The Crown is Not Enough (Love on the Run Book 3)

by Jaclyn Hardy

  Hunter cursed and grabbed the bag on the floor. “Change as quickly as you can. We need to be ready to move as soon as they get out here.”

  “Wait, what do you mean?” Dani’s stomach flopped. “We can’t go in there. I don’t know the plan. Like, at all.”

  “We’re going to stick together at all times. Just do what I do, and you should be fine.” He went to the front of the car. “Your dress is inside. Hurry.”

  He continued with directions for Ben and Dee so they knew where to find the SUV. Dani changed quickly and slipped into the bubble gum pink dress Hunter had grabbed for her. She pulled her hair up and put on the heels from the bag. Not what she would have picked, but the skirt flowed, making it easier for her to move quickly. She grabbed the last ear bud and put it in her ear, then put in the earrings, hoping she wouldn’t have to turn them on, because she had no idea how.

  A knock on the car window was followed by Dee and Ben climbing back inside. Hunter climbed back into the backseat and shoved his clothes into the bag.

  “You know what you’re supposed to do?” Ben asked Hunter.

  “Yes.” Hunter climbed out and held out a hand for Dani to take. “If Dad suspects anything, he’s going to insist on having me go with him. Don’t follow, but keep the mics going so you know where I’ll be.”

  Dani’s head spun as they weaved their way through the crowd. “So, what exactly is the plan?”

  Hunter stopped and pulled her into an alleyway. “Do you trust me?”

  Dani stepped back from the intensity in his eyes. “Of course—”

  “Do you trust me?”

  “Yes.”

  Hunter leaned down and pulled her into an embrace and kissed her. All worry and doubt floated away and by the time he stepped back and pulled her out of the alleyway, Dani couldn’t breathe. She should have wondered what that was all about, but she was too busy remembering how his lips felt on hers.

  They climbed the steps to the mansion and Hunter flashed their invitations for the guard. They moved out of the way and let them inside. The view from the cameras didn’t do this place justice. Dani’s jaw dropped as she took it all in.

  Hunter wrapped his arm around her waist. “Don’t show your surprise. This is something you’ve known all your life. Got it?”

  “Yes.” That was all she could get out before he swept her away past the large group of people and toward the auction. Even if she’d wanted to talk, she had no idea what to say.

  “Father.” Hunter’s voice was cold, something she’d never heard before.

  Dani tried to match his look of indifference, but she wasn’t sure she pulled it off. Bored. She should look bored.

  “Hunter, my boy. I just couldn’t stay away.”

  “I see that.” Hunter’s words were clipped. “I told you I had this under control.”

  His father laughed. “I know you did, son. But for something as big as this, I decided I needed to see it for myself. You can go now. Show this lovely lady a good time while you’re here. We’ll return home tomorrow.”

  Hunter stiffened. “I prefer to stay. I came all this way, I think I should see it. Besides, Emma here is set on seeing it for herself. Aren’t you, darling?”

  “Yes. It’s not every day you get to see an artifact from Cleopatra, is it?” Never mind that they had her crown at home. “Sweetie, can we go in and sit now, please? You know I don’t like mingling.”

  “Yes, dear.” Hunter kissed her hand, bowed to his father, and then led Dani into the room where the auction would be held.

  Dani’s legs shook as they found their way to a seat. She’d been wrong. Todd’s grandparents weren’t the scariest people she’d ever met. Hunter’s dad was. She sank into a chair and took deep breaths, then leaned over to Hunter. “Where are the others?”

  “Hopefully on their way back to the car by now,” Hunter whispered. “Sit tight. You’re about to hear some rather large numbers flying back and forth.”

  Dani nestled in close to Hunter and listened while artifacts from all over the world were auctioned off. Some of the items were pieces that she wouldn’t have sold at the antique shop because of how useless they were—old shoes worn by someone famous, robes from some queen or another, a painting that looked like it had been done by a first grader—but others had her mouth hanging open. She’d thought Carlie’s collection of Cleopatra’s belongings was impressive, but it didn’t come close to this But there was gold from Mayan times and vases from Ancient Greece.

  “Impressive, right?” Hunter’s words tickled Dani’s ear.

  All she could do was nod. Finally, it was time for the scepter and the buzz of voices grew more excited. Hunter picked up his paddle. At first the numbers went up quickly. A thousand, five thousand, ten thousand. But as the price continued to rise, bidders started to drop out. Hunter continued to battle against his father until they’d reached the four million dollars that it was supposedly worth.

  “The bid is at four million. Would you like to bid more?” The auctioneer smiled at Hunter, his eyes full of greed.

  Hunter shook his head slightly, and the crowd cheered. Dani stared up at him. He’d just made his father have to pay four million dollars for a scepter that wasn’t real. At least as far as either of them knew.

  The auction ended, and people stood to leave. Hunter took Dani’s hand and they moved up the side of the room so they could leave quickly.

  “Hunter.” His father’s voice stopped Hunter in his tracks.

  Dani cringed. They’d been so close.

  “Well, done, Father. Another priceless collectible that you can keep in your mansion for yourself.” He bowed slightly and started forward again, but his father grabbed his arm.

  “You obviously wanted it. Why give up and let me have it?”

  Hunter winked at Dani before turning back. “I suppose family loyalty was stronger than the need to share the scepter with the world. Enjoy it, Father.”

  They moved faster now, ignoring the yells from his father. When they were far enough away from the mansion, Hunter ducked into an alleyway.

  “Please tell me you got it.” His words were punctuated with gasps from moving so quickly.

  Carlie’s voice crackled through the ear bud. “We got it. Let’s get out of here.”

  Hunter grinned and pulled Dani out of the alleyway—and ran into someone rather large. Dani’s eyes widened.

  “Xander? What are you doing here?”

  “Collecting the scepter. Just like you. Now where is it? We need to get it somewhere safe.” Xander waved a car forward and opened the door.

  Hunter stepped back. “We don’t have it. The highest bid went to someone else. We’ll have to find another way to retrieve.”

  Xander snorted. “I think we both know that’s not true. Get in.”

  “Just let us go. Please.” Dani yelped as she was grabbed and shoved into the car.

  Hunter tried to fight back, but Xander punched him and threw him in next to Dani. And they weren’t alone.

  “You owe me a lot of money for the damage done to my home.” Mr. Carpenter’s smile was more like that of a snake’s.

  A loud gasp made Dani flinch. Braden’s voice broke through the other voices. “That’s Sloan.”

  Dani’s eyes widened, and she glanced over at Hunter. He clearly had no idea who this Sloan guy was, but she’d heard horror stories. This was who Braden had worked for when he’d gone after the necklace. She needed to say something.

  “I think whoever installed the fire sprinklers owes you. I’m pretty sure they were faulty.”

  “There was nothing wrong with them. We found the broken glass from the bulb.” Sloan leaned forward. “Where are they? I know they’re here somewhere.”

  “Who?” Dani refrained from rolling her eyes. Typical high school questions.

  Sloan shot her a half-smile. “You know who I mean. The ones who have my necklace in a museum in New York. The ones who somehow got the crown from me. And who just recently gained possession
of the scepter. Where are they?”

  “Oh, them. I don’t know. They most likely took off as soon as they got the scepter.” Dani mentally rolled her eyes. At first she couldn’t talk, and now she couldn’t shut up.

  Hunter glared at Xander. “So, all of this time. Everything you’ve supposedly done for us, you were actually doing for this slime ball?”

  “No, not this one.” Xander flicked a piece of lint off his suit. “Someone just a little closer to you.”

  Dani glanced over at Hunter with raised eyebrows, then turned back. “Closer to who?”

  Xander pulled his phone out of his pocket, smiled, and handed it to Hunter. “Speak of the devil. I believe your dearest daddy would like to speak with you.”

  Hunter sat there, his eyes wide. He finally swallowed. “You work for my dad?”

  “Me, Sloan, Braden did at some point.”

  Braden spoke into Dani’s ear. “Listen, whatever he says, ignore him. Sloan is behind all this.”

  Dani glanced over at Hunter. “It wasn’t coincidence that you moved in next to me, was it?”

  “What? Of course it—no.” His eyes widened as he turned to Xander. He grabbed the phone. “Did you set this whole thing up?”

  Dani sat there stunned. She’d been best friends with him. They’d made dinner together every night since they met. She’d shared secrets with him.

  “Does Mom know you’re this evil?” Hunter threw the phone at Xander. “Stop the car.”

  “I don’t think so. Your friends have what we want, and your daddy won’t pay until we have it in our possession.”

  Dani rubbed her forehead. The package that had been sent to her house. Hunter had been right there when she opened it. He just happened to say something to his dad who miraculously found the scepter for them to go collect.

  “Dani. This is what these people do. Don’t listen to them.” Carlie’s voice was pleading, but Dani didn’t know what to believe anymore.

  She looked up at Sloan. “How did you get out of prison? Braden and Carlie had you locked up for good.”

  Again, that slimy smile. “They forget that money goes a long way in the justice system. Pay enough and you’re out on good behavior.”

  “Was it you that paid, or was it Hunter’s dad?”

  Sloan shrugged. “Does it matter?”

  “Yes,” Dani and Hunter said in unison.

  “We’re only on your radio now. Send them to the hotel. We can end it there. Then you can work this out with Hunter.” Braden was the last person she needed to hear right now, but if it meant ending this . . .

  “Fine.” Dani ignored the shocked look from Hunter. “I’ll take you to them. But if you touch one hair on their head—”

  “What are you doing?” Hunter reached for Dani’s hand, but she pulled away. “You can’t trust these guys?”

  Dani met Xander’s eyes. “Take us to the Regency Hotel. That’s where the scepter is. You get that, I get my friends so we can go home. Got it?”

  Hunter cursed. “They’re not there. It’s a trap.”

  “It’s not a trap. What are they going to do? They have a baby there. They won’t attack.” Dani wanted out of the car as quickly as possible.

  The moment they pulled up, Dani jumped out and stalked toward the entrance. The others scrambled to catch up to her.

  “We’re here.”

  “I see you. Don’t do anything rash. Carlie and Braden have gone to the authorities. I don’t know what they can do, but we’ll find out. I’ll see you up here.” Ben’s voice was the only thing keeping her from going crazy.

  She opened the elevator and the others jumped in just before it closed.

  “I do hope you’re not pulling something.” Sloan stood in the corner, his hands folded in front of him.

  “What would I be pulling? I just want you guys out of here.” Dani prayed Braden and Carlie had actually been able to get ahold of someone. Ben wasn’t exactly enough to stop these guys.

  She forced herself to walk down the hall to the room and reached for the door. Rough hands grabbed her and pulled her back.

  “You’re not going in without us.” Sloan held tight, and Dani felt something hard and cold shoved up against her back. Great, now guns were involved.

  “Leave her alone.” Hunter glared at him, but he was held back by Xander. “This issue is with me. Not them. Let her go.”

  Sloan laughed. “Oh, believe me, the issue is definitely with them.”

  The door opened, and Ben stood there. “No, I ordered pizza, not two slime balls and a daddy’s boy on the side.”

  Sloan shoved past him, dragging Dani with him. “Where’s Braden? I have words to say to him.”

  “Braden? I don’t know a Braden. Honey, do you know a Braden?”

  Dee sat at the table painting her nails. “Nope. I think you got the wrong room. Try one floor up.”

  Sloan pulled Dani closer and the gun went from her back to her temple. “No more joking around. Where is Braden?”

  “Right here.” Braden’s voice came from the entryway.

  Police flowed into the room surrounding all of them. Sloan and Xander were thrown to the ground and cuffed.

  “Good luck paying your way out of jail here. They don’t take kindly to kidnapping, drugs, or assault.” Braden knelt down next to Sloan. “Stay away from me, my friends, and my family, or you’ll wish you’d never left the prison cell.”

  Sloan was dragged away, his normally slicked back hair falling into his face. Xander took a few more people to pull him off the ground.

  “Wait.” Dani stepped closer and slapped him as hard as she could. “That’s for making me trust you.” Another slap. “That’s for turning my apartment into spy central.” She wound up and punched him as hard as she could. “And that’s for making it so I can never trust anyone ever again.”

  The police chief glared at her. “Careful or we’ll have to bring you in for assault as well.”

  She held her hands up. “I’m done.”

  He nodded and said something into his radio before they shoved a bleeding Xander out the door. As soon as they were gone, Dani collapsed onto the couch cradling her hand. She was pretty sure she’d broken something, but it had been worth it.

  “Dani—” Hunter began.

  “Don’t.” Dani stood, went to her room, and slammed the door.

  She flopped onto her bed and finally allowed herself to relax. Sobs racked her body as she let all of the anxiety and fear out. Dee came and laid down next to her, brushing her hair out of the way.

  “You know it wasn’t Hunter who did all that.”

  Dani rolled over. “Do I? Really?”

  Dee frowned. “I guess not. But he’s been right there with you this whole time. He could have taken the crown, he could have ditched us to get the scepter, but he didn’t.”

  “That just makes it worse.” Dani rubbed her eyes. “I need to sleep. You have a big day tomorrow, and I just want to forget everything that happened today.

  “We . . . we decided to put off the wedding.”

  That jerked Dani back to reality. “What? Why?”

  “Well, the scepter for starters. We don’t want that sitting here. There could be more Sloans out there.”

  “You have to get married, though. We had it all planned out. And you learned all the Hungarian customs.”

  Dee waved her hand. “I thought about that. I want a wedding where my family can actually be there.”

  Dani laughed. “You’ve changed your wedding three times now. Let’s just have you get married here and then Carlie and I can plan a huge reception for you there.”

  “Are you sure?” Dee bit her lip.

  “Yes. No more waiting. One of us needs a happy ending.” Dani smiled. “Besides, that dress you found is gorgeous.”

  Dee squealed. “Okay, I’m going to go tell Ben it’s back on. Thank you.”

  She squeezed Dani in a hug and ran out of the room. Dani went to her bag and found a pair of leggings she could u
se as a brace for her hand.

  Dani was still awake when Dee came in later that night. She was still awake when the sun came up hours later. It was going to be a long day, but she’d get through it.

  The wedding was beautiful. Everything went just as they’d planned except that Dani didn’t walk down the aisle with Hunter. She stared straight ahead until Carlie and then Dee got to them and then allowed the tears to flow unchecked.

  The words spoken were in Hungarian, so Dani let her mind wander until the actual vows were spoken.

  While everyone else in attendance—several guests had shown up without being invited—celebrated the wedding, Dani forced a smile on her face. She was genuinely happy for the newlyweds. Dee and Ben were absolutely perfect for each other.

  “Can I sit here?” Hunter’s voice broke through Dani’s thoughts. “Please. I need to explain.”

  Dani moved to get up, but decided against it. Moving was too much work. “What?”

  Hunter started to reach for Dani’s hand, but stopped. “I don’t know how to make you believe that I knew none of this was going on, but I really didn’t. When the apartment ad was left in my dorm, I just figured one of my roommates had picked it up, and I jumped at the chance.”

  “And your dad?”

  “Clearly there is more to the collection in his house than he cared to tell me. I swear I’ve never seen Xander or Mr. Car—Sloan before.” He brushed his fingers through his hair. “I do think I’ve been to his house before. When I mentioned finding that ladder, it was like I remembered it from my childhood. But I honestly don’t remember being there.”

  Dani stared at him. “And you want me to believe all that?”

  “I’d love it if you did. But I know the evidence is stacked against me. Dad made sure of that.” Hunter sighed. “I’m sorry. If that means anything.”

  “It’s a start.” Dani had already encountered one family with a crazy past over the last few weeks. She had to wonder if Todd knew his grandparents were holding a girl hostage.

  He stood and held out his hand. “Would you care to dance?”

  Dani hid a smile. “I suppose that would be okay.”

  Hunter led her out onto the dance floor and they danced until their feet were sore. Dani still wasn’t sure what to believe, but having Hunter back by her side just felt right somehow.