Talia!
“I have a few connections on the black market. She’ll fetch a pretty good price, but I’d gladly exchange her for you.”
Serenity felt nausea rising in her gut. Panic overwhelmed her, but she had to think. Alex. She needed him. “Okay, I’ll come. Where exactly?”
“Go to the docks in Thissa, and you’ll be met by one of my men. And don’t be stupid enough to tell anyone or little Talia here won’t make it home for dinner tonight.”
Serenity stomped her feet on the floorboards, wanting to scream. “Fine. I’ll be there.”
She hung up the phone and took a deep, shuddering breath. Fortunately, her taxi driver spoke English. He was eyeing her now in the rearview mirror. Faking a smile, she said, “I’ve changed my mind. Take me to the harbor.”
Chapter Fifteen
There was nothing under the face of heaven that was going to stop Alexios from being with Serenity, from having her as his wife. He knew now that he would never be his true self or be the man he needed to be without her by his side. But the road there wasn’t going to be an easy one.
Before he could take another step forward with Serenity and hold her again, he had to make some things happen.
After leaving Lydia another voicemail that her time was up and that he would be making an official announcement––with or without her––that their breakup was over, he went to find his parents. Fortunately, they were both in his mother’s private sitting room, the two of them enjoying a late breakfast together. Since Basil was still pouring their coffee, it looked as if they had just sat down.
As he came in, his mother looked up with a strange expression on her face. It was hesitant and faintly worried. Which concerned him immediately, because she was never hesitant about anything.
“Good morning,” he said, nodding at his father and kissing his mother’s soft cheek.
“Good morning,” his father said, folding the newspaper he’d been reading and laying it aside on a stack of other papers from around the world. “Our guest is in all the social headlines today, her and her dresses.”
Alexios nodded as he sat down, thanking Basil for bringing him a coffee cup. “Yes, and I expect that she’ll continue to be for some time.”
“Oh?” his mother asked. “Why is that?”
“Because she’s going to be the next princess of Cristonia.”
The deafening silence that followed his statement didn’t surprise him. The smile on his mother’s face did.
“What?” his father asked. “Please tell me that I have another son I’m not aware of for her to marry and not that you have broken things off with Lydia Koettis.”
Alexios flinched inwardly at his father’s sharp tone, but calmly reached for a pastry from the tray in front of him. “I know this is not what you want to hear, but yes, Lydia and I are breaking things off. Or rather, I am, but she has known about it for three days. I found her in a passionate embrace with your ambassador’s son the other night at their dinner party, so she understands why.”
His father waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t be a fool. Such a small thing as that can’t get in the way of such an advantageous marriage.”
Alexios looked hard at him. “Perhaps if I was not in love with another woman, it wouldn’t. But frankly, the idea of marrying someone who loved someone else would be repugnant in any case. And having had the opportunity to compare in close quarters the difference between Lydia and Serenity, it is clear from their character which is better suited to be the wife of a future king and which is better suited for carefully crafted selfies on an Instagram account.”
“None of that matters as much as who Lydia is,” his father argued. “You know the political ramifications involved here.”
“I do.” Alexios took a minute to breathe, to not let himself lose control of his temper. “But marrying someone I love, a self-made businesswoman from America, will do as much or more towards showing our people that our family is open to the sort of industry and democracy that they want as would marrying Lydia.”
“Our aim here is to strengthen our rule, not undermine it.”
Alexios shrugged. “That may be your aim. My aim is to do what is best for our people. I believe it is time that you and I came together on what that means—at least if you want to be part of the future of this country and not just the obstacle of its present. I am your only heir, so you would do well to listen to me. But I warn you, I will have no hesitation in abdicating if it means that is the only way I can live my life as I see fit. I’ve realized just how much good I can do as a man…and not just as Crown Prince of Cristonia. I have my own personal fortune, and I think you’ll find, no small amount of political sway of my own.”
Then, in the heavy aftermath of his impassioned speech, he took a sip of his coffee and waited to see which direction he needed to go. It all depended on his father.
“Bravo,” his mother said, nearly making him choke.
“What is that?” the king asked, caught off guard. His face had reddened, and his brows were drawn together in a scowl, but his eyes had focused on his wife as the new source of his incredulity.
The queen beamed at him. “I applaud you, Alexios. And I support you. I hope things will not come to such a pass that you and your father cannot come to an understanding in time, but for now, I am in complete agreement with you that you should pursue Serenity.”
Alexios wondered if he somehow was dreaming this conversation, because there was no possible way he’d actually heard those words come out of his mother’s mouth. “Thank you, Mother. But what happened to change your mind?”
“She did. I like her. And not just because of what she did for the girls. No, because I saw her poise in stressful situations and the natural authority that she has. Mostly, however, I admire her willingness to sacrifice her happiness for you.”
“Sacrifice?” Alexios asked, dread filling him like heavy fog.
“She left this morning. Not twenty minutes ago. I was trying to decide whether or not to tell you now or to give her time to get on her plane first. Go and get her, Alexios. Bring her back. And in the meantime, I will contact Lydia and her father to start smoothing out this situation.”
Alexios was already out of his seat and heading to the door before she finished speaking.
Breaking into a dead run through the halls of the palace, he went straight towards Tymon’s office. But as he rounded the last corner, he barely avoided colliding with the man.
“Serenity is gone,” Tymon said, his tone urgent and worried.
“I just heard,” Alexios answered. “I was coming to find her. We have to stop her before she gets to the airport. I need to talk to her first.”
Tymon shook his head, violently. “No. No. I don’t mean that she’s gone to the airport. I mean she’s gone. When she left, we of course had a security detail following her. We knew she had purchased a ticket and was heading to Laxos, but halfway there, her taxi made a turn and went to the harbor.”
Alexios’s muscles tensed to the snapping point. “Where is she now?”
“She met a man, and he took her out on a skip to a yacht docked a good distance out. At least, that was where they were headed when I got word just a minute ago. She went willingly, or they say she seemed to, but with everything going on…”
“She’s in trouble,” Alexios said, already on the move again. “He got to her somehow. We have to get to her now. I want all naval assets on the scene. Don’t let that yacht out of the harbor. And I want a full team ready in ten minutes. I want to be on the water in less than fifteen.”
Tymon jogged behind him, his breathing labored. “Surely you’re not going.”
“Nothing would stop me. You know I have the training for this, so don’t waste time arguing with me. Every second counts. If anything happens to her—” Fear tightened his throat. But he had to control it. He had to shut off his panic and adrenaline before they zapped his energy and fogged his brain. “Eight minutes now, Tymon. Or I’m going o
n my own.”
“On it,” Tymon said, pulling his phone out of his pocket as they ran.
Chapter Sixteen
Getting aboard the small motorboat with a strange man had taken all the courage Serenity had. And if it hadn’t been for the picture Daniel had sent her of him with a very frightened Talia on his lap, there was no way she would have.
She wasn’t an idiot. She knew the chances of Daniel letting Talia go were nonexistent, but she was going to fight for her. She might not survive this, but she was determined that Talia would.
On the long ride across the choppy harbor water under a sky heavy with grey clouds, she had nothing to do but reflect on and regret all her missteps. The realization that she’d brought such evil into Talia’s life harrowed her. Maybe if she hadn’t been so eager to run away again this morning, Alexios might have been close enough to help her when Daniel called. And if she hadn’t come to Cristonia, he wouldn’t be hurt so badly when she was killed or blame himself for it.
When they came up on the yacht, the guy with her just nodded sideways with his head to tell her to move. On shaking legs that didn’t seem strong enough to support her, she stepped from the boat to a water-level platform at the stern of the yacht. Two surly men with too much testosterone waited there for her. They had no guns, likely because there were patrol boats nearby, but she didn’t for a second think that made them any less of a threat if she didn’t go with them.
They pressed her towards a narrow set of metal stairs, the second one carrying her suitcase just as if she was coming aboard for a vacation. As she climbed higher, she looked over the ship and saw two more men standing guard down the starboard side. How many men were here anyway?
On the second deck, one of the men opened a door and the other pushed her inside. No more concerns over appearances, she guessed.
Inside, her eyes were stunned for a moment at the opulence of her surroundings, all marble tile, teak paneling with gold trim, and plush, custom furnishings. Then she found Daniel seated at the bar with a drink in his hand. He smiled at her as she came in, a victorious expression that sent a rocket of anger through her.
“Welcome aboard, Serenity. I must say, you chose a lovely outfit to be abducted in. But then, I’m not surprised. You always did have such good taste.”
His voice was an echo of every nightmare she’d had for the last six years, but she ignored his taunting. She only saw two guards on either side of the door and no one else. “Where’s Talia?”
Daniel sauntered forward, shaking the ice in his glass. He had one hand deep in the pockets of his suit coat, as if he was perfectly at ease. He motioned with his glass to the sofa between them, the back of which faced Serenity. She ran forward and looked over the side, her heart sinking when she saw Talia lying limply on the seat.
“Don’t worry,” Daniel said. “She’s only asleep. She will be for quite some time with the dose I’ve given her. This would all be much too traumatic for her, and I want her in good condition when she meets the buyer I’ve found for her.”
Serenity wanted to throw up. “What twisted you into such a monster?”
He laughed. “Believe me, I’m not the worst. No, I’m sure the two of you will meet a few of those before you finally reach the end of this little adventure you’re going on.”
“Ah,” she said, her whole core going cold. “You aren’t going to kill me then?”
“No, no. It’s too messy. And whatever else I might do, I’m not a murderer. There are easier ways to make a beautiful young woman disappear. And nice touch bringing your luggage. It will be even easier now to make it look like you came willingly. We’ll concoct some believable story—maybe you eloped and something tragic happened to you and your secret lover.”
Serenity moved around and knelt next to Talia. She held her palm against the girl’s cheeks, relieved to find them warm. Leaning closer, she felt the soft stirring of her breath and saw her lungs moving up and down. But she was so small that the men easily could have given her too much of…whatever they’d dosed her with.
Assured that Talia was alive, she looked up and stared Daniel dead in the eyes. “You can try that if you want, but Prince Alexios will never believe it.”
“The prince?”
“Yes.” Now she just wanted to annoy him, punish him the only way still within her power. “He’s in love with me, you know. And he knows I love him, so your story will never fly. But I’m sure you can come up with a better one. No, what you really need to worry about is how you’re going to live the rest of your life always looking over your shoulder, knowing that someday he’s going to find you. You see, when I disappear, he’ll know it was at your hands.” She glared at him and let all her hatred for the man infuse her voice with exquisite triumph. “Whatever I suffer, I’ll take comfort in knowing it will be nothing to what you’ll have to suffer at his hands when he catches you.”
Another of Daniel’s goons rushed into the cabin then. “I don’t like the way the patrol boats are moving. It’s like they’re coordinating to head us off.”
Daniel slammed his glass down on the bar. “Get this ship moving. They won’t fire on a civilian ship, but we have to get into international waters before they decide to board us and do a search.”
As Serenity drank in all this information, she felt a spark of hope for the first time. “You know, Alexios told me about the caliber of their navy. I bet he’s on to you somehow. If you let us go, I’ll work out a deal with him.”
He barked a laugh, but there was no humor in it. “Yeah, like I told you I’d let Talia go. Your best hope is that we make it out of here. You’ll be addicted to heroin and passed around like a joint, but at least your brains won’t be splattered all over my partner’s yacht.”
Serenity hadn’t thought she could be any more afraid, but she was now. Even if Alex did know she was in trouble, there was no way his men would make it onto the boat before Daniel shot her. She crouched down over Talia protectively and did the only thing she could with two armed men and Daniel in the room with her. She waited.
Daniel paced around the room, watching out the windows, then poured himself another drink. A few minutes later, she heard someone else come in the cabin, but she didn’t raise her head to see who it was.
“Travers, a patrol boat is coming alongside the ship. We told you this was a bad idea. Now what are we going to do with the two of them here?”
Watching Daniel as she crouched over Talia, she saw him glare at her. “For now, nothing. Play it off. And keep all your weapons out of sight. If nobody acts suspicious, maybe they’ll let us go.”
Unable to bear not seeing what was happening, Serenity stood up and went to the window where Daniel was already watching the scene. A boat, much bigger than the one she’d been brought over on, moved alongside the yacht. There were four armed men in it plus the one at the controls, all of them with body armor and assault rifles. She couldn’t hear what was being said, but from the gestures, the one in the boat who seemed to be in charge was ordering them to stop the ship.
Daniel came up behind her before she realized his intention and torqued her arm behind her back. “Let me make something very clear to you, Serenity. If we are boarded, you will tell them that you are here willingly. And you will be very convincing because one of my men will have Talia right here with a gun to her angel head. Do you understand?”
Serenity nodded slowly, tense and anxious. Daniel had lost every bit of his good humor and confidence. She had a feeling that a panicked, desperate Daniel would be even more dangerous than the smarmy one who had greeted her when she came on board. “Yes.”
“And yet,” said a familiar but incredibly sharp voice behind them, “I think it will take more than that to convince me.”
Serenity looked up to see Alex, but couldn’t. His voice came from the hallway behind the bar. He must have come in from the other end of the ship before any of the guards were aware of him. Even though she couldn’t see him, he sounded immensely capable and willing
to kill Daniel on the spot.
In a flash, Daniel let go of her arm, but before she could even think to run, he jabbed something hard into her back. She knew immediately it was a gun.
“Stop where you are,” Daniel yelled. “Or she’s dead.”
Alex’s voice was amazingly calm. “I’m not moving. Let her go, and this will all go better for you.”
“Seems to me like you’re the one in a bad position.” Since both of Daniel’s goons had their guns trained on the hallway, she knew he was right.
“My men will have overtaken your boat by now,” Alex said, his voice like shards of ice. “You will stay alive if you put your gun down now.”
“For what? To rot in prison? Thanks, but no.”
Serenity knew the situation was dire. As long as Daniel had a gun to her back, the dynamics of the situation were in his favor. And she couldn’t let Alex die for her.
Her defense training came back to her, but she knew that if she was not fast enough, she would get shot. Daniel would shoot in reaction as soon as he felt her move. She had scant few seconds to get out of the way of the bullet before the message that she was free traveled to his brain.
“Look out!” one of Daniel’s men called. In the same instant, trusting that he would be momentarily distracted, she moved with determination—there was no room for the slightest hesitation—and spun to the left. The deafening report of his gun going off came as she was still in motion, moving fluidly through the technique she had practiced until it was second nature. Within the space of a heartbeat, she had wrapped her arm around his gun arm, pulling it against her side to control it, even if just for a few seconds. In the same movement, she pulled back her right fist and punched Daniel straight in the throat.
Then there was chaos and noise and shattering glass as Alex’s men burst in through the main cabin door.
Alex called her name, but she was falling, only one thought in her mind.
Where is Daniel’s gun?
Chapter Seventeen
Saved by the Prince Page 11
