Serpenti

by Brooke Sivendra

  Abi looked over her shoulder. Rachel, Daniel, and Lenna were asleep on the lounge chairs.

  “Close call,” Abi said under her breath.

  “It doesn’t get much closer,” Jesse agreed. “Try to get some sleep.”

  “Thank you again for coming to help them,” Abi said.

  Jesse nodded and gave her a tired smile.

  Abi awoke and a scream roared through her lips. Her hands clutched the seat and it took her a moment to realize where she was. The plane had touched down on the tarmac and Jesse held his arms up in surrender.

  “It’s okay,” he said cautiously, like he was prepared for her attack. “We’re in Santina.”

  She leaned forward, gasping. Fragments of her dream lingered in the dark corners of her mind, but they refused to come back to her.

  She ran her palm over her eyes as her lungs fought for breath. With warm cheeks she gingerly raised her eyes to Jesse. “Sorry.”

  One eyebrow lifted. “For what?”

  “Screaming the plane down,” she said, straightening. Her back was stinging and it felt wet and sticky.

  “You screamed when we hit the tarmac—that’s all,” he said, seeming to understand.

  Abi didn’t know what she’d been dreaming about, but she knew it hadn’t been a good dream. Unease lingered, and when she opened her jaw, it cracked, causing her to wince.

  She looked over her shoulder. Rachel was awake and Lenna was sitting beside her, ready to depart. But their eyes weren’t on Abi—they were looking out the window. Abi craned her neck to see what they were looking at. On the tarmac stood teams of security guards, lined in rows.

  “Your parents will meet us at the palace,” Jesse said. “They’re with Asher now. I requested no one meet us here because the last thing you need is to be photographed stepping off a royal plane. Until we have more information, I think it’s best if you keep a low profile.”

  Abi nodded. She just wanted a hot shower and to see Asher.

  King Asher.

  So much had changed in a matter of days.

  Jesse stood as they continued to taxi to the hangar and retrieved a blanket from the overhead cabinet. “Put this around your shoulders. It’s going to be cold.”

  “Thank you,” Abi said.

  She draped the blanket around her, ignoring the sting on her back. She hadn’t seen the wounds in a mirror, but she knew it wouldn’t look good. She wasn’t going to dwell on it, though—she wasn’t in Lamberi’s hands, and that was all that mattered.

  “Also, I don’t want you walking on that ankle for a few days,” Jesse said, digging his teeth into his bottom lip. “The ground staff have a pair of crutches, but it’ll be hard to navigate the steps from the plane with them. I’ll have two of my men help you down, if that’s okay?”

  Abi held her tongue. The last thing she wanted was to be carried down—the last thing she wanted was to be touched by men she didn’t know—but the sooner she was off this plane, the sooner she could see Asher.

  “Okay,” Abi said, sounding less than enthusiastic. Jesse gave a sympathetic nod.

  They’d had an awkward conversation about her injuries, and she wondered if he still thought she’d held back information. She’d told him she hadn’t been raped. Cavity searched—yes. Her breasts fondled—yes. Intercourse—no.

  She’d lied to Asher once, but lying wasn’t a habit of hers, and it was a mistake she wouldn’t repeat.

  The plane came to a stop and her team was by her side. Abi looked into Lenna’s wide eyes and took her hand. “We’re going to be okay, I promise.”

  Lenna nodded, but she looked far from sure.

  Rachel said, “Daniel and I can help her down the stairs and into the car.”

  Jesse nodded. “Okay.” He pressed on his ear lobe and then said, “Copy.”

  He held out a hand and motioned for them to go ahead. Rachel and Daniel moved in and Abi laid her arms around their shoulders. She was intending to hobble, but they all but carried her out. Lenna stayed close, like a shadow.

  They were swiftly escorted into cars, and as they drove through Santina, Abi looked through the window like she was seeing it for the first time. A part of her had given up hope that she would ever see Santina again, and now as they wove through the streets, she took it all in and cherished the beautiful city she’d been born and raised in.

  She was home.

  Asher

  Asher extended his hand to William Bennett. The man’s grip was firm, but not crushing.

  “Have a seat, please,” he said, gesturing toward the sitting room chairs.

  A servant brought a tray of tea and sweets, and security guards lined the walls of the room and neighboring hallway. Asher had barely been able to go to the bathroom without being watched.

  “How is Emilia?” Emma asked.

  Asher cleared his throat. “The same. There’s been no change in her condition; however, the doctors have said she’s stable, and that’s a good sign. Other than that, they said it’s a waiting game.”

  Emma nodded, her eyes glistening. “Can . . . can I see her tomorrow?”

  Asher looked between Emma and William Bennett. Emma was an open book, but William was closed off, his face impassive.

  Asher smiled sadly. “She would like that,” he said. He looked between them again, wondering whether this was the time. But when would there be a good time to discuss a decades-old affair?

  “I know what happened,” Asher said quietly.

  Emma’s eyes darted to her husband, who suddenly looked away from Asher.

  “I know because my mother told me,” Asher said gently. “At the charity event, she saw the way I looked at Abi. She knew something was going on—I don’t know how I ever got anything past her,” he continued, and Emma gave a small smile.

  “I’m not dismissing the pain it has caused both our families—and, likely, the shame,” Asher said, keeping his voice neutral, void of judgment.

  William Bennett’s face was no longer impassive. It tightened like he was in pain.

  Asher returned his attention to Emma. “The morning after the charity event I had a conversation with my father. Mother had obviously told him about Abi and my involvement in IFRT. I made a deal with my father that morning,” Asher said, and William looked back to him. “The deal was that I wouldn’t further my involvement in IFRT, but they could keep the border permissions I’d set in place. In return, he would publicly support my relationship with Abi.”

  William’s jaw all but fell to the floor. “What else did you offer him in return?”

  Asher cleared his throat. “That I would strengthen our ties with your family. That we would show Santina we were prepared to do anything—including burying old feuds—to help Santina prosper. I said I would negotiate with you to build initiatives and additional funding for Santina.”

  Williams’ eyes narrowed. “That’s an interesting deal to make without my consent.”

  Asher held his gaze. “It was, and now I’m asking for you to help me uphold my part of the deal. My father may be dead, but I gave him my word, and I don’t intend to back down from it.”

  William searched his eyes, much like he had when he’d first seen Asher at the charity event. No one said anything, but when Asher saw Emma’s pleading eyes lift to her husband, he knew it was a done deal.

  “Okay—but I won’t be dictated to. I decide the initiatives to spend my money on,” William said.

  “Thank you,” Asher said with a nod. “One more thing . . .” he started, but the words lodged in his throat. “Please tell Abi what happened. My relationship with her was brief, and I don’t know where it stands anymore. But if we have a chance, she needs to know the truth, because I won’t lie to her about my conversation with my father—and that’s a somewhat impossible story to tell without talking about my mother and the reason for the feud. I think your daughter will have the exact same reaction I had when my mother told me.”

  “And what was that?” William asked, his words clipp
ed.

  “Forgiveness. People make mistakes, and from what I can tell, given that your wife is sitting beside you, you haven’t repeated the mistake, and you’ve spent your life making it up to your family.”

  William rolled his lips over one another and he looked away, his eyes pained. Asher let it go—for now.

  Their phones sounded at the same time.

  Jesse: ETA 2 minutes.

  “They’re almost here,” Asher said, his voice a whisper. He could barely believe it. Abi was taken a few days ago, but it felt like she’d been gone for months. His entire life had changed, and there was so much they needed to talk about.

  The two minutes passed like two years. Asher’s foot tapped silently and Emma’s eyes never left the doorway. They didn’t speak a word, but the silence seemed to have a heartbeat of its own—or maybe it was their heartbeats echoing through the palace.

  Finally Asher heard footsteps and voices. Asher, William, and Emma stood in synchronization, like perfectly orchestrated puppets. As the footsteps grew louder, Emma ran from the room. Asher walked toward the door, his eyes following Emma. She neared the end of the hallway when Jesse and Abi, flanked by Rachel and Daniel, rounded the corner.

  “Abi!’ Emma said, her voice hoarse.

  She wrapped her arms around her daughter, but her daughter hissed.

  Emma jolted back like she’d touched an electric fence.

  “It’s okay,” Abi said, reaching her hand out for her mother. “It’s okay. My back is missing a little skin, that’s all. I fell from a rooftop.”

  Once again Abi was comforting someone else in a moment of her own pain, Asher thought.

  Emma cupped her daughter’s cheeks as her body began to rock with her tears. Asher stood back, giving them a moment, even though all he wanted to do was hold her in his arms.

  Abi’s lip was cut and her face painted with yellow and purple bruises. Dark shadows lined her eyes and her hair was tangled and messy, even though it had been pulled up into a bun. Despite it all, she’d never looked more beautiful.

  It took Asher a minute to realize William Bennett was right beside him. “We’ll work together,” William said under his breath. “And I’ll tell Abi what happened. But don’t ever make my mistake, Asher,” he said, almost as if he were speaking to his own son. Asher wasn’t entirely sure if it was advice or a warning.

  “I won’t. I give you my word,” Asher said as Abi raised her eyes to his.

  Jesse moved in. “Abi needs to sit down.”

  Abi’s eyes didn’t leave Asher. Ignoring Jesse, Asher moved toward her, drawn like a moth to a flame. He was scared to touch her—to hurt her—but he lifted her chin and guided his lips to hers. Out of respect for her parents, who in this moment he barely remembered were there, he held back from kissing her the way he wanted, but his lips pressed hard against the corner of her mouth that wasn’t cut and bloodied. His kiss told her everything he couldn’t say in that moment. He didn’t know what she’d been through, but he wanted her to know it didn’t matter—he wanted her regardless.

  Their region had an appalling association with rape. Female rape victims were disowned by their families and outcast like they’d committed the crime themselves instead of being treated with the compassion that should be given to victims. Asher knew it was one of IFRT’s greatest struggles in re-homing their rescues, and even though it killed him to think that Abi had endured that, he needed her to know he would love her anyway.

  He pulled back, running a thumb over the fresh tears running down her cheek. He wiped them away.

  “She needs to sit down,” Jesse repeated more firmly.

  This time, Asher nodded. Daniel stepped aside and Asher and Rachel helped Abi to the sitting room chairs.

  Abi sat on the edge of the chair and as she did, the blanket slipped from her shoulders.

  Asher gasped at seeing Abi’s light blue T-shirt painted red and stuck to her back. “Why didn’t you put a fresh bandage on her back?” he asked, turning to Jesse. He didn’t mean for the words to come out as an accusation, but the sight had taken him aback.

  “They are fresh,” he said, draping the blanket back over her shoulders. “The doctor is here and he’ll see Abi in a few minutes. He’ll dress the wounds again.”

  Asher took a calming breath. The last thing Abi needed was him losing it, but his emotions were as raw as her back appeared to be.

  William Bennett took a seat beside Abi. “When you were six months old, I said to your mom, ‘This kid is going to give me a heart attack.’” William smiled and Abi chuckled. “You scared the hell out of me, Abi. We have a few things to talk about,” he said, then added, “in due course,” which Asher was sure was directed toward him.

  “Like my administrative role in IFRT?” she asked, sheepishly.

  William’s eyebrows lifted. “Yes, that, and other things—but I’ve never been happier to see you. I love you, kid,” he said, kissing her forehead.

  “I love you too,” Abi said, closing her eyes for a moment.

  Asher noticed a lone figure standing by the doorway, shifting uncomfortably. Her eyes were darting around the room, and Asher supposed she’d never seen luxury like this in her life. He guessed this young girl had to be the person who had helped Abi.

  Asher gave Abi another moment with her parents and moved toward the girl. “Hello. What is your name?” Asher asked gently.

  The girl’s big eyes looked at him but it took her a moment to answer. “Lenna,” she said, sounding unsure.

  Asher smiled. “Thank you, Lenna. You saved Abi’s life and we’ll take care of you. Whatever you need, you just ask, okay?”

  “Okay. Abi need doctor,” she said.

  Asher paused, noting that she was thinking of Abi first when she likely needed medical attention too. Asher couldn’t see any physical wounds, but that didn’t mean they weren’t hiding beneath her clothes. Her voice sounded much younger than her appearance seemed to indicate, which confused Asher. Maybe she was younger than he’d initially thought. Regardless, she was definitely much too young to have seen the horrors he guessed she’d witnessed.

  Movement behind Lenna distracted Asher, and he saw Alistair walking toward him. Alistair looked over the room then continued forward. He didn’t stop to greet them; he didn’t utter a word. Asher was glad he’d kept walking.

  A security team was behind Alistair and they nodded to Asher as they passed. The security team was there under the pretense they were providing security, but Asher now knew they were there to watch his brother as much as anything.

  Asher pushed those thoughts from his mind as the doctor entered the room.

  “King Asher,” he said with a bow.

  “Evening,” Asher said. “Your patient is ready.” He gestured toward the couch.

  The doctor kneeled in front of Abi. “I’d like to take you to another room so I can assess your injuries. Would you like someone to go with you?”

  “No, I’m fine. Thank you,” Abi said, making a move to stand. Her father caught her arm, helping her up, and Asher moved to her other side. He wanted to be by her side, wherever she went, including in the doctor’s room.

  Security followed as they helped Abi into one of the closest living quarters and sat her on the edge of the bed. William Bennett excused himself, but Asher remained standing.

  “Are you sure you’re okay? I’ll stay with you,” Asher said, chewing on his cheek.

  Abi gave his hand a squeeze. “I’m okay. Give me a few minutes with the doctor.”

  He didn’t want to leave, but he wasn’t going to make this any harder for her. She’d been through hell, and he would be whatever she needed him to be. This wasn’t about him.

  Reluctantly, he left the room. Jesse was waiting outside with the Bennetts.

  “Rachel and Daniel are going to stay tonight at least. They’re setting up rooms in one of the guest suites. Lenna will stay with them.”

  “Who is at the hospital?” Asher asked, torn. He needed to be with Ab
i, but he hated the thought of his mother being alone.

  “Her aide is sitting beside her. She’s offered to stay the night,” Jesse said.

  Asher nodded. His mother and Amelia—her long-standing aide—were good friends. Amelia had been part of their family for as long as he could remember. As a child, Asher had thought it hilarious that his mother’s name was Emilia, and her servant’s was Amelia; now, he was just grateful she was there for her.

  “Asher, I’d like to offer to stay with her tonight. Amelia could come in the morning and that way you’ll have some time with Abi,” Emma said.

  “Thank you,” Asher said, knowing that would make his mother happy. “There’s a security team with her, but I don’t want her to feel alone.” His mother wasn’t weak, but Asher wanted her to have people speak to her, all the same, to tell her how much she was loved and that she needed to wake up.

  He wanted to tell her to keep fighting, because he needed her.

  Santina needed her.

  Emma held her gaze on him, looking torn. Eventually she spoke the words she’d so clearly been wrestling with in her mind. “You have the best qualities of your mother, and the best of your father. I don’t envy you—the title you bear—but I told my family after I saw your coronation ceremony that you should be king. Your father made a good decision.”

  Asher didn’t know what to say. He mustered, “Thank you,” but it seemed totally inadequate.

  Jesse stepped in to save him. “I’ll arrange an escort for you when you’re ready to leave,” he said to Emma, and then he turned to Asher. “May I please have a few minutes?”

  Asher nodded. “Excuse me,” he said to the Bennetts before following Jesse.

  Asher

  Asher followed Jesse into the king’s office.

  His office.

  He sat in the chair behind the desk, and he’d never felt more out of place.

  “I have a video call scheduled for us in a few minutes,” Jesse said. “I know Luke provided a few details to you, but I want you to meet the team. I don’t know them personally, but I know of them—everyone in the security world does. They don’t take on new clients anymore, but given that they’re an international firm with clients all over the world, keeping Santina stable is of interest to them. My cousin, Vincent, knows them and has vouched for them. Vincent is a man of . . . ruthless character. He sets rules and the world obeys, because they know the consequences if they don’t. He has known this team for years, and Vincent hears things other don’t. He says we can trust them.”