Page 18 of Hiding out with a Royal Billionaire

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you, Lucan, you seem to be involved in stuff. Dangerous stuff. Maybe it’s not our treasure find at all, just someone following you around with a vengeance of some kind.”

“I don’t know, Skye, but whatever they’re really after, we have to be careful. And I think it’s time to get the treasure someplace more secure.”

“Your secret island hideaway isn’t secure enough?”

“I’d feel more comfortable if I was there too.”

“What? Like so you can babysit your gold?” She shook her head, stood and walked toward a corner. “That just sounds ridiculous.” She hugged herself and rocked back and forth until Brooks came to stand behind her. “I’m sorry.”

She shook her head. “You still haven’t told me anything.”

His phone buzzed. Then his face cleared. “Looks like they’re giving us an all clear.”

“What does that mean?”

“That the danger has been taken care of.”

“And the guests? Where were they during all of this?”

“We kept them on lockdown in the ballroom with a story that sounds less ominous.”

She pressed thumbs into her temple. “I’m sure that went over well with the ambassadors, the heads of state.”

“Better lock down than anyone getting hurt.”

She felt her irritation rising. “Look, I know this isn’t your fault. None of this is. Well, maybe it is. I don’t know what I know.” She frowned at him. “And that bothers me most of all. You’re my best friend. And now, my date? Anyway, we have history. I thought we had trust?”

“I’m part of a group.”

She waited, eyebrows raised.

“That’s all I can tell you. Oh, and this group works in security. We have military background and we help people.”

She searched his face. He was trying. She could tell. He was the same honest Brooks she’d known her whole life. But there was something, a hint of wariness and she knew that for all this time, when she thought she was seeing the real Brooks, there had been this part of him he kept away. And for some reason, that thought felt like a rather large betrayal. And the awkwardness of their past couple days plus this new secret, the stress of the security breach, made Brooks seems farther away than ever. “I want to go to my parents.”

“Of course. Let’s get you out of here.”

They moved to the door but it opened before they could get to it.

Brooks immediately threw himself in front of her and whipped out a gun, pointed at the door.

Lucan peered in. and Brooks lowered his weapon.

The husband of the queen of Spain stepped inside and closed the door. “It’s all clear. The guests are at ease. The party is back in full swing.”

“My parents?”

“Are asking about you.” Lucan moved further into the room. “But I wonder, might we talk?”

“Of course.” Skye pressed her lips together. “For a moment.”

“I just think it might be safer for you both if you went on a vacation.”

“Pardon?” Brooks folded his arms across his chest.

“I’ve been watching the networks, and there’s a lot of chatter about the treasure. Because you haven’t gone public, and you haven’t checked in to any port, the general feel is that the valuables are as yet, unsecured.”

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