Blood, Love and Lies

by Brooke Sivendra

  “Understood,” Abi said. “You have my word.” She wouldn’t breathe a word of this to anyone, and the weapon she’d been using couldn’t be traced back to her.

  “Good,” Colonel Stevens told her. “If anyone hears about this, you will be held responsible.”

  “I understand,” Abi said with a terse nod.

  “What did they want?” Colonel Stevens asked, and then shook his head. “Don’t tell me, I don’t want to know.”

  A car pulled up beside them. “My driver will take you home,” Colonel Stevens said.

  “Thank you,” Abi said blankly.

  The driver swapped out with Colonel Stevens and drove their car.

  Abi noted Sabrina looked as pale as Abi felt. She gave her a reassuring look, as best she could muster.

  Abi gave the driver her address—the address of her second apartment, Rian’s apartment—Rian Jones, not Rian Colemann. It sat empty most of the time, but IFRT used it occasionally. Abi sometimes considered it a waste of money, but in a situation like this it paid for itself. Abi could keep her primary address concealed, and for a few hours they would have a place to gather and make a plan.

  The sky glowed pink as they drove toward Patmos. Abi longed for a warm drink and a bed. She was scared to close her eyes, though—scared to be transported back to the events of an hour ago. She had been on a mission to rescue hostages, and while she’d done that, she’d also taken two lives. That fact was not lost on her, nor that she’d just verified Asher’s concerns.

  They arrived at the apartment and Abi led everyone to the elevator. Her colleagues, who had been traveling in the other car, were already here. They had, as per protocol, gone ahead and missed the horrors Abi’s car hadn’t been able to escape. She thought of the bodies on the side of the road. Abi wondered if Colonel Stevens would clean them up or leave them there. It was a war-torn district, and they wouldn’t be the first dead men to be found on the side of the road.

  The drapes were drawn when they entered, as they always were, and the apartment was neat and tidy. It had been months since Abi had been there. There would be no milk in the fridge, but she definitely had some herbal tea.

  “Take a seat, I won’t be a minute,” Abi said, gesturing toward the large couch which curved around the lounge room before moving to the kitchen. She needed a moment alone—a moment to digest the events of the night and piece it all together.

  The car had followed them from Santina, then followed them back to the border. And they knew who Abi was—or at least what she was doing.

  Very few people knew that information: their informant and a few team members. Even Asher hadn’t known what she was doing tonight.

  But why would their informant betray them?

  Unless . . . Her eyes narrowed. It was the only explanation she could think of. The informant had been caught, and she’d sold Abi to save her own life.

  Abi sighed, burying her face in her hands. She knew too well that it wouldn’t have saved the informant, even if that’s what they’d promised her.

  The face of the young woman flashed in Abi’s mind.

  Please don’t let it be true. She poured hot water into the teapot and carried it into the living room on a wooden tray. She was halfway there when, through the fog of the events, she remembered Sabrina slumping forward in the car.

  Abi ran to her, looking her over, but she didn’t appear to be hurt.

  “What happened?” Abi asked, her mind reeling. “I just . . . I thought you’d been hit in the car.”

  “Something stung my shoulder and I panicked. I think I fainted,” she said, looking away like she’d done something bad. “Sorry, Abi, I wasn’t prepared, I didn’t—”

  Abi pulled her in for a hug. “Stop. None of us were prepared for that. I’m just glad you’re okay.”

  Sabrina nodded, still looking at her hands.

  “Sabrina,” Abi said, waiting until her friend met her gaze.

  Eventually, Sabrina looked into Abi’s eyes, and managed a small smile.

  “Okay. Everything is okay,” Abi said, as much to herself as to the other women. She poured a cup of tea for everyone, but when her intercom sounded she almost dropped the teapot.

  No one except Colonel Stevens should know where they were.

  “Abi?”

  Abi knew his voice, and she cringed internally. Stevens must’ve told him some of the story, at least, and she doubted this conversation was going to go in her favor.

  “Abi, we need to talk,” Asher said.

  “It’s open,” Abi said, pressing the button on the intercom. She didn’t want to have this conversation, but if he knew what had happened it was inevitable. She moved toward the elevator door. The apartment had a small lobby, and she was grateful for that now because it meant no one would see him walk through her apartment door. She needed to keep his involvement a secret, and Abi didn’t know how the women they’d rescued would react to seeing Prince Asher at the apartment. They might really think they’d died on the side of the road and had gone to heaven.

  “Are you okay?” Asher asked as soon as the elevator doors opened. His eyes were soft and she didn’t see any sparks of anger.

  Abi didn’t know what he’d been told, and she was not going to offer additional information, so she replied as evasively as she could.

  “Yes, come in,” she said, but instead of taking him into the living room she led him toward the master bedroom and away from curious eyes.

  “Is this your apartment?” he asked, surveying the hallway and rooms with open doors as they walked.

  “Yes,” Abi replied. It wasn’t a lie—not really.

  “Or is it Rian’s apartment?” Asher asked, tilting his head to the side.

  Abi cringed internally. She assumed Colonel Stevens had reported the names they’d been traveling on. “Same thing. Rian, Abi . . .” She paused. “Abigail.”

  She didn’t expect him to recognize her; he hadn’t seen Abigail Bennett since she had been a child.

  She held out her hand, and he walked into the bedroom. She closed the door behind them, suddenly aware of the small, intimate space they were in.

  He sat on the edge of the bed, looking out of place. “What happened tonight?”

  Abi didn’t know where to start. The Colonel’s warning rang in her mind, but he must’ve told Asher something—otherwise the prince wouldn’t be there.

  Asher sensed her reluctance and eyed her suspiciously. “Stevens called me after he dropped you off. I wanted to come and see how you really were. Who were the men?” Asher asked, clearly not wanting to dance around the events that had unfolded.

  “I don’t know,” Abi said, truthfully. “I’m still trying to piece it together.”

  “Stevens said they wanted to know who you were,” Asher pressed.

  Abi sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. She was suddenly cold.

  “Yes, that’s what they wanted. Honestly, I don’t know why. Very few people knew what was happening tonight. Sabrina, who was with me and therefore unlikely to put herself in the firing line, and Rachel, who is like my sister. I couldn’t trust anyone more. Colonel Stevens knew we were crossing the border, but I didn’t give him any other details.”

  Asher rubbed the back of his neck, thoughtful. “How many times have you had a pistol pressed against your temple?”

  It took Abi a moment to answer. “First time,” she said with a thick voice.

  Asher’s eyes softened, and Abi didn’t like it. It was easier to keep up the pretense when she saw him as a prince, not a normal human being—one that would be hurt when this was all said and done.

  Abi cleared her throat. “It’s nothing compared to what the two women sitting in my living room have endured.”

  Asher nodded. “Perhaps, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t shake you.”

  Abi couldn’t deny that. She felt like the shock was only just beginning to wear off. “I’ll be fine, I just need some time to process it. Why are you here?”

 
; Asher raised his eyebrows. “Like I said, I wanted to make sure you were okay.” He sighed. “And we need to talk about the dead bodies on the side of the road. Stevens reported he didn’t see the shooter.”

  Abi silently cringed.

  “In that case, I appreciate your concern and I will be fine in a few hours. The dead bodies . . . I’m not sure what there is to discuss,” Abi said dismissively. She wasn’t going to admit to killing the men, even though she was sure Asher had reached that conclusion.

  “I advised Stevens to leave them there, that no one should return to the scene. To his best knowledge, there were no witnesses other than your travel companions. I think it’s best that it stays that way.”

  Abi nodded. “That’s fine with me.”

  A small, sad smile graced his perfect lips. “Sit,” he said, tapping the bed beside him. “You’re making me nervous.”

  Abi gave a strained laugh. “Oh, I’m making you nervous? I’m sorry, Prince Asher.”

  He grinned, and something unfamiliar blossomed in her chest.

  “You came here uninvited,” Abi said. “You’re questioning me about dead bodies, and you’re the one who is nervous? Am I missing something?”

  He chuckled, and Abi loved the sound of his laugh. “It’s actually not funny at all.” A hint of amusement laced his words. “Sit, please. Your hovering is honestly making me anxious,” Asher said with a boyish smile.

  Abi obliged, sitting next to him—and immediately regretting it. He was too close, his olive skin too tantalizing.

  When he looked at her again, she knew she wasn’t going to like what he said next.

  “I appreciate how delicate these missions are, and I know you do everything you can to make sure they run smoothly,” he said, pausing. “But I can’t be involved if events like tonight are going to be a regular occurrence. I’m doing this without the King’s permission, but my involvement will quickly be noticed if this goes public, and it will reflect poorly on my father and Santina. I trust Colonel Stevens, but I don’t trust all of his men. If I’m aiding you, and you’re shooting neighboring civilians, it’s going to—”

  “Asher,” Abi said, placing a hand on his forearm without thinking. She quickly withdrew it. “I understand. Tonight was far from our ideal rescue. I never want my team to be in that position again. I never want to be in that position again. But this is the work we do, and it’s possible it will happen again. You can withdraw your help at any time, no questions asked. We’ve operated for many years without official clearances.”

  He tilted his head. He looked thoughtful, but his eyes never moved from hers. “Are the women here? Can I meet them?”

  Abi raised her eyebrows. “I shuffled you in here to avoid them, as I thought it might raise unwanted attention. I can assure you my team will keep their mouths shut, but the women . . . I can’t make that promise. I believe they will keep quiet, but they’ve been through a lot, and that can make them unpredictable.” She looked at him frankly. “Why do you want to meet them?”

  “So that when I doubt myself, I remember why this is a good idea,” Asher said, looking straight into her eyes, tugging on her heart.

  Abi nodded slowly. “Let me speak to them first. They don’t open up to strangers, and they might not speak at all,” she said, completely unsure if this was a good idea—but she understood Asher’s motives, and she knew it would give him encouragement.

  “Sure,” he said.

  She stood, immediately finding it easier to breathe once she put some space between herself and the prince.

  “Give me a minute,” Abi said, and walked away—feeling his eyes never leave her back as she left the room.

  Asher

  Asher stared at the closed door, wondering when Abi was coming back. He’d come here to question her, concerned he needed to end his short-lived involvement, but he’d done none of that. Abi had the unique ability to say exactly what he wanted to hear, without it appearing rehearsed—and he didn’t think it was a show. He saw the vulnerability in her eyes, and for a woman who did the work she did, he was amazed at how she wore her heart on her sleeve. He supposed, given how fundamentally humanitarian her work was, he should’ve expected it. But he also knew she had to put walls up to deal with the horrors she saw and heard about every day.

  Asher wanted to support IFRT, wanted to support her, but the niggling in the back of his mind wouldn’t let up. Maybe this was how Alistair felt all day, every day. He knew what the right thing to do was, knew what he should do, and yet he couldn’t do it. In a way, Abi and IFRT—despite it being a worthy cause—was Asher’s own form of self-sabotage.

  The door opened, and Abi smiled warmly. “They didn’t say much, but they’re eager to meet you.”

  Asher nodded. “I’ll let you do the talking,” he said, happy to give her the lead.

  He followed her into the living room and dazzled eyes landed on him. Situations like this reminded him he was royalty.

  “Savannah,” Abi said, “this is Prince Asher. It was because of him that we were given border clearances and were escorted safely home.”

  Asher didn’t know what he’d expected to see, but he saw everything Savannah must’ve felt flash through her eyes: fear, relief, gratitude. Another woman sat beside her, huddled in a blanket, her eyes remaining fixed on her feet.

  Savannah looked to Asher, but never met his gaze. “Thank you, Prince Asher,” she said in a choked voice.

  “I’m not the one who should be thanked tonight. Abi and her team did this; they found you and brought you home. They will take care of you, and we will make sure you’re both safe in Santina,” Asher said softly, but confidently.

  He wasn’t offended Savannah didn’t look at him. He sensed her gratitude even though she’d only said three words. She’d been through hell, and he knew her battles were only just beginning. She’d survived the physical battle, and now she faced the mental one.

  Savannah turned to Abi, and he noted Savannah did meet Abi’s eyes. Abi didn’t move to comfort her, but her warm eyes were like a hug. Asher knew the woman must’ve been brutalized, that Savannah likely didn’t want anyone touching her at all, yet Abi was able to comfort her regardless.

  Asher wondered if this was natural to Abi, or if she’d learned this gift through experience.

  “I can’t repay either of you,” Savannah said, her voice a whisper.

  “There is nothing to repay,” Abi said, firmly yet softly.

  Asher felt uncomfortable, like he was hovering like a royal ass, so he took a seat in the empty armchair.

  A tear slid down Savannah’s cheek, and she rushed to wipe it away. Asher looked away, pretending not to notice. He didn’t want to make her more uncomfortable.

  The apartment door opened, and Asher’s head snapped to the hallway he knew led to the small foyer. No one had called the intercom, so whoever had arrived had keys to this apartment.

  Footsteps grew louder as their guest approached, and Rachel’s eyes doubled in size when she saw Asher. He didn’t miss the odd look she shot Abi.

  Rachel sat beside Abi, and for the first time it occurred to him that he didn’t know how they were connected. Were they childhood friends? Abi had said she was like a sister, so they weren’t likely to be immediately related.

  “Libby, Savannah, I’m Rachel. I’m so happy to meet you both,” she said, then dug around in her bag, pulling out two envelopes. “I brought you these. We sent a team member to your homes and they were able to retrieve some of your items. We have everything stored at our office, but I wanted to give you these tonight.” Rachel handed over the envelopes.

  Asher watched the women’s faces as they opened the envelopes. Their faces transformed into raw emotion, Savannah no longer caring to hide her tears.

  Asher wished he could see the photographs they were looking at—he assumed they were family photographs. Nothing had been mentioned about their families, and he wondered if any of them had survived the attack. The women and children were normally t
aken and the men murdered; it was brutal, and Asher was grateful they had managed to keep the terrorists outside of Santina’s borders. Sometimes, though, Asher wondered if it was only a matter of time. How long could they hold the borders when they were surrounded by war?

  “Thank you, thank you,” Libby repeated, clutching the photographs to her chest as she sobbed. They were the first words she’d spoken all night, and her pain was palpable.

  Rachel nodded, giving a small smile. When Abi looked to Asher, he noted her glistening eyes.

  He knew in that moment it was too late. He’d never withdraw his support. His father might not like it, but this was important—this was what it meant to care for the people, to save those who couldn’t save themselves.

  His phone vibrated in his pocket and he withdrew it, seeing a message from Noah.

  You need to get back to the palace. The King is looking for you.

  Asher stood and quickly typed a reply: On my way.

  Noah would cover for him until he got home. The King loved Noah almost as much as the Queen did—and right now, probably more than the King loved Alistair.

  “I’m sorry, but I need to be going,” Asher said, looking at Abi then at the two women seated beside each other. After everything they’d been through, Asher hoped the two women could comfort each other.

  He had a million questions to ask Abi about what would happen next for Libby and Savannah, but when the King requested his son’s attendance, something important needed to be discussed. The King did not, after all, just hang out with his sons.

  Asher prayed whispers of tonight’s events hadn’t returned to him already.

  He looked back to the women. “I hope we meet again, under better circumstances next time. Abi and her team will take care of you.”

  They both nodded, their eyes diverting to various objects.

  Abi cleared her throat. “I’ll walk you out.”

  Asher followed her toward the foyer, and when she pressed the elevator button he wished he’d had a few more minutes alone with her.