“I love it, Alex. I love them both. And I love you.”
“Darling.” He kissed her. “I love you.” He laid her down on the hospital bed so they were on their sides facing each other.
“Alex! What are you doing? Anyone could come in. There aren’t locks on these doors, you know.”
His lips peppered her neck. When he gently bit on her ear, her breath hitched. “A few minutes, darling. I want time with you.”
How could she deny him? “Okay. A few minutes.”
She felt his grin against her skin, and spent the next several minutes making out with her fiancé, her heart and head lighter than it had been in weeks.
Edward was standing outside the hospital waiting room, his eyes fixated down the hall on Catharine’s door. He’d watched a number of family go in and out of the room after the doctor had left, but he had not been able to see her.
They were still a secret.
So, he had to wait for his moment.
He was never very good at waiting.
His phone rang and, before the second ring, he had the phone to his ear. “Luke? Any word?”
“We found her. She’s alive. The intel your princess got from Philip was actually good.”
It took everything in him not to cry out in relief.
He took a deep breath of relief instead.
They’d found Lou.
She was safe.
“Injuries?”
“A few broken ribs, busted lip, twisted ankle.” Luke paused. “She was naked when we found her.”
“God damn sons of bitches.”
“You said it. Gideon wanted to rip someone a new asshole. I’ve never seen him like that.”
“Was she actually…?” Edward couldn’t say the words, didn’t want to make them real.
“She said she wasn’t raped, but that she wasn’t left alone, either. She said she won’t say more than that to anyone but a shrink.”
“God damn it! Fucking Gori.”
Luke voice went bone-chillingly cold. “I’m glad you have that dick in custody, or else I’d make sure he was never found again.”
“Lou say anything else?”
“Just that she’s pissed Gori got the jump on her. Since he and Lou worked together a while back, when he came to her door, she didn’t immediately think anything of it. By the time she caught on and tried to raise the alarm, it was too late. He’d injected her with something, disposed of her watch – which had been her only real way to contact us at that point – and carted her out to an abandoned farmhouse about fifteen miles from your house. Said Gori tortured her fully clothed for a while, then forced her to strip when it wasn’t working.”
“Jesus. Jesus Christ.”
“She didn’t break though, didn’t say a word about where you were. Don’t know why Gori never thought of it before.”
“Neither do I. It only delayed the inevitable. If he realized it sooner, he would have come for the princess sooner, but then maybe Lou would never have been taken.”
“Maybe. Can’t do the ‘what ifs’ though. Gotta keep moving.”
Didn’t he know it? “Lou’s sisters?”
“Didn’t think anything of it when Lou never showed for some girls night they were supposed to have, since she works nights for us so much. Hell, they work nights, too, with their IT consulting business.”
“We need to change things. Security protocols, alert procedures–”
“We know. Blake’s on it, believe me. He was with the crew who found Lou bound and gagged naked, and beat to shit in an abandoned farmhouse. No one’s going to argue about changes. How’s the princess?”
“Doing well. We’re still at the hospital. When’s Lou get discharged? She should come stay with Lisette and Blake until she recovers.”
“Lisette’s already pushing her for that, believe me. No word on discharge date yet. You coming up to see her?”
“As soon as I can manage it. We’re still tying up some loose ends with the investigation.”
“I think you don’t want to leave your princess.”
Sometimes Luke was too astute for his own good.
“Once things wind down in Valentia, I’ll touch base.”
Luke huffed a laugh. “Sure. Avoid the obvious. We’ll talk soon.”
As soon as they hung up, a voice called his name. “Bash.”
Edward turned at Marcello’s voice. “Sir. How are our driver and agent doing?”
“Driver’s still in surgery, the agent’s in recovery. Doctors think they’ll both make it.”
“That’s excellent news, Sir.”
“That it is. Any news from your end?”
“We found Lou.” Eddie gave him the details Luke had just told him. “She’ll recover, at least physically.”
“Let me know if you need anything from RPS or me to help out.”
“Thank you, Sir. I will. Any news on Gerald? Or Andre Nouveau?”
“Gerald’s been keeping quiet for now. For once, he didn’t have anything to do with a threat against the family. There have been no comms in or out of his cell, and minimal interactions with the guards. He’s allowed outside for one hour each day, and even then he’s secluded.”
“Quiet doesn’t mean he’s not plotting. We find any more connections between him and any anti-monarchist groups?”
Marcello shook his head. “Not at the moment, though we’ve still got wire and phone taps we’re monitoring. We’re looking for chatter that could tell us if either Gerald or any of the groups are planning something for the wedding. God help us if there’s a security breach then. World leaders, our entire family, and a thousand innocent civilians, and that’s just in the church. We’ve also got to consider the tens of thousands expected to be in the streets that day. Jesus. It’s a security nightmare.”
“We’re keeping a close watch on Gerald, and those groups. Anyone breathes the wrong way, we’ll know.”
“Damn right we will. Philip alluded to a group that colluded with him, but never mentioned their name; we’re trying to break that out of him now. If we can get solid evidence, we might be able to take at least one group down before they get violent.
“Gori did break. Admitted he was working with Philip and Muffy, and arranged the blackmail for Vinnie. Muffy, Vinnie, and Cesaire confirmed Gori’s statement.”
Eddie frowned. “I don’t get why they involved Vinnie or Cesaire at all. If Gori was working with them, Gori could have planted the equipment in the palace without being suspected.”
“Muffy told us that involving Vinnie and Cesaire was her idea, since Cesaire had taken some not-so-flattering pictures of her and Vinnie had run them in the Star. Philip, in his own twisted way, likes Muffy and blackmailed them to keep her happy, but also to keep them under his thumb. They wouldn’t run a story on him or the fall of the Cortay family if Philip kept blackmailing them, so it was a win-win for him.
“If they’d managed to go through with their plan, and Philip married Cat, Philip was planning to keep Muffy as his mistress.” Marcello shook his head. “Muffy’s tattoo? The one Charlie saw? In case you were wondering, it was the Cortay family crest. She got it done to prove her devotion to Philip.”
Eddie bit back the shudder of revulsion that wanted to burst free. He never wanted to think about Muffy’s tattooed ass ever again. “What was Vinnie being blackmailed with?”
“A potential phone hacking scandal. Vinnie’s been trying to hack into the phones of celebrities and us royals. Gori initially discovered Vinnie’s scheme when we asked him to do the investigation on Sacheverelle a few months back. However, rather than tell me – his fucking boss – he used the info to align with Philip and become a traitor to the crown.”
“We sure the phone hacking scheme never got started?”
“Our electronics division is making sure, and everyone’s getting new phones as a precaution. We find out it’s true, we’ll release a statement to the public.”
Eddie shook his head. “How the hell did Gori ever be
come an agent? Get through our background checks, and security protocols?”
Marcello’s face went grim. “You can be damn sure I’ll find out. Changes are coming.”
Wasn’t that the truth? Marcello, and his whole family, would soon know just how much was changing once he and Catharine were revealed.
“We also just got some more bad news.”
Edward braced.
“Nouveau’s body was just fished out of the Rhone River.”
“God damn it. Have you told your brother or Charlie yet?”
“Going there now.” Marcello glanced at the waiting room, where Charlie was resting against Nate’s side, speaking in low tones. “She’s not going to take it well.”
“No, Sir. Would you like me to do it instead? No one forgets the person who tells them someone died. She’ll think about it when she sees you for some time to come.”
“I know, Bash, and thanks for the offer. I’ll still do it, though.”
Eddie nodded. “Of course, Sir.”
Marcello nodded. “Better do it now while the whole family’s there to support her.”
As Marcello left, Eddie realized that everyone was, in fact, in the waiting room together.
That meant his Catharine was alone.
Seizing on his chance, he strode down the hall.
Chapter Eighteen
Cat stared at the dull ceiling in her hospital room. Eddie had carried her to a car and brought her to the hospital; after that, she’d lost sight of him. She’d hoped to speak to him, but there hadn’t been a chance.
Her family had come to see her. Her mother had cried, her father had been alternatingly incensed and relieved.
Her brothers had come.
Her sisters had come.
Charlie and Grace had come, too.
So had Rebecca, who’d told her that children were still likely in her future.
That meant Cat might not need to produce an heir.
She’d wanted to tell Eddie straight away, but he hadn’t come to see her.
She was trying to stay positive. Maybe he was just busy. She was sure he wasn’t avoiding her because he realized she was more trouble than she was worth.
Well, almost sure.
At a soft knock on the door, she glanced over, and relief poured through her at the sight of Eddie.
Even through his scruffy beard, she could see his lips were in a hard line. There was a crease between his eyebrows and his eyes were sharp and assessing.
“I’m all right,” she whispered.
He didn’t speak. He simply closed the door behind him, and made his way to her in just a few long, purposeful strides. He cupped her face with one hand, his thumb making small, circular strokes against her cheek.
“Are you really, My Lady?”
“Am I still yours?”
“You’ll always be mine.”
Her breath caught. “Do you mean that?”
He sat down on the bed and leaned over her, his hands bracing themselves on either side of her head. “Yes, but we need to tell your family.”
She wrapped her hands around his wrists, and felt his heart beating strong and true. “We will. As soon as I’m home and we can have more privacy for it.”
“You mean in case they decide to kill me? Less witnesses. Good thinking.”
“Eddie,” she snapped at him, though with a smile on her face.
The corner of his mouth curved up. “I’m only half joking.”
She sighed with fake exasperation. “What am I going to do with you?”
He leaned closer. “Love me for the rest of my life.”
She melted into the bed. “Eddie,” she said softly.
He gave her a soft, lingering kiss. “I need you.”
Three words that sent her heart bursting. Other women might have preferred three other words, but not Cat. No one had ever really needed her before. Sure, they’d wanted her, but they’d wanted the princess, not the person.
Eddie wanted her. Needed her. Loved her.
“Kiss me, Eddie.”
His eyes slid to her lips. “That’s dangerous,” he murmured, brushing her hair away from her face. “Your family’s just down the hall.”
“I need you, too,” she whispered.
His hand stilled on her hair, then fisted it almost painfully. “Catharine. My Catharine.”
He lifted her torso and cradled her against his chest.
Then his lips crushed down over hers.
Her arms wound around his neck, and his beard sent delicious, tingling goosebumps across her skin.
She moaned and the kiss went deeper, harder.
His hand slid underneath her shirt.
Her hand slipped down and fumbled with the buttons on his.
His hand slid across her ribcage, teasing the underside of her breast.
Her hand found the wiry hair of his chest.
His hand found her nipple.
Her hand trailed down over his abs, towards his cock.
His thumb toyed with her nipple until it stood in a tall, stiff peak.
Her back arched, and her hand covered his cock over his pants, rubbing and relishing in his groans.
He leaned her down towards the bed.
She shifted a hand to his zipper.
So close.
So close to the feel of him.
The scent of him.
The taste of him, all of him, of which she had yet to partake.
If only she could free him.
She could have him.
All of him.
So close.
“What the hell is going on here?” an angry voice called from the doorway.
Marcello.
They froze.
His hand on her breast.
Her hand near his cock.
Their lips unmistakably locked together.
“Step away from my sister, asshole.”
Cat gasped, their mouths breaking apart as reality crushed her.
Marcello now knew.
The family would soon know, too.
And it didn’t look like they’d approve.
She and Eddie were still locked together. Eddie gave her a long look then gently brushed his lips against hers.
“Now, asshole.”
Eddie eased her away from him, slipping his hand out from under her shirt. She tried to button his shirt again, but his warm hands covered hers. “Leave it,” he murmured, a faint whisper in a thickly tense room.
“Eddie, it’ll be okay,” she whispered, though she knew Marcello could hear every word they said.
“You’re not moving fast enough,” Marcello barked. She glanced over and saw him standing near the closed door, his arms crossed over his chest, his lips in a thin sneer.
“Oh, shut it,” Cat told him, anger taking over for the worry she felt.
“He was manhandling you, Cat.”
Cat glared at him. “He wasn’t doing anything he hasn’t done before.”
Marcello rubbed a hand over his face. “Jesus fucking Christ. I didn’t need to know that.”
Eddie stood, turned towards Marcello, and began fixing his shirt. “You need to understand what’s going on here.”
“You don’t say one more fucking word,” Marcello said, pointing at Eddie. “I knew something was going on. When Cat asked after ‘Eddie’ when she was kidnapped, I knew then. You took advantage of her. That’s what’s going on here.”
Cat sat up in bed. “No, it’s not. Listen to me.”
Eddie put a supportive hand on Cat’s shoulder. “You should listen to your sister.”
“Take your fucking hands off her. I won’t tell you again.”
“You sure as hell won’t. You don’t have any right to tell a man he can’t touch his fiancée.”
The room went unnaturally still, as though time stopped.
Then it rushed quickly into light speed.
Eddie wanted to marry her!
Though, it would have been nice if he asked her first, before announ
cing it.
Marcello growled. “What did you say?”
“I said I’m marrying your sister.” Eddie turned to her, cupping her face with his hands. “You will marry me, won’t you?”
She sat up on her knees and wrapped her arms around him. “Are you really asking me to marry you?”
“I probably should have picked a better time to do it.”
“Probably. It wouldn’t change my answer if you had.”
“What answer would that be?”
She saw it, though he tried to hide it.
Fear and insecurity.
How could he doubt what she wanted? What she needed? “That’s a yes. No matter what happens, I’m with you.”
“Catharine.”
“Oh, Eddie.”
They only got the briefest of kisses in when the door opened, hitting Marcello in the shoulder.
They were still wrapped around each other when they both turned to see who it was.
Alex.
Oh boy.
“Holy hell. What is this?”
“That’s what I’m trying to find out,” Marcello said.
Alex’s eyes narrowed on Eddie’s hands, which had shifted to rest on top of her ass. “Step away from my sister.”
“She may be your sister, but she’s my fiancée.”
Alex turned to Marcello, his face incredulous. “What. The. Fuck?”
“I just walked in on them before you did. Believe me, I am just as pissed as you.”
Alex snarled at Eddie. “How long has this been going on?”
“Not long enough.” Eddie tightened his hold on Cat. “I love her.”
Marcello stepped forward. “You abused your position to lure my sister.”
“I used my position to protect the woman I love, don’t ever forget that.”
Alex crossed his arms over his broad chest. “You won’t marry. I won’t allow it.”
At this, Cat snapped. “You won’t allow it? You have no control over who I love and who I marry. Is this payback? Because I wasn’t sure about Rebecca for you when you two got together? Even though I’ve apologized a million times for that?”
Alex looked aghast. “Of course not. But you can do better than him.”
Catharine & Edward Page 20