Page 30 of Forbidden Prince
He wouldn’t get any answers until he knew what had happened. He'd thought he'd secured her room. Once he was in the hallway again, he called Babik and went to his office. Security footage in the castle would reveal what happened toher.
He ignored the racing thoughts in his head that something awful had happened while he sat at his desk. Security sent him the footage he’d askedfor.
He turned on the monitor and hit play. Then he saw Renee racing down the stairs with a paper in hand, but then she bumped into Greg, stopping to speak with him. Marco listened to the fragments of conversation the security footage picked up and heard the wordflight.
Without one suitcase, Kristin walked, half jumpy and looking behind her, but she went with Greg toward the car and Marco’s stomach clenched but he understood everything. He needed to see her. He needed to tell her not to go. He needed her, here. His pulse ratcheted with the immediate urge to chaseher.
He assumed Greg was about to fly on the family jet. He reached for the phone on his desk, thankful for once that he was a prince, and was patched through to air traffic control. His brother's jet was scheduled to leave for Miami within the hour. He told dispatch, "Hold their flight until Iarrive."
"Yes, Your Highness," the controller responded. His heart stirred. He had time to get toher.
Without a word to anyone, he left his office and headed to the family garage. Cars for the royal wedding were parked everywhere, neatly trapping his Bentley. He eyed his motorcycle, which could weave throughtraffic.
He grabbed two helmets off the shelf and found the key near the valetstand.
The hum of the engine drowned out his doubts. Once he maneuvered out of the parking nightmare, he revved the engine at the front door of the castle and took off at fullspeed.
Renee needed to know he'd protect her. If she still wanted to leave after he’d had his say, he'd say goodbye and gohome.
Right now, he pushed faster and drove onto the tarmac, waving at security. No one said a word to him as he rode up to his familyplane.
Marco parked his motorcycle next to the front door of the jet. The door opened and metal steps descended. Renee followed cautiously. "Marco, what are you doinghere?"
He took off his helmet to look her in the eye. "Why are you runninghome?"
"I'm... scared." She reached the last stair and the tarmac. "I told you I couldn't handle morethreats."
"I didn't take you as someone who runs away, Renee." He hopped off his motorcycle. "You could have at least told me what had happened. Was I to just wonder what wentwrong?"
"If I saw you, then I'd never leave." She hugged her waist though her eyes still seemed haunted as her hair came out from that slick style from the wedding. "I can't figure out what I really want if I'mscared."
He crossed his arms and stood his ground. "So you're runningaway."
She came closer, but the space between them seemed a huge gap. "You are right. I’m sorry. But Marco, I know I made a mistake and I want to go home with you. If you will haveme."
Her words pierced through his armor. He'd assumed she'd want to leave. His respect grew. Right now, he didn't know anything else, but the moment she stood in front of him, truly sorry, his heart expanded. He couldn't explain so he reached behind him for the second helmet and offered it to her. "Come here and hopon."
She took the helmet and buckled it on her head. "I've never ridden on a motorcycle. My momsaid-"
"It's time you start living your life on your own terms." He hopped on his bike, then offered his arm for balance as she climbed behindhim.
Her hands slid around his waist, and her head rested against his back. Marco suddenly understood what he wanted, on his own terms.Renee.
She made him feel in a way no other woman ever had. It wasn't just that he had to possess her. She was his and somehow in all this mess she’d taken part of his soul. Without her he'd been lost. He revved the motorcycle. "Don't leave meagain."
She hugged him tighter as he rode off the tarmac toward the airport exit. The sooner they were alone, the better, but first he needed to take her to the South Castle. If he could convince her to marry him, they'd spend their livesthere.
15
Renee smelledthe ocean water just as they arrived at a pier. Marco rode his motorcycle onto the dock and stopped in front of a ferryboat.
"How did you like your first ride?" He helped her from the back of the bike. She unhooked her helmet, took it off, and breathed deep of the salt in theair.
"I loved being that close to you with the wind brushing against myskin."
Marco grinned and guided his motorcycle onto theferry.
"Where are we going now?" Renee followed behind him slightly as he pushed themotorcycle.
