Page 115 of Protecting Mr. Fine

Bear! Crap. You’re still not getting these messages, are you?

Zane

I think Kasper—Royal Guard Kasper!—is the Stamper.

Zane

I know it sounds weird, but I promise it makes sense.

Zane

I have to do something, Bear. Something big. Something that’ll keep you protected. And I really wish I could talk to you about it first, but I need you to trust me. I love you.

Violet

Ryan, Lou obtained credible information that the Stamper is Kasper. I’m locking Zane down now. Get in touch ASAP. We need to coordinate a response.

I stared at them in shock. It had only been two hours since I’d spoken to him. How the fuck had so much happened?

I returned to my seat next to Gerhard and updated him. His nostrils flared. “Someone get Kasper on the phone right now! If he has defied me, he will regret it.”

His assistant scrambled to initiate a call over Wi-Fi, but there was no response.

“Fuck!” I hissed. “I need to be there. I can’t believe this is happening.”

“Keep trying,” Gerhard commanded.

Gisella appeared from the back of the plane, where she’d been hanging out with the kids. “What’s going on?”

Gerhard caught her up while I texted Zane. I didn’t dare try to call him while the king’s people were using what little internet we had.

Whatever you’re planning to do, STAY SAFE. Keep your protection officers with you at all times.

Then I texted the head of law enforcement in Majestic.

Foster, BOLO: Ventdestinian foreign national named Kasper Beaulund.

I followed it with a physical description and short explanation of what was going on.

Foster

Copy that.

A call tried coming in from Zane, but I had to decline it. I texted him instead.

On plane, can’t call. Give me update pls.

“Fuck, I need to be there,” I said under my breath.

Gisella broke in. “Then we go there.”

The king looked at her in disgruntled surprise. “But our plans?—”

She reached for her husband’s hand. “Your father owed Ryan his life, my love. He would have wanted you to help ensure his happiness. He’s obviously worried about his…” She gave me a particular look, urging me to fill in the blank, even though she clearly knew.

“Partner,” I said awkwardly. “He’s my… he’s everything. He’s…” I let out a shaky breath. “Finding someone like him was the reason I left Ventdestine. And then the winds whispered fortune on me. Because three weeks after I got back to the States, I was assigned to protect him.”

Gisella beamed. The king blushed and looked everywhere but at me. I didn’t care.

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