’re going to do.” He pointed to the port on the map. “My yacht is here. We’ll cross the international maritime boundary and take my plane which is located at this airport.” He pointed to a spot in Cote d’Ivoire. “After that, it’s on to London and then—”
“I’m not leaving Bendola!” Zuri cried. All voices in the room stopped as the eyes of Daemon’s and David’s men looked at her.
Daemon had already steeled himself for this argument. He faced Zuri, his voice firm. “You don’t have a choice, Princess.”
“Yes, I do. I am now the leader of this resistance and—”
Daemon gripped her upper arms, dragging her to him, his face inches from hers. “And your face is on every wanted poster on every corner of every block. You won’t survive a week here. If you want to see your rebellion succeed, you have to stay alive.” He gently shook her for added measure, hoping his words would find root.
“Get your hands off of me,” she whispered fiercely.
Daemon complied, but he didn’t back away.
“I made a promise to your father, and I intend to keep it. I’m in charge now, Princess. You’ll have to fight this battle on foreign soil.”
“Daemon is right,” David said, his hand coming to rest beneath Zuri’s elbow. He gently pulled her away to face him. “I will remain here and handle the logistics. You must leave the country, Zuri.”
“David…”
He smiled sadly. “It is the only way this will live on. People will be emboldened by your father, and they will remain faithful if you are still with us. Alive. We can only trust a few people now. It isn’t safe for you here. Go to America. Talk to the people who will be able to help us. Then return and take your father’s place when it is safe.”
Whatever David had to calm Zuri and make her see reason, Daemon wanted it bottled before they left the country. How come she couldn’t see reason with him, but all David had to do was repeat the plan and suddenly it made sense? He didn’t want to have to fight her resistance every step of the way, no matter how much he enjoyed it.
“Like I said,” Daemon repeated, “we’ll take my yacht first and then get on a plane to London. After refueling, we’ll touch down in DC. You’ll be given refugee status and can work the democratic process from Knight Industry headquarters.”
“Industry?” Zuri asked, her curious gaze on his face.
Daemon nodded. “My family owns companies in several industries. We have contacts all over the globe. Whatever you need is at your disposal.”
Her brows came together, as if she questioned his sincerity. Daemon didn’t care if she was skeptical. She’d see for herself when they were safely in DC. Once his father found out he was protecting the leader of the resistance for a free Bendola, he’d beeline to meet her. Bendola’s rich resources would be the perfect investment ground for Knight Industries.
And it would be more ammunition his father could use to force Daemon to take over as CEO of Knight Industries. Sure, Daemon didn’t mind the luxury and the technology his father’s billions afforded him. He could do amazing things for his clients with a seemingly endless income at his disposal. But taking over as CEO? He wasn’t ready to leave the field for a desk job no matter how much money he would inherit. He was having too much fun fighting clients like Zuri for control.
In a matter of hours, Zuri, Daemon, and a few of Daemon’s men were on a yacht sailing out of Bendola’s waters. He’d been told the airstrip was being watched like a hawk, but the port wasn’t as secure. The rich didn’t want to be hampered if they decided on a whim to take their boats the sea.
Daemon stood at the bow of the ship, allowing the wind to settle his anxious nerves but only by a notch. He wouldn’t feel comfortable until they were out of Bendola’s jurisdiction. The country really didn’t have a navy to speak of, so any boat they encountered, Daemon was sure his souped-up yacht could outrun it. To the casual observer, it looked like something owned by a billionaire, but its engines, the command and control room below deck, and the communications technology it possessed made it more like something Batman would use.
Well, Batman was a billionaire at one time.
Zuri had argued every mile from the safehouse to the port. She hated that she didn’t get to say a proper goodbye to David. He had left soon after calming her down to be along the route for their protection. He had kept to his car, circling the area as a lookout when Zuri and Daemon rushed to the boat. She’d wanted one last minute to say goodbye, which Daemon had denied.
That, and she couldn’t bury her father.
Daemon felt for her on that one. There wasn’t time for a ritual burial, but Daemon had promised her that his people would get his body back to her native village. She had vehemently opposed this solution. Once again, David calmly explained that she couldn’t go with her father, or she might actually join him in the grave.
Daemon was sure Zuri agreed with this on some level, even if she verbally argued the opposite. He wasn’t up to date on any of the burial rituals that might be performed, because he hadn’t planned on losing his asset. Her father was in good hands. If anyone could handle it, it was David and the people of the village. One day, Zuri would return and pay her respects. Daemon had promised her that.
Daemon looked over his shoulder, half expecting Zuri to be there, ready with another complaint. He’d protected movie stars and politicians before, so he was used to demanding, diva behavior. It had irritated him, but they paid well. Strangely, Zuri’s stubbornness only fueled his desire to get into another argument with her so he could prove himself right. Did he have an ego problem?
Daemon made his way below deck, searching for his nemesis. He found her asleep on the bed in her private room. He shouldn’t have entered without permission, and he was surprised to find she hadn’t locked the door to keep him out. In truth, he wanted to make sure she was okay. The image of her tearstained face from when she sat next to her dying father was burned into his memory. It would haunt him much like the deaths of team members he had experienced in Afghanistan. He wished he could take it all back. Save her father so she wouldn’t have to cry.
He sat on the edge of her bed. She didn’t stir. He smoothed a hand over her soft, wiry hair. She moaned softly, but her eyes remained closed. The light from overhead shone off her glistening cheeks. She’d been crying again. Zuri’s relaxed features made her look much more like a girl than the woman she was. Vulnerable and tender, alone in the world, and needing his help more than he needed any payment her father had promised.
Which wasn’t much. So little, in fact, that he had promised to protect her for free, as a favor to David. His friend had saved his life more than once in the desert.
She had lost so much today. Daemon was determined that she wouldn’t lose anything or anyone else.
He’d die before that happened.
Chapter 5
Zuri had awoken with a start. The boat wasn’t moving. When she came above deck, she squinted, forcing her eyes to adjust to the darkness. They were already docked at another port, and Daemon’s men were disembarking.
Daemon walked up to her. “Good morning, Princess. How’d you sleep?”
“It’s still dark.”
“That it is.” Daemon looked up. “A starless sky is always good for sneaking around.”
She shivered. The summer temperatures dipped when the sun disappeared. “We made it?”
“You’re cold.” Daemon whipped off his jacket and offered it to her.
“No.”
“Come on, Princess. Don’t be stubborn.”
She hesitantly accepted his jacket. “Thank you.”
“We still have a few minutes, but I want to get moving.”
She started across the deck. Daemon followed. “You should’ve told me so I could be ready.”
“It’s not a problem. Besides, I figured you’d want to sleep a little more.”
Against her protestations, he carried her small bag so all she had to do was worry about walking. The streets were fairly empty as they made their way to the airport. Two bribed security guards later, and they were on the airstrip.
They were seated on a plane that didn’t seem to be Daemon’s style at all. It was quite posh, with heated leather seats, multiple bars, and a couple of bedrooms. Zuri half expected a pool to be at the back of the plane. She was served a four-course meal in the hours they were in the air, and now a food coma threatened her concentration. Daemon had given her a tablet with a news feed about her country. She watched continuously for more information on both her father and Joqi, and whether or not the government had seized their bodies. It wasn’t uncommon for dead rebel bodies to be publically defiled.
She needed more sleep. The couple of hours on Daemon’s yacht had passed too quickly. After what had happened yesterday, her body protested her every movement—except when she was feeding it. She had no idea how exhausted she had been, nor how hungry. But she didn’t want to miss another moment. There wasn’t time to grieve; she had to remain in control. When had she lost command to Daemon?
> Her eyes found her bodyguard, sitting across from her. A man who was like a genie, pulling things out of his platinum hat. He had thought of everything, including kidnapping her out of her beloved country. She hated David for agreeing with him. How could she lead a rebellion from across the Atlantic? Would people really take her seriously? With her father gone, wouldn’t they accuse her of running away? Being a coward while the rest of them stayed and fought for their freedom? They didn’t have a billionaire at their disposal to whisk them away on a private yacht and plane.
Daemon continued his phone conversation. He was always close by. This time, too close. His long, large legs flanked hers. The faint smell of his woodsy aftershave never left, reminding her of his presence.
He was almost never out of eyesight. The only reprieve she had was on the yacht in her room. Finally, a moment to herself where she wasn’t constantly under the scrutiny of his gorgeously light and probing eyes that made her tummy do somersaults. She remembered showering the grime of the day off and, after that, nothing until the boat had docked. When had she fallen asleep?
Even the clothes that she wore were different from what she was used to. She looked down at the most comfortable pair of skinny jeans she’d ever worn and the dark green cotton top that was both light and airy. Whose clothes were these? Some woman he had romanced on that yacht?
Guilt began to twist its way into her belly, feeding off the energy of her food. She had the luxury to shower and sleep in soft sheets while Joqi rested in the center of a wrecked car in the streets downtown. Had David gotten word to his family? His children! Zuri understood the loss of a father, even though she had barely begun to process it herself.
Daemon hung up the phone and sighed. Then he smiled at her. Zuri’s stomach clenched as a battle for dominance began between her guilt and the unexplainable response her body was having toward him. She couldn’t think he was attractive! Not at a time like this.
“Just got off the phone with my diplomatic contact. Remember Rutgers from the meeting? He’s working on your immigration status and will have a guy meet us at customs. He’s actually a few hours away from landing in DC.”