“You’re mine,” he mouthed.
She shuddered and looked at Shelley, who leaned against the wall behind her. “How could you work for someone who would also hire Stephen? He’s a grade-A creep.”
“Yes, he is. I’m pretty sure Stephen was a desperation measure when you wouldn’t tell me anything.” Shelley folded her arms. “Why couldn’t we be close friends, Carlie? You wouldn’t trust me with anything until after Nick was brought in on the case. This was my first mission, and I wanted to be successful. You made me look like an incompetent fool.”
“So, you answering my ad for a waitress, all the fun times we had together, pushing me into a relationship first with Stephen and later with Nick...” Carlie shook her head, feeling more betrayed than ever before. She really thought Shelley was a friend, almost a sister. “That was a job, and we were never friends?”
The hardness in Shelley’s gaze softened slightly, but then she shrugged. “Yes. It was just a job. I never cared about you.”
So much for having an ally. Carlie thought she was a better judge of character than that.
***
Nick was finally on the road in his rental car, racing for the convenience store Paul directed him to. It had taken a bit to get everything set up. Jenessa insisted on sending an agent with him. He argued that he was a better marksman and had more fighting experience. They’d put Carlie in danger with their presence.
The FBI agents didn’t appreciate knowing a spy had more skills than them and could take care of himself. He got the impression none of the male agents liked him. It made him wonder if they were invested in making sure he and Carlie got out alive, or if they only wanted to capture Paul. At least they agreed to let him go alone.
Insisting they didn’t follow closely so as not to tip off whoever watched him posed another problem. Luckily, Jenessa said her main job was computers and all things digital. She produced a watch with a tracking system and listening device built in, which calmed any fears that they wouldn’t be able to find him.
Nick hoped Paul didn’t have a way of discovering what the watch really was or jamming the signal. Nick wanted the other agents there when he confronted the boss. They could keep Paul occupied while he rescued Carlie.
He sped as fast as he dared. It would be tough to reach the store before Paul called. Nick had no way to explain the delay, so hopefully the cops were busy elsewhere.
Knowing how Paul had changed in the last year was a constant worry. If he did anything wrong, Carlie would suffer the consequences. A lot could be done to a body and keep it alive, and it seemed Paul wasn’t above torture.
Chapter Forty-Four
The door opened and the man stepped into the interrogation room. Carlie’s mouth went dry. He looked different—older and hardened. Gray dusted the temples of his black hair and those brown eyes bored into her.
“Stephanie,” he practically purred her name. “I hoped you’d be dead by now.”
She could barely catch her breath. “Ryan? I don’t understand. You died in the explosion.”
Ryan laughed and crossed the room, pulling out the chair opposite her. “It was a very convincing explosion,” he agreed. “Good enough to make the people in my country believe that poor, sweet, lovely Princess Stephanie lost her life in it, though I barely escaped with mine.”
Carlie tried to make sense of things. “You told them I died? Why? The assassins were out to get you, not me. Who would care if I died?”
“Oh, Stephanie.” Ryan shook his head. “You were such a gullible person from the very beginning. All I wanted was your virginity, and you had to go and get pregnant.”
She looked down at the table, not wanting to see the condescending look in his eyes. While she had been a gullible, love-struck girl in college, she wasn’t the same person...was she?
He continued on, “Talk about ruining my future. I was engaged to a gorgeous woman back home when I left for America. We were going to marry after I returned from my time abroad. You ruined everything!”
Looking back up, she glared at him, challenging him. She wasn’t the same person, and he wouldn’t push her around. “Guess you shouldn’t have plied me with alcohol and raped me.”
She struggled against controlling her emotions. It was the first time she let herself admit what he did to her was rape—he stole from her that night, and she’d always tried to sugar coat it in her thoughts. After being with Nick, she realized that wasn’t the way a relationship should be. Ryan was a horrible person. While she thought he was dead, she struggled to switch her memories into happy ones. It appeared her efforts were wasted. He was still scum.
“Rape?” His lip twisted. “You wanted it. Plus, look what you got in return. From a poor little girl chasing her folks around to give to the needy, you became a princess. I didn’t take anything from you. You were privileged to be with me.”
Composing herself, Carlie kept her voice calm and steady. She wouldn’t be cowed by this poor excuse for a man. “Just because a woman is attracted to a man, that doesn’t mean she’s asking for it or wants him to take it from her. You’re disgusting.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Careful, Stephanie. You’re at my mercy here, and after years of chasing you, I don’t feel like playing nice.”
“You never really did play nice, did you?” Carlie forced a laugh. “So, why have you been searching for me? Your mom’s the one who gave me the money to run away. I’ve never told anyone who I was.” Well, except Nick and Shelley, but apparently that was after Ryan already found her. “What do you want? Why hunt me down?” Because she knew it had to be him who sent the assassins after her all these year, making her life one mass of fear.
“You were supposed to send all your items across to Maharla before we left.” He stood abruptly, slamming the metal table into Carlie’s stomach and pinning her to the chair as he towered over her. “You stupid bitch! Why did you keep the damn bracelet?”
The force of the table knocked the wind out of her, but Carlie refused to show weakness. “Gabi’s bracelet?” She wheezed, but matched him glare for glare. “I kept it with me because I was going to put it with her grave. You said it was jewels for the princess. Gabi should have it.”
Without warning, the back of his hand slammed across her face. The force of the blow tilted her chair. Her knees jammed into the bottom of the table, which threw her forward again, ramming her stomach into the metal. With her hands behind her back, she wasn’t able to brace herself and her head bashed into the table top. Bright white sparkled in her vision and pain brought tears to her eyes.
“Hey!” Shelley protested. “There’s no need for that.”
“Keep out of it,” Ryan snarled.
Once her vision cleared, Carlie used her feet to push away from the table, unwilling to be trapped again. Shelley didn’t comment, so apparently she had no problem with Carlie moving. A coppery taste flooded her mouth and she spit out blood.
“You’re worthless.” He flopped into his seat. “Trapped me in marriage and then couldn’t even produce an heir. When Uncle Zerach said I had to marry you, I figured I’d do what any man with a boring, stupid bride does.” A sly smile crossed his face, turning Carlie’s stomach. “Produce two sons and then have affairs with more interesting women.”
If she had ever actually been in love with Ryan, that might have hurt. Having the relationship with Nick let her know what she had with Ryan was never love.
“Why did you come back for me?” she asked. “You and Paul have gone to a lot of trouble convincing people I’m a terrorist and deceiving me into thinking they were my friends.”
Maybe it was a low blow to throw that in Shelley’s face, but she needed to understand the truth of the situation. Maybe she believed she investigated a terrorist before, but this meeting had to prove to Shelley how wrong she was.
“I need that bracelet. Once again, someone tells you to pack all your things, and you left out my damn bracelet.”
So that was why they hadn’t killed her y
et. Nick knew the bracelet was important; he’d certainly asked about it often enough. He must have taken it out of her soap safe and hid it somewhere else. She never even thought to check. While part of her had to wonder if Nick knew all along Ryan was involved in this and needed the bracelet, she was grateful now he hadn’t left it in that box. She’d already be dead if he had.
“I thought I packed the bracelet,” she finally answered. “I didn’t even know it was important to anyone besides me. Why do you need it?”
Ryan ran his hand across his head and closed his eyes for a second, appearing to search for patience. “Not only did you ruin my plans and force me into marriage with you, my uncle doesn’t believe you died in that car explosion after he overheard a conversation between my mom and I. He’s afraid you’ll pop up at some point, and that’s a problem. I can’t be king until I have that bracelet in hand and prove to him you’re dead. As it stands, I’m not allowed to remarry because he’s so hell bent on tradition. He’s threatening to exhume your body now, and the damn coffin has a man in it.”
He jumped up and paced the small room in front of the table, not looking at Carlie. She wondered who Ryan killed in his place during the car explosion. Maybe she should have paid attention to news reports and questioned things more. She believed everything Ryan’s mom said. News always depressed her so she didn’t watch it. Even if they reported her death, Carlie would have never heard about it. Ryan and his mom must have counted on that, knowing she’d never discover the truth.
Ryan ran his hands through his hair. “If the bracelet had been with the belongings sent to Maharla, you’d be able to live. Mother and I planned so carefully, everything was perfect for you to run and never bother us again, and I could assume my rightful position and remarry. I tried to do right by you and keep you alive, out of respect for Gabriela.” He shrugged. “I was softer back then and didn’t want to murder you. I was young and naïve. I know better now. True rulers show no mercy. Once I get my hands on that bracelet, you have to die.”
Shelley gasped, so softly Carlie figured Ryan didn’t hear it.
“You tell me this and then expect me to help you get it?” Carlie asked. “You’ve always been a jerk, but I didn’t take you for stupid.”
“You’ll help me.” He stopped pacing and leaned against the wall, staring at her. “I know you will.”
Dread threaded through her gut. “Why?”
He folded his arms, a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes skimming his lips. “Do you know how many people in Maharla still love you? They come in droves, even after six years, visiting your false grave and leaving flowers for you and our baby. They called you their princess, happy to have a regular person ascending to the throne who wasn’t born into the royal family or one of the upper class.” He scoffed, clearly disgusted. “I’m constantly hearing how sad I must be to have lost such a great partner. They’re so impressed by the charitable acts you participated in. My countrymen mourned more for you than they would have for me.”
Carlie was shocked that they cared that much. She hadn’t spent a lot of time in the country throughout her and Ryan’s marriage, but every time they visited, she went out into the markets and met people. Though she didn’t want to be a princess, she had wanted to do right by the people of Maharla.
Staring back at him, Carlie wondered what he had up his sleeve to force her into helping him get the bracelet. Obviously he wasn’t above lying to get what he wanted. She couldn’t believe all this time the people of Maharla thought she died in the crash.
It made sense why his mom scared her about assassins and gave her money to run. With the king so worried about tradition and unhappy with Ryan’s actions, they would have wanted no chance she’d ever let the king know they lied. Which he would have discovered if Carlie traveled to the country to visit her daughter’s grave.
“Was your brother even murdered?” she asked. “Or did you just tell me that so I would fear assassins and stay hidden?”
“Ehud’s fine, more than fine. If I get disinherited because of you, he gets to be king.” He grimaced. “You’re so stupid. Didn’t you wonder why the cops wouldn’t help us with the threatening letters? I never even went to them. I wrote the letters myself. You were so easy to manipulate. Pathetic, really.”
“I’m so sorry,” Shelley murmured softly behind her.
Looks like someone finally realized she’s been manipulated, too.
Carlie had some sympathy for Shelley, despite the fact the woman lied to her and only pretended to be her friend. Shelley had done what she believed was right, and she just learned that she was actually the bad guy. That had to feel awful.
Seeming unaware Shelley even spoke, Ryan crossed the small space to sit in the chair again. “You’ll help me, Steph, I have no doubt about that.” He pressed his hands against the table, a grin on his face that spoke to his feeling of victory. “If you don’t tell that boyfriend of yours to cooperate and bring me my property, all those idiots in my country mourning for you are going to start dying. Slowly, painfully, one every fifteen minutes until you decide to cooperate.”
“Oh my God,” Shelley breathed. “You’re a monster.”
Choking back vomit, Carlie knew Ryan was right. She couldn’t let people suffer like that. Not if she had a way to stop it. Knowing Prince Ehud was still alive made this all sadder. The younger prince was a sweet man who would make a fair and wonderful king. Carlie used to think Ryan was the same way.
Though she owed nothing to Maharla, the people counted on her to be their princess. She had to save them. Glancing at Shelley over her shoulder, she met the woman’s shocked blue eyes. She wondered if she could count on her help, because Carlie wasn’t going to die here without a fight.
She planned to take Ryan down with her.
Chapter Forty-Five
Nick reached the store with barely minutes to spare. He’d lost the feds along the way, but knew they tracked him, so he rushed into the building without searching for their SUV. If he didn’t act as though he were being followed, perhaps whoever watched him wouldn’t realize it was a possibility.
He raced inside and pushed to the front of the line, ignoring complaints from angry patrons. “You have something for me,” he said to the guy behind the counter. “I need it. Now.”
The man lifted his lip in a sneer, obviously unimpressed by Nick’s urgency. “He said you’d have cash for me.”
Nick knew if that were the case, Paul would have mentioned it, but he took his wallet out and threw several twenties onto the counter.
“And I’m supposed to keep your other phone.”
Paul said he wanted him to get rid of it, but Nick wondered if the boss really wanted him to give it to this thug. Paul had no way of knowing what was programmed into that phone or what kind of information Nick stored on it. Luckily, the FBI insisted Nick erase the safe number. There was nothing else important on it, except for some restaurant contacts.
He pulled it from his pocket and tossed it down. He checked the watch, grateful the tracking device actually functioned as well, or he’d have problems explaining that. Paul was due to call any second.
The man gathered the money and the cell and ducked below the counter, coming up with a brown box. Ringing sounded from inside it. Nick snatched it from the man, backing from the counter and struggling to rip into the cardboard package.
Three rings in, he finally freed the phone and punched the send button on the older model. “I’m here.”
“Walk outside and stand in front of your vehicle. My guy will be along in a few minutes.”
“Not until I talk to Carlie.” Nick hoped whatever payoff Paul got from this job was enough to force him to keep Nick happy. If Paul refused a conversation with Carlie, Nick had no choice but to follow instructions and find him. The FBI agents made that clear.
“Carlie’s tied up,” Paul said, confirming Nick’s fears. “My client wanted some time with her.”
“Disturb them,” he ordered. “I’m no
t moving from this spot until I hear her voice.”
Paul sighed. “You were a lot more fun when I called the shots.”
Nick didn’t know if Paul truly felt like Nick had control, or if the man tried to placate him, but it didn’t matter. “Put her on the phone, now.”
There was the sound of knocking and then a door creaked open. “Excuse me,” Paul said. “The princess has to take a phone call.”
“We’re busy,” a man’s gruff voice responded.
“Not if you want the bracelet.”
There was a moment of silence. “Nick? I’m okay.” Carlie sounded upset, and he wondered how okay she was.
“What color was the dress I bought you?” It was still possible they recorded her voice. He had to verify it was really her.
“Blue. Well, teal really. That was the best night of my life.”
“Mine, too.”
“Even though I’m just a target?”
“Carlie! That’s not—”
“Enough,” Paul said. “She’s fine. Get your ass outside and wait for my man. He’ll take you to the next meeting place.”
Nick exited the store and stopped in front of the rental car. “Where am I heading?” Any information he could give Jenessa and the men could only help prepare them.
Paul huffed. “You don’t need to know that. You were my best agent, but you stabbed me in the back. I tried so hard to keep you in the dark so you could keep working for me, and this is where it ends up. Don’t try and double cross me again, Nick. I’m done playing nice guy with you.”
“How will this work, exactly?” Nick asked. “I’m not giving you the bracelet unless you give me Carlie. You do realize that?”
“When you get to the meeting place, call this number. It’s the only one in the phone. I’ll bring Carlie to you, and we’ll make the exchange. If you follow my orders, you can take her and walk away. Try something tricky, you’re both dead.”
Empty air came over the phone and Nick stuffed it in his pocket. He had to wonder now if bringing the feds in was a good idea. Not that he expected Paul to honor his promise of letting them go free, but he was sure to bring a lot of firepower to the rendezvous area. Nick didn’t want to be responsible for getting the FBI agents killed.
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