by Nana Malone
I grinned. "My hacker thing, Ethan?"
Ethan then purposely bent himself at the waist, acting like he was leaning on a cane, and said, "Well, you know, whatever you young kids do with the computer fizzle. I don't know."
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, you act like you have no idea what you're doing, but you're not half bad."
He shrugged. "Yes, but you're the expert, so you can dig into backgrounds a lot faster than any of us."
I slid my gaze to Sebastian. "Um, do we want this done legally, or you know, back access?"
Sebastian lifted his brow. "What do you think?"
I risked a glance to my best friend, whose gaze was ping-ponging between me and Tristan. When she met my gaze, she gave me a wide beaming smile. "We always want you to use back access. There's no point in asking you if that's not what we want."
I shrugged. "Good point."
Tristan frowned. "What are we talking about? What's back access?"
Lucas laughed. "No one told you? Ariel is pretty much a white-hat hacker."
"I'm not a hacker. I just happen to know how to hack. So occasionally I have a peek under people's boots and things, you know, without their permission."
Roone's voice was low and amused. "And exactly how is that not hacking?"
Penny was quick to jump to my defense. "That's not hacking. That is investigative research."
Ethan calmed us all down quickly. "Anyway, Zia, get that list for Ariel. Ariel, do your thing. Your Royal Highness, in the meantime, you're not to go anywhere without Trevor and two of the King’s Knights."
His brows lifted, and his gaze pinned on me. "Two Knights?"
I nodded but deliberately didn't meet his eyes. "Yes, a three-person team should be able to cover you properly. For the rest of today, Zia and I will handle it, but the rest of my team will rotate in and out. Obviously, you have Trevor. Ethan, is there any way we can spare another Guard? Trevor will need to be off rotation at some point. Unless the prince and he can work out a way where he actually gets a break, he will need some days off."
Roone pushed away from the bookshelf. "When Trevor needs a day off, I'll step in. Then the Council can’t balk."
Sebastian was shaking his head, but Roone held up a hand. "I know you need me on the Council, and I'll make sure to do that. I'll work out with Trevor when those dates are, but we should have coverage."
Penny hopped up off the desk. "And don't forget, I make a darn good Royal Guard too."
Sebastian, Ethan, and Roone all answered at the same time. "No."
She grumbled and frowned. "I swear to God."
I shrugged and gave her a smile. "What? Seriously, you want to stay in front of the target of an assassin?"
"I'm a Guard, goddamn it," she mumbled.
I decided to appeal to her rational sense of spirit. "You are also extremely conspicuous."
She pursed her lips and then muttered. "Fair point."
Tristan shook his head. "Right. Okay, I guess I'll just have to get used to you guys talking about me like I'm not here."
Sebastian tried to ease his cousin's worries. "Sorry, we're just used to jumping in and dealing with the problem."
"Right, but is a full team of three absolutely necessary?"
I stared at him. "So, you mean someone is not trying to kill you? Someone didn't just poison your teammate?" I glowered at him, and he glowered back. The tension between us was thick enough to skewer with a katana.
Or maybe it was just me who was feeling it, because Ethan started talking, handing out assignments, and making plans. When everyone was excused, Penny gave my arm a squeeze and told me she'd call me later. Then she led Zia down to where our palace headquarters would be.
I stayed back to speak to Sebastian, but he gave me a shrug. "Sorry, I have another meeting. Can we catch up later? I know we need to review those resumes and narrow down the candidates."
"Ugh, fine. But with the additional load, it’s becoming urgent."
He nodded. "Yeah, I know. Remember, we have the Royal Arts Gala at the end of the week too. With Tristan being home, he's expected to attend."
Shit. I’d forgotten all about it. "Fuck me. I'll rearrange and make sure the whole team is here. Which also makes more team members pertinent."
"I don't anticipate any problems in the palace, but obviously, it's concerning."
"Yup. Understood." Sebastian excused himself and I thought I was alone. But when I turned, Tristan was there, looking all kinds of pissed off.
"What’s the problem now?"
"What is my problem? Why do you have to be the one riding in on a fucking white horse?"
I gave him a harsh chuckle. "Oh my God, I am literally a Knight. So, if anyone should ride in on a white horse, it's me."
"You know what I mean. If someone is trying to kill me, then the last place you should be is in the crossfire."
"I'm sorry you think I’m the little woman you need to protect. But I'm not Penny, I'm not married to the King, and I don't need a forty-person guard. No one knows me. And I promise you, I’m pretty deadly."
"Are you insane? I've only been back a few days, and already, everyone is telling me all the legends of Ariel Scott. You and Penny are iconic in the Guard. And you and Roone, Jesus. When did you become this person?"
"I have always been this person."
He shook his head. "No, you're completely different. The girl I knew was unsure and wanted to leave here. She didn't want any part of this. But you… you are someone different."
"Well, I'll tell you what I am. I'm a survivor. I managed to make a home and carved one out of stone for myself."
He softened his gaze. "Are the other rumors true?"
"I don't know what rumors you're talking about."
"The ones about why you left the guard?"
I swallowed hard, my throat drier than the desert sands of the Mohave. "I don't see how that's relevant."
"Well, it's relevant because maybe you're already a target. I don't want anyone coming after me and coming after you."
"Look, I'm doubtful that this is royal conspiracy. Besides, people who are coming after me are completely different people than those who would be coming after you. We dismantled the Sons of Angelus faction. There might still be some sympathizers on the Council, but we're going to clean house. If Sebastian gets his way, he'll have the full majority vote, and he won’t need them. So, it's fine. I'm not in danger, you are."
"I don't want you any closer to this."
Why? "That's awesome. Good thing it's not up to you."
"When I talk to Sebastian, it will be up to me."
"I hate to be the one to point this out to you, but you're not in charge here. Sebastian is. And for some reason, he seems to want to save your ass. I mean, for me, I could go either way really. But that's the job. That's the assignment. Guard you."
He licked his lips, and it was more than I could do not to focus on his tongue. It had been a long-ass dry spell, and he was looking like what I needed to quench the thirst.
Stop it.
"I just want you safe," he ground out.
"What does it matter? My job is to guard you. Keep you safe. That's why Sebastian pays us the big bucks."
"Can I fire you then?"
I grinned. "Again, it's Sebastian’s call. But when the king of your country turns up on your doorstep and asks you to get your team together and come protect his cousin, you do as you're told. So I'm sorry if I cramp your style, or whatever. You're stuck with me at least part of the time."
"Can't you send someone awesome from your team?"
"Well, that's the thing. We have other jobs, you see. And because this is so sensitive to the crown, you get me. Sorry to disappoint."
He stepped into my space. "Stop it. This isn't some macho, alpha nonsense. We have too much history."
"Well, in that case, we'll need to figure out how to get around it because my job right now is to watch you. So we'll both have to figure out how the hell to work together. The first rul
e of Keep You Alive Club is no one talks about the past. Ever. Second rule is you don't ever kiss me again."
His voice dropped to barely above growl level. "Even when you like it?"
Something pulled low in my belly, and my stomach flipped. Asshole. "Who said I liked it?"
His brow lifted, and the smile was slow to spread over his lips. "You think you're safe. It's admirable. But rest assured, I'm going to get Sebastian to change his mind."
"You're welcome to try." And then I sauntered out, leaving him alone in the office.
FOURTEEN
TRISTAN…
I HAD FUCKED up and made a distinct miscalculation. I had wanted to believe the police when they said the incidents in Barcelona were very likely a stalker of Ella's. It had been the easier thing to believe. It had fed into my plans anyway. My goal. For Max. It made it easy to know I was on the right path.
I didn't think my path needed to diverge. I was still on track, but goddamn it, I had put Ella in danger. This was about me. For someone to have the kind of access to nearly get me during practice, on my own home turf, made it clear this was about me.
And now I had fucking Ariel in the crosshairs too.
So much for protecting everyone. I’d just made everyone a target.
Goddamn it.
Sebastian looked like he was going to be on the phone a while, so there was no point in waiting for him. But I did need to get Ariel off the case. She could send as many King’s Knights as she wanted, but I wanted her out of it. I still hadn't told my cousin about us, not that any of our ancient history mattered. But I needed to do something, otherwise, she was going to get caught in the crosshairs, and I wouldn't forgive myself if she was hurt.
What about your actual fiancée?
Fuck. Ella. I needed to get her to safety, which meant far the hell away from here. Away from me.
You're poison. Everything you touch goes to shit. Just ask Billford.
There had been at least a dozen times in the last twenty-four hours that I had wished I was him. But then I'd had that selfish thought that if I'd been the one at the hospital, then how was I supposed to protect Ella? And if someone was trying to punish me, that meant that Ariel was in the line of fire too.
Except no one knows about you and Ariel, so maybe that's safer.
That was possibly true, but safer would be away from me.
I needed out. I needed to be away from the palace. I needed air.
Behind me, I could hear Trevor's constant footsteps. I swear to God, that clack, clack, clack on the marble was like my very own telltale heart following me around everywhere. I could always hear it, even in my sleep.
"Trevor, mate, can I get a minute?"
Trevor's brows snapped down. "Your Highness, I am sorry, but no. If you would like to go down to the basketball court or the tennis courts, we can do that. If you'd like to go down the beach again, I'll change. I'll follow you down. We will need the Knights as well."
Fuck. The last thing I needed was more close proximity to Ariel. "It's fine. I'll just head down to the gardens."
He opened the nearest side door. "This way, Your Highness."
The fresh air did seem to help. I navigated my way through the Rose Garden and down to Majesty's Walk. It was the last wall before any trails and passageways down to the beach. It's the farthest I could get from the palace without actually being off the palace grounds.
The palace grounds included nearly two thousand acres of land. Buildings, monuments, gardens. The beach was technically still royal land, but only a part of it was private.
Just inhaling the air loosened some of the tension. I needed to figure things out.
If I made a misstep, someone was going to get hurt. Someone I loved.
Do you mean Ella or Ariel?
I’d messed up. I thought I had everything under control. I had to think this through. My plan hinged on me coming home, and everything hinged on the plan. But I hadn't anticipated these attempts on my life. What if they meant Max knew I was coming for him? What if whoever was trying to hurt me was on the Council? And my plan was on borrowed time. How the hell was I going to protect Ella when I couldn't even protect myself?
I rounded the corner toward the sports complex, and I saw a familiar face. Heading out of the tennis courts, bag over his shoulder...
Fucking James Gilroy. I had known I would have to see him eventually. I’d just hoped to put it off for a long time.
He stopped short when he saw me.
When he approached, I could almost hear the tension rolling from Trevor's shoulders, but I turned and waved him down. Gilroy wasn't dumb enough to actually do something to me in the open.
"Your Highness.”
"Lord Gilroy."
“I’d heard you managed a way to wiggle your way back into the islands."
“It is my home. I belong here.”
"Maybe I wasn't clear with you. You were not to come back," he spat.
"Yes, well luckily you weren't in control of that." I knew I shouldn’t antagonize him, but bollocks to that.
"You managed to escape the islands before, and I couldn't touch you. You're back now, but my daughter is not. You are responsible for that. I swear to God, I will find out what you did to her."
"For fuck’s sake, Gilroy, I didn't have anything to do with your daughter’s disappearance. I don't know where she went or why she disappeared, but I'm not to blame."
"You knew how she felt about you. You strung her along with your texts and letters.” He sniffled. “You toyed with her emotions. That poor girl."
"I don’t know why you’d think that, but I'm not responsible for her disappearance. You can't put that on me. And to attempt to block me from coming home because of your misguided suspicions is bullshit. You have no proof."
"No, I'll tell you what's bullshit. A member of the royal family thinking he can get away with anything. You belong in high exile, just like your brother. If I had my way, I would shove you in a deep dark hole where no one would ever find you."
"Well, good news for me is that you don't have any proof that I did anything."
"We'll see about that. There are other ways to make you hurt. And I will find one. You should have stayed the fuck away from the Winston Isles."
"You know what? I'm fucking sick and tired of people keeping me from my home." I stepped in close to his face, and I could hear Trevor behind me. I stepped even closer. "I'm a grown-ass man. I will not be afraid. So, if you have something that you actually can do, go ahead, do your worst. I won't be going anywhere. Too much has already happened to keep me away."
And then I very deliberately shoved by him. I was sick of it. I was tired of being afraid. For years I had been afraid of my own home, and then I’d been afraid to come back. But not anymore. If Lord James Gilroy wanted to come after me, fair enough. He didn't have any proof, and I hadn’t done anything to his daughter. I felt for the family, but that had nothing to do with me. I was done listening to his threats. Ashton had been lording threats over me for over a decade. I wasn't going to take shit from the bullies any longer. Not Max. Not Ashton. Not Gilroy. If they wanted to come for me, they were free to do so, but I was ready for them. I would swallow the fear. I would do what I had to do. Maybe it was time that they all started to fear me.
Later that night, my brain was still thinking about what happened with Gilroy as I worked with Lucas.
"So, are we going to pretend that didn't happen today?"
I was trying to master a sleight of hand trick that he had shown me, but my hands were still too big and too clumsy.
"What didn't happen?"
He effortlessly rolled a coin backward and forward over his knuckles. "Today’s meeting. You and Ariel. I sensed tension there."
"No tension." I was trying to slide a stupid card behind my fingers and forward, but for some reason, of all the maneuvers like the brushes, the silent lifts, this was the most difficult for me. And this was the one I might have to employ. Leave that to be my luck.
"You're chasing windmills, mate."
"You're chasing windmills, mate." He mocked me. "I know what I'm seeing. Even if everyone else was oblivious, I felt it. You two are boning. Which, far be it from me to judge, but what are you telling Ella?"
I stared at my cousin. He was far too astute for his own good. "We are not boning."
"Oh, but you want to. So what does that mean for the pretty fiancée?"
I wasn't ready to answer any of these questions, and I hadn’t bargained on anyone asking them. Hell, Ella had taken off for a job, which was for the best right now. When she wasn't with me, she had her own security team, so I figured she'd be okay as long as she stayed away from me. "Ella and I are good. Solid. Nothing has changed."
"Okay, if nothing has changed, then does she know you want to bone your knight in shining armor?"
"I don't want to bone her." I craved her touch. Totally different.
He laughed. "Lies. You totally want to bone her."
I shook my head. Why was it that the one person who was so difficult to lie to was also the one person who had seen my truth?
"Look,” Lucas said in a serious tone. “I've been friends with Ariel for a while now. She's sharp as a tack. She puts up with no bullshit and is fucking badass."
"You sound like you want to bone her." I attempted to deflect.
"You know what, I would if I wasn't already in love with Bryna. If I had paid attention and noticed her, I might have just boned her. But we're not talking about me. I'm a rogue. I have been, as they used to say, a manwhore, or at least a reformed manwhore. I'm just trying to figure out when you two would have even met?"
I tried the card again. It fumbled out of my fingers just like every other time. "Is there any chance you'll stop with the questions?"
Lucas leaned back on the couch, hands clasped behind his back and legs spread. Total man-spread on the couch in my quarters. "Nope. Not going to happen. I have seen it, the we are so going to bone look, and I've fought it myself. So, the question is why Ariel? Why now? I've already said Ariel is dope, so I understand why Ariel, but I want to know why her specifically, because your fiancée is a fucking supermodel-turned-actress. There is no reason in the world you should be doing this snap-crackle-pop tension thing with Red."