by Nana Malone
She reached for me and gave a little tug on my elbow. "Theo, it will be okay. We'll find out who's doing this."
I ran my hand through my hair. "I don't know. Derrick planned that I'd be home by now. Instead, I'm here. And it’s weird, because a part of me feels like I belong here, yet there's another part of me that feels out of touch, out of context."
“Of course you do. Up until a few days ago, you were basically living someone else's life."
"Jesus Christ, that was only four days ago?"
She nodded slowly. "It’s been a long four days. You should probably get some rest. We'll talk in the morning. Look, I know you haven’t really known my team that long, but Ariel is the best. Trace, Jax, all of them. I'd put my life in their hands. Hell, I do put my life in their hands on every case we take. We're going to keep you protected."
"I don't really deserve it. Remember, you were assigned to protect Derrick. He's gone now."
"Well, you were the body we were physically assigned to guard, no matter what name you were using at the time. So, we're doing our job."
I chuckled at that. "Take it however you can get it?'
She nodded. "Absolutely." She smiled at me, and my heart squeezed. Jesus fucking Christ, I was so goddamn in love. I just prayed this wasn't going to get one or both of us killed.
Zia…
As we wandered back toward the palace, my cell phone vibrated. Theo lifted a brow. "Is Deedee okay?"
I don't know why, but I laughed. "After everything you've already seen with my sister and everything you know about her, your first concern is whether or not she's all right? And not whether or not she's been infuriated for another wrong done to her?"
He shrugged. "Well, she had a roommate. She moved out. It's been a couple of days, and it’s been pretty quiet so far. Maybe she’s finally settling down."
I cranked my neck. "Yeah, that's the thing. Deedee is not a settler. It's been two or three days, so of course, something about her roommate is making her crazy. And she's a runner because no one there will hold her accountable for anything.”
Theo's hands were gentle as he smoothed them over my hair, which was now attempting to freeze at the roots. My painstaking efforts from this morning to straighten it, were going to shit under humidity. "Look, let's go get her. Maybe she's worried about you."
"I promise you Deedee is not worried about me. Deedee needs something."
Theo shrugged. "Well, you should see what she needs because you and I won’t have a moment's rest until you know."
I sighed. He was right. I wasn't going to have a moment's peace until I knew if she was okay or not, even though she probably was.
“I had high hopes, you know?”
* * *
"Don't be so down. Maybe it's good news."
"Yeah. Clearly, you don't know my sister."
"I know she's part of you, so let's go see what she needs."
Theo was careful to only touch me to help usher me in and out of the doorways and around the pass, but I wanted him to touch me. I could feel the crackle between us, the coil of tension. My whole body was leaning toward him, hungry for that snap that made me fall and tumble into his arms, knowing he would be there to catch me.
But you're still thinking about the pain. The pain of when he leaves. The pain of when you're all alone again.
Yeah. I know all about pain that can be brutal. That pain was terrible. That pain sucked balls. And I was not down for that pain.
But he could stay.
No, he couldn't. And if he did, you wouldn’t be what he'd be staying for.
That little line I’d told myself my whole life, it hadn't served me well. But I couldn't untell it. Except, I wondered if it was wrong. What if I'd believed the wrong thing all along?
It didn't matter. I wasn't going to get to explore it anytime soon because I had to rescue my sister... again.
At the far end of the north parking lot, Deedee was arguing with the guards, showing all her ID, but they wouldn't let her by. After all, she wasn't on the guest list for the palace. It had never been necessary.
We took the pathway around, and at the guard tower, I nodded at the Royal Guard on duty. One of them I'd known very well. We were in the military together. "Lady Zia, it's good to see you."
"Andrew, hi. What's the problem?"
"I know she's your sister, and I would have let her in, but security has been tightened."
I nodded. "Sorry about that. I'll see her in."
Theo nodded at Andrew, who stuttered when he realized who was with me. All of them still thought he was Derrick Arlington. Immediately, Andrew stood at attention as if recognizing the alpha had just walked in. But not before sneaking a narrow-eyed gaze at me.
Deedee sighed when she realized that it was me coming through the guard gate to let her in. "Jesus Christ, I have been so worried. You haven’t answered any of my calls.”
I frowned. “You called?” I’d had my phone off most of the day, and I’d sent calls straight to voice mail.
"Yeah. I had an emergency and you didn't answer."
Theo grumbled behind me. "We know all about your emergencies, Deedee."
Her gaze flickered to him and back to me. "Jesus Christ, you're still with him?"
"Look, follow me." I didn't really want to have one of these conversations in front of the guards, because of course, that would travel back to the council, Sebastian and Ariel.
Once we were inside the gates and through the side entrance of the palace toward the private quarters, Deedee whistled. "Jesus. I mean, I've been here for a tour, of course, nearly every school year for a field trip, but I've never been into the actual private quarters before."
"Deedee, let’s be clear; you're not staying."
Once we were inside, Theo excused himself. "I'll just be going."
I shook my head. "Sorry, I'm still on your duty, so she has to come with us."
He sighed and nodded. When we were back in our quarters, he excused himself and marched to his room. Deedee glanced around, taking in the modern surroundings. "Geez, you wouldn't know that this was in here, considering all the gold and glitter outside."
"Deedee, what is it?"
"Well, where have you been?"
"I'm working, Deedee."
"I know. Remember? I saw you a couple of days ago. You told me you were staying at the penthouse. I went to see you there but the desk security guy told me you weren't there. So then, I went to Royal Elite. And Jameson told me you weren't there and that you were staying at the palace."
"Yeah, it's complicated."
"What do you mean, complicated?"
"Deedee, focus. What are you doing here?"
"What? I can't see you because I'm worried? I miss seeing you at least once a week."
"Deedee, it was only three days ago. What's going on?"
"It's just… I don't know if this roommate thing is gonna work out."
I ran my hands through my hair, which felt puffy at the roots. "Jesus Christ, Deedee, I do not have time for this right now."
"I mean, God she's got all these house rules, and she thinks I'm a slob. Which I'm not, by the way."
"Yes, you are. You are a slob. I’ve said this for years. Mom and Dad said it when we were kids. You always had fits when I wouldn't clean up after you."
"I wasn’t that bad. But she made a chore list, and I can't live in that kind of situation. I really should be living on my own."
"No. This was our arrangement. A roommate, sharing expenses, paying rent somewhere."
"What? Look, I can't stay with her. I'll find a different roommate who's more accommodating."
I shook my head. "No."
She frowned. Delicate brows arching. "What do you mean, no?"
"No. This is the roommate you have and you're going to stick it out for a year. That's how leases work."
"But I can't."
"When I co-signed on that lease for you, the arrangement was that you were going to stay there for a year, and we're not
breaking that lease. If you break it, I have no idea where you're going to stay."
She blinked at me rapidly. "Wait, you would toss me out on the street?"
"Yes, I would."
Her bottom jaw dropped, making her mouth form a small O. "You wouldn't really put me out on the street."
"I absolutely would, because you have a home. You're just choosing not to stay there because someone is imposing rules. Theo was right. I spent too much time coddling you, babying you, fishing you out of the messes you made. Not anymore. I'm not doing it. You made a commitment, and you're going to stick to it."
"Who the hell is Theo?"
I groaned. "Long story."
"Well, I’ve got all night."
I shook my head. "No. You don't. I have work to do here, Deedee. You're going back to your apartment. I'll have one of the Royal Elite guys drive you."
"What's going on? Why are you at the palace?"
I wanted to tell her. I wanted us to have that relationship where I didn't have to act like her mother. But as she clearly still couldn't take care of herself, I had no choice. "We're not getting into this. You are going back to your apartment, and that's it."
"For real?"
I crossed my arms. "For real. I'm not bailing you out anymore. You made your bed. Now you'll be lying on it."
I had never been that firm with her before in my life. I never really told her no for something big and important. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like I had some kind of control over my personal life. And I knew I was doing the best thing for her, even though it hurt a little. Sometimes, I just needed to say no.
14
Ariel…
For three days we’d been looking for Arlington. For three days, I’d wasted my resources and Sebastian had wasted his looking for his idiot cousin. For three days, we’d been worried something had actually happened to him, but oh no, he had just been gallivanting away.
Fantastic.
When Roone and I walked into Sebastian’s office, he inclined his head as if to say what the fuck you guys, has my whole family gone crazy? At least that was my interpretation.
Penny waddled along behind us, but Sebastian waved her off. "No, sweetheart. I'm just getting caught up on this ridiculousness. You need to rest."
"I am not tired." Penny scowled at him around a yawn.
When I bit back my laugh and Roone slid his gaze away as if trying to pretend he didn't see her yawn, Penny rolled her eyes. "Okay fine, I'm exhausted. But tell me what happened. What's going on?"
I shrugged. "Oh, nothing. We just found the billionaire, that's all."
Her eyes went wide. "I wanna go."
Sebastian, Roone, and I all answered for her. "No," We shouted in unison.
Sebastian tried to soften the blow though, which was kind of him.
"Darling, we've covered this. I get it. I really do, but no. You've been badass enough for one night."
She shrugged. "Fine. I am tired."
We took a seat and he rolled his shoulders. "Okay, so I guess I need to go collect my cousin?"
Roone shook his head. "I'll do it. I can catch a quick jumper flight. It's nothing."
I shook my head. "Technically, my team is on the hook for getting him, right? For protecting him. I should go. Besides, you’re a newlywed. Jessa would be pissed."
He shrugged. “She’s already had a work thing in London, so she’s with London Lords at the moment.”
Sebastian held up his hand. "You're both going. Take the private jet. It's what, five, six hours? You'll be back in no time."
All I could think about was Tristan waiting for me back at home. He was not going to like this. But what was I going to do? This was who I was and what I did. Protect the idiots from themselves.
"Yeah, let me text Tristan."
Roone groaned. "Just let me go. It’s easier."
Sebastian shook his head. "We’ve already underestimated my cousin once. Lex is already on the ground with confirmation of his location."
I nodded. "Let's go collect our billionaire."
As we strolled out of Sebastian's office, Roone grinned at me. "It's nice to have the gang back together."
"You mean with me being in charge of you?"
He laughed. "Uhm, let's be clear. I'm in-charge of you."
“Dream on, pretty boy. Dream on.”
“See, I always knew you liked me.”
I rolled my eyes. I did like him. He was maybe the best partner I’d ever had. And after Penny, he might well be the best friend I had. But he didn’t need to know that. Better to keep him on his toes and not swell that pretty boy head any more. “Ahh, I see the delusion is still strong with you.” He was right. It was nice to have the team back together.
Within forty-five minutes, Roone, and I had our go bags and were in flight. Tristan wasn't pleased that my job had gotten in the way of our romantic night together.
His first text was whiny.
Tristan: But I had planned on tying you up.
I bit back a laugh.
Ariel: Well, you can tie yourself and wait for me to get home.
Tristan: Nope. Now I’ll just have to think up a new surprise for you.
Ariel: Fine by me as long as it involves you without many clothes on.
Tristan: I feel so objectified.
Ariel: Would it make you feel better if I told you, I was only with you for your massive… brain?
Tristan: Haha. I know it’s really my big… smile you love so much.
His follow up came quickly.
Tristan: I miss you.
Ariel: I miss you too. I'll be back in less than ten hours.
Tristan: You can't let my idiot pseudo-cousin get himself home?
Ariel: Your idiot pseudo-cousin took off on his own when a killer was out to get him, so obviously he can't be trusted to make his own decisions right now.
Tristan: We're still in our honeymoon phase. Please tell my cousin that.
Ariel: You can tell him yourself. Plus, he said we all deserve some time off.
Tristan: Hurry back.
I put my phone away and rubbed my eyes. How did Penny do this? I had known she was having a hard time being married to her job and married to the king, but it hadn't been real for me until just now. The want versus the need. I needed to be my own person. I needed to have a job and a goal. And Tristan supported them. It's just, I also wanted to be a wife at home.
How the hell was I supposed to do both?
I didn't know how it was going with Roone and Jessa, but she spent half her time in London. I didn't know how they worked it out, but Roone didn't seem as conflicted as I did. I wanted to know how that was, but I knew he had his own issues. Splitting time, his commitment to Sebastian. By the time we arrived in Ibiza, neither Roone nor I were in a particularly good mood. I hadn't slept worth a shit. And given the way Roone was rubbing at his face and jaw, I didn't think he had either. We stepped on the tarmac and slid our sunglasses on. Bright daylight. Awesome.
Roone rolled his shoulders. "All right, let's get this guy. How do you want to play it? Bad cop, worse cop?"
There was a part of me that thought maybe this would be difficult. That maybe bringing Derrick back was going to be hard. After all, if he'd taken off, he didn't want to be found, did he? But when we approached the hotel, it turned out we didn't need to be worried. Derrick Arlington was making himself known.
As soon as we walked in, Roone tapped my shoulder. "There's your boy." Derrick was poolside, screaming at the top of his lungs, "Shots for everybody.” Which, of course, was followed by a rakish roar from the crowd.
I couldn't help it. I stopped and stared at him. "We've been turning over every stone to find him, and he's partying?"
Roone growled. "It makes you wonder if he was ever missing the first time too."
"His injuries weren't fake."
Roone just scowled and muttered, "Uh-huh. Do you think he put us all through that for nothing?"
"I'm thinking you and I
aren't home when we need to be because this idiot is having a party and seems completely unconcerned about his own safety."
"That's what I'm saying. Let's get this idiot and go home. I wanna leave as soon as possible."
"And I do too."
When he saw us approach the pool, Derrick pouted. "Let me guess, the party is over?"
I nodded my head at him. "How did you guess?"
"Well, I knew you'd come and get me eventually."
I rolled my eyes. "Do you have any idea how many resources we spent trying to find you?"
He grinned at me cheerlessly. "You know what? You can bill me. Better yet, bill Arlington Tech. Oh, come on, it’s my best mate's bachelor party. How was I supposed to miss it?"
Roone was having none of his bullshit though. "Take that up with the king. We're just here to ruin the party."
I knew my team was spread thin and frazzled, concerned about this whole assignment. Zia, in particular. She'd gone through all of this, and for what? So this idiot playboy could party? I wanted to kill him myself. But I reminded myself that my job was to serve and protect. Not hunt down and kill. The killing could come later. Sebastian would likely take care of that for me. Derrick Arlington was an idiot, and he was willing to let us all pay the price of his idiocy.
Zia…
I tossed in bed.
After Deedee’s visit last night and another long day with no leads on who was trying to kill my twin billionaires, I couldn’t sleep for shit, especially knowing Theo was just a door away. Timothy Arlington had been up our asses the whole day. His security team wanted full access to our investigation.
But we gave them a whole lot of nothing. When I’d checked in with Jax that morning, he said Sebastian had sent Ariel on a last-minute recon mission, so maybe she had a lead.
I heard the squeaking of shoes on the hardwood, and I was up in a flash, my gun palmed. On my tiptoes, I padded to the door and eased it open. A hulking figure was at Theo’s door, and I didn’t even pause to think; I just launched myself at him.
With an oof, he tried to shake me off, but I was holding on spider monkey style. From my position, I tried to deliver a downward elbow, but he tossed me free. That weightless sensation felt like it lasted for minutes instead of milliseconds.
