Page 53 of Royal Salvation

“Change of plan, Ma’am. We’re headed to the Langley instead. Your previous team thought it best not to repeat past behaviours and suggested a new hotel not previously used by the family.”

Lucía blinked as the man in the passenger seat spoke, but his words eased her fear and it made sense that Justice would suggest that. “Fine.”

“Would you like some water, Ma’am, to keep you hydrated after your long flight?”

“Yes, please.”

Her throat was parched, and the cool water would help. As the man turned and handed her a bottle of sparkling water, she saw a tattoo of a chess piece on his wrist where his shirt rode up. Her eyes flew to his, sure she must be overreacting but when she saw the cold look in his eyes, she knew she wasn’t.

“I guess the game is up.”

The man she suspected was Chess pulled out a gun and pointed it at her as the driver smirked and carried on driving.

“Where are you taking me?” Her demand sounded haughty and confident when she felt anything but.

Chess chuckled as the driver pulled over to the side of the road. “I’m taking you home, Princess, where else?” His eyes raked over her making her skin crawl. “Then we can finish this once and for all, and you can get what you deserve.”

“Justice will kill you for this.”

“Justice, ha. He’ll be too busy wailing over his dead father to realise, and by then it will be too late. Playboy was the perfect partner there for a while but he’s no match for Reaper and he’s the only one who doesn’t know it. But me? I played the long game. Coming across as the accomplice when all of this was my idea. Playboy will die, the old man will die, and Reaper will be too late to save the woman he loves. Boohoo.”

“You’re sick.”

“No, Princess, I’m a realist and money is the only power that counts. Thanks to you I almost lost my chance to be involved with Project Cradle.”

Lucía had no idea what he was talking about and didn’t care, she just needed to figure out how to get away.

The door was wrenched open and Lucía jumped back as the driver tried to grab her, but she kicked out, fighting for her life. She struck him in the chin, and he swore before he came at her again, but Chess already had hold of her hair through the seats. She felt the burn in her scalp before a prick of pain in her neck and then her body became unresponsive to her demands and her eyelids grew heavy before she was out.

Chapter 22

Looking at his phone for the hundredth time, Reaper couldn’t shake the feeling that something was very wrong. At the airport, he’d put it down to the sudden change in plans and the fact Lucía wasn’t next to him. But as they drove to the address Playboy had sent him, the feeling grew stronger. This address was a secondary location and in the opposite direction of the original, heading more toward Oxford and that needled him too. Something was off and he needed to figure out what it was and fast.

“You good?”

Bás, Duchess, Lotus, Titan, and Bein had met them at the airport and now his boss was looking at him as if trying to assess his mental state.

“If you’re asking if I’m okay to handle this mission, then yes.”

“It’s for the best, Reaper. You and Lucía wouldn’t work long term.”

Reaper felt his hackles go up and knew he was just jonesing for a fight. “How can you possibly know that?”

“Really? This isn’t a fairy tale, Reaper. You’re a highly trained operative and excellent at what you do, because of the secrecy we have that gives us protection. Do you really think you could have that married to a Princess?”

Reaper glared at Bás as if this was all his fault when he knew it was nothing but circumstance. “I could quit Shadow.”

“Get your head out of your ass. You don’t quit Shadow. We’re family and you need this job. It’s in your blood.”

“I need her too.” He realised he was right. He felt like he couldn’t breathe without her.

“And what about her father? You really think he’s going to let the likes of you marry his daughter?”

Reaper sighed because he knew Bás was right. King Juan would never agree. Lucía loved her family, and he’d never come between them. He just wished life was different. “No, I guess you’re right.”

Reaper glanced at Bás to see a look of disappointment on his face before he covered it.

“Good. Now let’s go save your dad.”