Page 8 of Hiding out with a Royal Billionaire

Brooks’ face was pained. He shook his head. “I’m sorry for coming out so strongly with my no. I only mean, we need to tread carefully. It’s going to take some time before we can go public with this information. The people we show it to will have to be carefully hand selected. And they must understand that there is some degree of danger being associated with this find.”

“What do you mean? Those pirates?”

‘Yes, no, more than the pirates. I’ll talk to your parents about increasing your security at school, and we will have to keep this very quiet until we can figure out what is going on, who’s after it, and why.”

“Hold on. I don’t want more security while I’m at school. Brooks. Tell me what’s going on.”

“You already saw what’s going on. People have somehow figured out we were going for the chest, know we found it, and are now after us to get it back.”

“But we lost them…”

“And they know who we are…”

“But why would I have ancient gold with me up at school…”

“Skye.”

“Don’t Skye me. I’m not having extra security without knowing why, the real why.”

“And what if that’s all there is to know?”

“Is it?” She stared him down, watched his face, and as soon as he looked away, she knew there was more. But all he did was shrug. “I’ll have the staff come clean this off.” He pocketed the cross. “But this is staying close.”

“Let’s go do a google search.”

His expression said no almost as harshly as his voice.

“Look, it’s not gonna hurt a single thing if I search up ancient missing relics…is it?”

“Let’s just keep it quiet. For now. In all ways. No searches, no telling our friends, no texting our parents. Nothing. Not even to Lucan.”

Skye nodded like she was totally on board with this new psycho and ultra-paranoid Brooks, but she planned to immediately do some research of her own. She attended University and had access to one of the oldest and most comprehensive libraries in the world. She would get some answers.

4

Brooks and Skye were both searched in airport security even though they flew in on Skye’s jet. A security team waited for them in the Falopogas Airport. “What is going on?”

“We apologize your highness, but your parents agreed to this search as a good will measure with the country of Spain.”

“Lucan. What is he trying to do?”

“I don’t know exactly, but this is fine.” Brooks flashed a warning glare at her. He had the cross, in his boot. It was a gamble, but he doubted they would search their shoes.

Skye didn’t ask further, but submitted to the partial pat down and the searching of her belongings.

“Do you have anything to declare?”

“Pardon me?”

“Are you bringing in anything into our country of significant value that you would like to declare?”

“No.”

“Okay, thank you.”

The security team left them alone and they zipped up their bags. Skye’s limo pulled up in the hangar and her staff took their luggage.

“Why aren’t you going home again?”

---