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Taking her hand, he pressed a kiss to her palm. “Let me go check.”
The seat belt sign came on, and he turned back to his family and barked, “Get your seat belts on.”
He didn’t wait to see if they obeyed. He knew his wife would ensure their children complied.
As he stepped into the cockpit, his heart thumped hard against his chest when he heard the tension of the pilot’s voice.
“Mayday. Mayday. This is the captain of La Liberte of Ile de la Lune. We have an engine malfunction. We are requesting the closest location to land.”
“Sir, the speaker is on. It would be helpful if you identified yourself.”
As if in a dream, he heard his voice say, “This is Crown Prince Nicolas Wellingsley of Ile de la Lune. Please alert the authorities of our emergency.”
Seconds later, he heard the most terrifying words of all. “Mayday! Mayday!” the pilot shouted. “We have lost both engines. Prepare for crash landing!”
Nerves and adrenaline spiraling through him, Nicolas dropped into the seat behind him, buckled his seat belt, closed his eyes, and prayed.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Eve hissed and grimaced as Gideon pressed his fingers against her sore ribs. As soon as her father was stabilized, Gideon had persuaded her to return to her apartment for a few minutes so he could see to her injuries. She had refused to allow the doctor to take his attention away from her father, so as a compromise, she had agreed to come back to her apartment. He knew it was more to get him to shut up than anything else, but he didn’t care. Whatever it took to take care of her, he would do.
“They’re not broken, so that’s a plus,” he said.
“Told you they weren’t. It’s just a few bruises and a busted lip. I’ve suffered worse during a training session.” Sliding off the bathroom counter, she dropped her feet to the floor. “Before we go, though, there’s something you need to know.”
“What?”
“Dirk Bennett was one of my attackers.”
“What? How? Are you sure?”
“I know his voice. I’ve heard him in my nightmares often enough to remember it.”
His thoughts sprouted reasons, scenarios, suppositions—none of which was rooted in anything other than his wild imaginings. How could Dirk Bennett even be out of prison, much less here in Amelie and invading a secure, well-guarded palace? But he believed Eve. She was not one for hyperbole. If she believed Bennett had attacked her in that passageway, then it was him.
“That gives us one more thread to pull.”
“It makes no sense, though. He told me the reasons he aided in the attack on the embassy were twofold. Get rid of his father and sell me. His father is dead. So, if he managed to escape, why come here and, after all these years, attack me? Why not go somewhere and hide? What’s in it for him?”
“Revenge?”
“Maybe. But a man’s got to have a strong hatred to take that kind of chance. He could’ve disappeared and likely never would have been found. Instead, he comes in, attacks me, and allows himself to be identified. I never thought he was terribly bright, but this seems stupid even by his standards.”
Gideon shook his head. “You’re right. I’ll check with my sources and find out when and how he escaped from prison. Then I’ll get Serena to start digging on him.”
“I need to get back to my father.”
“They’re not going to stop coming for you, you know. Especially if Bennett is involved and seeking revenge. There’s a bigger plot afoot—considering your father was poisoned right before you were attacked—and you’re a major target.”
“They won’t succeed. We’ll find out who’s behind all this, and we’ll stop them.”
“How, Eve?”
“The way we always do. We keep digging until we find the answers.”
“And in the meantime, you and your family are in danger.”
“What are you getting at?”
