by S. E. Rose
“Like what type of business proposition?” I ask.
“Well, we’ve had a great week, right?” he asks.
We nod.
“What if we could offer that to other high-end clients who need a week to get away without all the pomp and circumstance,” he says.
I contemplate it for a moment and grin. “I like that idea,” I say.
“Good, cause it’s the only idea we have, and we dock in less than an hour,” he says, looking down at his dive watch. “I’ll talk to him.”
Chris stands, but before he walks away, he looks down at me.
“I’m glad you told us, Anna. I’m glad you trust us. You know we’ll always have your back, right?” he says.
Auggie puts a strong arm around me. “Always,” he repeats and kisses my brow.
“Thank you. I love you both to the moon and back,” I say, repeating a line my mother used to say to us when we were little. They both smile at me, and Auggie and I watch Chris walk over toward the wheel where Logan watches him approach.
I sit nervously waiting, chatting with Auggie, and occasionally glancing over at Logan and Chris who are in deep, deep conversation. It feels like a lifetime, and as land begins to approach, I feel my heart constricting further and further.
“Breathe,” Auggie says to me, stopping his story.
I let out a breath that I didn’t know I was holding and look back at Auggie. He takes my hand in his.
“I’m scared, Augs,” I admit to him.
“It’ll be alright, Suzy Q,” he says. “We’ll figure it out. We always do.”
Just as he says that, Christian waves us over to him and Logan.
We stand and walk over, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t dragging my feet just a little. I now know how kids getting called to the principal or school director’s offices must feel.
“You told them,” Logan says to me when I’m close enough for him not to yell.
I freeze and look at him, unsure of what to say.
“Christian has offered me a business venture, but I had a sneaking suspicion that was offered after you divulged some interesting news,” he says.
I nod. He holds out his hand to me, and I take it as he pulls me into an embrace.
“That was very brave of you. To spill your deepest, darkest secret in an effort to save my life,” he whispers in my ear.
I pull back and fight the tears that threaten to spill down my cheeks. “I don’t want you to die,” I manage as I swallow a sob.
He places his hand under my chin and caresses my jaw. “I don’t want to die either, Anna,” he says with a bitter chuckle.
I close my eyes, and he kisses my forehead and pulls me back into a hug. I hear Chris clear his throat, and I suddenly realize we might have been a little too intimate in front of my brothers.
I pull back and step away, looking up at the sky so that I can get my emotions in check.
“I’ve accepted his offer, of course. It’s a great one. I can’t pass it up,” he says.
Relief floods every inch of my body, and I feel as though a ten-ton weight I didn’t know was there, was just lifted off my chest. I breathe freely for the first time in days.
“You’re lucky that this trip was the last one of the season before I turn the boat over to my partner, Chrissy. She runs shorter trips while I take time off each year,” he explains.
“I didn’t know you had a partner,” I say trying to keep a frown off my face.
“Yep, she’s been my business partner since she moved down here about three years ago. She’s one of the best sailors I’ve ever met. She and her teenage son needed a clean start, and I offered them one,” he says.
I feel my frown turn into a smile. “That’s nice of you,” I reply.
He smirks. “I suppose it was, but having been a teenager on this island with my single mom, I sort of felt it was appropriate to return the kindness,” he says with a wink.
“I’m going to arrange everything with our security. We had planned on leaving early tomorrow morning, but I’m going to see if we can leave tonight,” Chris says as he heads below deck where Pete has just gone.
“Chris…” I start.
He holds up his hand. “Don’t worry, this is staying between the four of us…for now. Although, I’m not sure going back to Nassau is the best idea,” he says.
“It’s the closest airport, and we need to get out of here,” I point out to him.
He nods, and he disappears below.
“I guess I should go pack,” I say as I look at the shoreline which seems to be sneaking up faster than I expected.
“I’ll get Thomas to take us in. I need to pack too, apparently,” he says to me with another wink.
“I assume you’ll need to go to your apartment before we leave?” I ask.
He raises an eyebrow. “How do you know I live in an apartment?” he asks. I know that he knows that I know where he lives, but he’s making me say it. Fine.
“I went there,” I mutter.
“Excuse me, I didn’t catch that,” he says.
I let my shoulders droop. “I went there,” I say loudly.
“Did you now?” he asks.
I nod and feel the heat creep up my face and neck.
“You are quite the little spy, aren’t you?” he states.
I shrug. “I’m…I was…” I trail off because I honestly don’t know what to say.
He touches my face, and I look up at him.
“I don’t know why you’ve done all of this, but you may have just saved my life. And for that, I’ll always be indebted to you,” he says.
I frown. “I haven’t saved your life yet. Let’s not count our chickens before they hatch,” I point out. “M is somewhere on that island,” I say, pointing to it. “And in about fifteen minutes, we’ll be on it too.”
Something dark crosses his face. “You better get packed then,” he says to me.
I nod and head down to my cabin. It only takes me about ten minutes to pack my belongings. Normally, I have people that do this for me. It feels oddly liberating to pack my own things. Although I find myself packing it just as the palace staff would. It’s usually Bianca who packs my luggage. She’s also the maid appointed to my apartment. She and another woman, Julia, tend to my rooms and my belongings. I shake my head at the strangeness of it all. And then I think about Logan. He’s about to see all of that for the very first time.
I’ve never really thought about it through the eyes of an outsider. Most people who visit the palace are either royalty themselves, or very, very wealthy. They are used to staff surrounding them all the time, taking care of their every desire. Logan won’t be used to this. Logan does everything for himself.
An idea strikes me as I zip my suitcase closed, jamming the top down so the zipper will work. I go to Chris’s room and knock on the door.
Mia opens it. “Yes, Your Highness?” she asks, stepping back to let me in. I can see the hurt on her face. She knows she’s being left out of something, and she doesn’t like it.
“Chris?” I say to my brother who finishes zipping his own bag before looking up at me.
“Yes?” he asks.
“I wonder if, perhaps, we should take our guest to the summer palace. I mean, let’s be honest, our home is a bit…overwhelming,” I say.
Chris is silent as he ponders my idea. “I think you might be right. Mia, can you take care of setting up the arrangement for Auggie, Anna, Logan, and myself and our staff to relocate to the summer palace upon our arrival back home?” Chris says to Mia.
“Of course,” she chirps as she pulls out her phone. I see the bars and realize our arrival is imminent as she has cell signal. My stomach drops, and I feel queasier than when we sailed through the storm.
I step back into the hallway and find Pete.
“Everything alright, Anna?” he asks. I nod. “I hear that Logan will be joining us.”
I nod again. “Yes, Pete. He will,” I say and begin to walk up to the deck. He gen
tly takes my arm.
“Susanna,” he says. Pete seldom says my full name. I pause and look back at him. “I don’t know what you are up to, but I do know you are up to something. Please, be careful.”
“Pete, you don’t have to worry about anything. We’ll be fine. In fact, I just suggested we all head to the summer palace, so that Logan is a bit more comfortable,” I half lie to him.
He raises an eyebrow. “And so the king doesn’t grill him?” he asks.
I shrug. “I’m sure Daddy will grill him regardless. It’s what he does,” I point out.
“Very true,” he says. Before he lets go, he adds, “I’m serious, Anna, be careful.”
I put a hand on his and squeeze. “I will,” I murmur as I pull away and head back to the deck. I can’t help thinking that Pete and Lucas are going to be royally pissed off when they find out what’s going on.
Logan sees me and ushers me over. We’re very close to the marina now.
“I don’t want you near me until we’re on that plane tonight. Do you understand?” he says.
I frown. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not leaving you. I can come help you pack,” I say. “Keep a lookout.”
He shakes his head. “It’s not safe. If what you say is true, then this M is on the island wanting to kill me. Let’s not play Russian roulette, OK?” he says.
I frown. “Logan—”
He holds up a hand to stop me. “I know you are capable of protecting yourself. You proved that to me last night. And we all know how damn smart you are, but for once in your freaking royal life, can you just listen to a commoner? Stay at your uncle’s and don’t leave,” he commands. I’m a little taken aback by the authoritarian nature of his voice. I cock my head and study him. I grin.
“Why are you grinning at me like a fool?” he asks.
“Because you’re more royal than you know,” I say as I walk back toward the salon.
“I’m what?” he asks.
“You’ll see,” I say with a wink and disappear below deck, leaving him gaping at me.
Chapter 17
I admit, the thought of Logan not being in my sight, is making me nervous. I had Lucas and Auggie’s guard, Patrick, drive him to his apartment after everything was squared away with the sailboat. My brothers were antsy to get out of there, but I made them wait.
Now, I’m waiting and pacing the living room of my Uncle Hans’s home. Auggie has opted for one last swim in the pool. Mia, Shannon, and Paolo are all on their phones and tablets, clearly making our travel plans.
“Why don’t you go relax?” Shannon asks me as she glances over to see me walk the same path for the hundredth time in the past thirty minutes.
“I’m good,” I say. Shannon mutters something under her breath and sighs. I hate keeping things from her. She’s one of the few people outside my family that I trust completely, but this secret…well, I don’t want her involved.
My phone pings and I jump, looking down to see a text message from Sonya. I click on it.
Sonya: Soooo? How’s the trip? Radio silence?
I laugh. Leave it to Sonya to make me feel better.
Me: The sailboat was amazing! It was the best week I’ve had in forever!
Sonya: Do tell?
Me: Shut it.
Sonya: So there is a man?
Me: No, not like you think.
Sonya: Oh, well, I’m not a virgin, so I think.
Me: Touché, beotch.
Sonya: (Kissy face emoji)
Me: (middle finger emoji)
Me: I’ll fill you in when I get back.
Sonya: Obviously
I roll my eyes and resume my pacing. My mind races through images of Logan’s apartment, which I may have just found the blueprints for online while I’ve been waiting, and every security issue there. It’s a death trap! I’m about to make Pete take me over there when I hear a car pull up into the compound. I run toward the door and look through the peephole. It’s Lucas and Patrick.
I run outside.
“Where’s Logan?” I ask, suddenly feeling very unsettled.
“He had to run some errands. He insisted we let him go on his own,” Patrick says.
“No! That’s not the plan!” I yell.
They look at each other like I’ve gone crazy. I don’t wait to hear their excuse, I run inside and straight into Chris.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
“Logan…he’s without security,” I say in between breaths.
“Shit,” Chris curses, peering beyond me to see Patrick and Lucas walking in from the car. Chris puts a hand on my shoulder.
“I’ll go,” he says.
“Fuck no, you won’t, heir to the throne. That’s the last thing I need. I’m not using my spare status,” Auggie’s voice echoes behind us. We both turn to see him in his swim trunks.
“Augs,” Chris starts.
“Get out of my way, brother,” he snarls. He places a hand on my shoulder and squeezes. “It’ll be fine, Suzy Q. I’ll go get your man.”
I glare at him. “He’s not my man,” I mumble.
“Right, whatever you want to think. I’m on it though,” he says as he walks past us toward his room. A minute later he’s back in shorts and a t-shirt. “Patrick, please drive me to where Logan said he’d be.”
I watch Patrick and Lucas get back in the car and drive off with Auggie.
“Well, that’ll be interesting,” Chris chimes in from next to me. I look at him with a raised eyebrow.
“You do know it’s obvious to everyone else that you two have something going on, right?” he says.
I groan. “We don’t,” I say, which is mostly true.
“Well, if that’s the truth, then it’s only a matter of time before you do,” he quips as he walks away.
I head to my closet and log in to my computer. I search for any trace of M, knowing that it’s useless but doing it anyhow. After confirming that I won’t find anything, by indeed not finding anything, I pull up a link that had the original post about the bounty. It’s no longer there, the link is now completely dead, not just empty like before. Whoever is behind this is smart, very smart. I pull up my tracker I have on Auggie’s phone. Little does my family know that, in addition to the trackers our security has on our phones, I have my own special trackers. I watch the car move toward the downtown area on Nassau. It stops in front of a bank. I bite my lip as I wait for it to move. I could hack the bank’s security cameras, but most likely they’ll be gone before I get them up on my computer. So, I sit and wait, staring at the screen, willing the little blue dot that is Auggie to move.
It’s the first time that I’ve felt helpless in a very, very long time, and I don’t like it. This part of my life has been one hundred percent in my control and with a flick of a switch I changed all of that. My heart pounds with all the what-ifs and my palms are sweaty. I repeatedly wipe them on my shorts.
Then a thought pops into my mind. “The security audio,” I whisper. I’ve already tapped our security team’s audio. I did that a long time ago. I pull up my feed and listen.
“The tiger is still sitting with Logan,” Patrick says into the mic. “The tiger” is security’s nickname for Auggie. My dad is “lion,” Chris is “cub,” and I am “falcon.”
“What’s taking them so long?” Lucas asks.
“Apparently, the bank didn’t have our currency and had to get it from another bank. They are bringing it over here,” Patrick explains.
“I don’t like that,” Lucas says. Good man, I think.
“Fine, I’ll get tiger and Logan out of here,” Patrick says. I hear him talking to Auggie and Logan. There’s apparently an arrangement to have the money transferred to an account instead. And then, I hear Patrick announce they are approaching the car.
They get inside, and I see the blue dot move. I breathe. I’m about to sign off when I hear Lucas say, “I think we’re being followed.”
I freeze and listen to them talk, as Lucas drives a crazy route back he
re. I want to be there, helping, knowing. But all I can do is helplessly listen as Lucas and Patrick discuss where to turn and speed and calling in for backup.
I hear Pete leave with Nico, and I stay glued to my computer.
“We’re on our way,” Pete says. I listen as they ask for the whereabouts of the first car. I’m barely aware that I’m biting my nails.
“In sight,” Pete says as they approach the other car. I hear a screech of tires, and then I hear Lucas say, “I’m pulling in here.”
“I just reported the license plate to the local police,” Nico says.
“The car is continuing on at a high speed,” Lucas says.
“We’ll follow you back to the compound,” Pete says to Lucas.
I throw down my earphones and run to the front door. The second the cars pull up, I run out, not caring that the gate is still closing, just caring that my brother and Logan are safe.
Pete barely throws the car in park when he runs at me, essentially shielding me with his body as the gate closes.
“Anna! What the fuck were you thinking?!” he yells at me. But I’m not listening, I’m staring at a rather shaken Auggie and Logan who are emerging from the other car. I break free of Pete and run to my brother, throwing my arms around him.
“Are you OK?” I ask them, pulling back and then hugging Logan.
“We’re fine,” my brother mutters. “Not the first time a crazy has tailed us.”
I glare at him.
“We’re fine,” Logan reiterates, giving me a squeeze before letting me go.
Pete comes back toward me. “Change of plans, are you packed?” he asks.
“Aside from a few items, yes. Why?” I ask him.
“We’re leaving now,” he states.
We’re ushered back into our uncle’s home and within minutes our staff has us packed up into different cars, and we are heading toward the airport.
“We’ll get you sorted with your bank when we’re settled in Norddale,” my brother reassures Logan. Logan just nods and stares out the window.
We pull up to the private jet belonging to a friend of my father’s and board it. It’d been a last-minute switch, as my uncle’s plane wasn’t yet ready for us. I take in the opulent surroundings of the aircraft. It is extravagant even by my standards.
