Page 98 of Roaming Holiday

“My money’s on Colin. Most likely to get caught and fold in interrogation.”

Colin was another hitman who helped get Santiago in return for when I got him out of a conundrum in Barcelona. Never cared much for him.

Mason, Gregory, and Silas are waiting in Jack’s office for the meeting, all of our phones collected and bodies scanned for wires.

“I need to speak with you alone first,” I tell Jack. There’s a lot to debrief, but I have to tell him about Nina and me. As the others leave, I rub my hands together, exhaling a long breath. My stomach growls. The canned food for dinner last night didn’t cut it. I ache for a proper meal.

“What is it?”

“Nina and I slept together,” I deadpan. No time to sugarcoat.

Jack blinks, confused. “No, you didn’t.”

“Sir—”

“No,” he interjects, “you didn’t. Because you respect me, Beck. You remembered that I put my new job at risk to get you this position and you didn’t do the number one thing I told you not to do.”

“It’s more than that. I’m in love with her.”

He grimaces as if insulted. “That makes no fucking difference!”

“It makes every difference. I wouldn’t tell you if it was a one-time thing.” I step closer. “When I say that I love her, that also means there isn’t anything I won’t do to keep her safe. Arlo could have killed her because he wants answers from me on something you did.”

Jack blanches. “What are you saying?”

Guilt starts to build inside of me. He put a lot on the line to help me after I closed one of his years-long investigations within two months.

And then I slept with my client and the future queen of Maldana. I hate the feeling of betraying him, but Nina being hurt—or worse—is a deal-breaker.

“Arlo knows how I feel about her,” I explain, “and if he finds a way to use her as leverage, there isn’t anything I won’t do to keep her safe.”

49

NINA

I take another shower once returning to the palace.

My family’s emotions and relief weren’t a comfort. After being attacked by Anton, their concern for me doubled, and now it tripled. My stomach twists; I don’t like being the source of any distress.

With my hair and body washed, I lower onto one of the steps leading to the bed and tuck my knees to my chest. For what feels like the first in a while, I’m alone. I inhale a deep breath and shut my eyes. No lawnmowers, cars, planes, or voices. It’s quiet.

I drop my head. Memories flash across the back of my eyelids of Wesley being cut and punched. His painful groans. His black-and-blue face. My chest wrenches from those few seconds I tried to wake him up.

And Arlo is coming back for him.

I’ve done everything for my family. If not for Dad, I wouldn’t have quit volleyball, picked a five-year program and worked myself into the ground, or even gone to school in-state. I could’ve fought for those things, but Dad’s will to argue was always stronger than mine. I know Maia didn’t ask me to be the peacekeeper; keeping our little family flowing easily has always been my job. Dad made sure of that.

I quickly step into my sneakers and head toward the voices in the sitting room of this wing. My parents, Maia, and Aunt Beverly suddenly cut their discussion short, perking once I appear in the threshold.

“How do you feel?” Ruby asks.

“Fine,” I say. “Do any of you know where Wesley is? I need to talk to him.”

Aunt Beverly rises, her knee-length dress swishing around her. “Mr. Troutbeck is in a meeting with Jack.”

“Where?”

She stiffens. “It’s best to let our security team handle this matter.”

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