Page 97 of Cooper

It takes a phone call from Sandor for us to get out of there, and then I have to figure out how to install a car seat.

By the time we hit the road, we’re all exhausted.

I’m driving, and Natalia is entertaining Greta while Lucianna and the baby sleep.

It’s nearly seven when we get to the palace and there’s a flurry of activity as Natalia gets Lucianna settled in her new room. I help with luggage and such, but then I sneak off in search of Sandor and Joe. Sandor is usually off on Sundays, but Marcus got the weekend off to recover, and Natalia and I were both gone, so he’s on duty. Joe’s in the surveillance office, and I find the two of them there talking about tomorrow’s duty schedule.

“Hey.” Sandor looks up with a grin. “Sounds like you had a busy day.”

“I also got engaged—with no ring or proposal, mind you—and had to do like four shots of something calledrekkina.”

Sandor and Joe burst out laughing.

“I’m also getting a classic Corvette and a goat as her dowry.”

“Please tell me you didn’t ask for the goat,” Sandor murmurs.

My face gets hot, and I’m not a guy who blushes.

But yeah, I fucked that up royally.

“I wasn’t expecting a fucking Vette!” I protest. “And how do you ask for a little more than a car? It was all I could think of.”

Joe’s laughing so hard he’s holding his stomach, and Sandor’s staring up at the ceiling with the same look my mom used to get when I did something stupid as a teenager.

“You didn’t tell me there might be a car.”

“Cars are not the norm,” he admits. “But you know now we’re getting a goat, right?”

“Fuck.”

“Well, as amusing as all of this is, we have something more serious to discuss.”

My gut twists.

“What?” I ask.

“It’s beginning to look like you were right.”

Fuck me.

“About the attacks.”

He nods grimly.

“Two nights in Braksa Prison was all if took for Dickhead number two to cave. He’s a mercenary. None of this is personal for him. He wouldn’t tell us who’s after you, but he said it was about you and has nothing to do with the royal family. He did let it slip that Natalia is on their radar.”

I let out a litany of curses in multiple languages since I now know how to curse in Limaji.

“I have to go,” I say abruptly.

“Wait.” Sandor puts a hand on my arm. “I agree that you need to keep some distance, but you don’t have to do anything drastic. Go home to close up your apartment. I can send?—”

“You can’t spare anyone,” I interrupt. “And I can take care of myself. I just need to make sure this doesn’t impact anyone here at the palace. Especially Natalia.”

No one says anything, which amps up my frustration.

“Right now I’m a temporary Royal Protector, and my job is to protect this family,” I grind out when they just sit there. “That’s the oath I’m supposed to take if I decide to do this, right?”

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