Page 112 of A Queen and HER Bad Boy
Freed at last from her waspish tongue, and even more mercifully, her predatory advances, Achilles’s mind raced desperately as they soared toward whatever hunting grounds awaited his wife.
Could he save Bris? If not, then he wouldn’t survive this either. He’d give his life for her. And what about Gena? He refused to think about her—he couldn’t!
Chapter Thirty-Nine
TheBlackhawkbankedsharplyas they flew over the ancient stadium ruins, the massive stone arena rising from the lush landscape like a sleeping giant. From this aerial view, the structure formed a perfect cross—the long oval of the arena intersected by crumbling ceremonial walkways that cut straight through the center. Tiered seating meant to view the grisly entertainment climbed in weathered circles aroundeach arm, crumbling marble overgrown with wild vines, while underground tunnel networks were visible through broken sections where the two walkways met.
Achilles watched their destination in disbelief. This was where they were going? Not the bell tower? He already suspected that this was part of the underground rebel network from the signal they had seen earlier, possibly even Aggie was imprisoned there.
If Bris was here, she couldn’t be safer. It didn’t matter what arsenal of ammunition and assault rifles, grenades, and tactical gear they’d packed into this helicopter. The armed flight of Black Hawks buzzing around their convoy were about to land in a hornet’s nest.
Did they even realize they’d be surrounded by battle-hardened rebels once they touched ground? Polly had talked all right, and she’d just signed the death warrants of all of Phoenix’s men.
This might actually be entertaining… in a dark, self-destructive, horrible way.
His gaze swept over his fellow passengers—Charisse watched him with predatory hunger, no doubt envisioning crowns and titles dancing in her delusional head. Phoenix resembled a decaying dragon in his smoke-scented suit, while the tactical teams at the rear studied the terrain below through heavy binoculars.
Achilles suppressed a sudden urge to laugh at what was about to happen.
The soldiers pointed down at the coliseum as the helicopter descended. Were they actually doing this? They lowered directly over the center of the arena floor, where gladiators had once faced impossible odds against hungry lions.
Who were the lions now?
As soon as they touched down, Phoenix lunged forward, barking out orders to his men like he was the one to put them courageously into action.
A manicured hand ran possessively over Achilles’s chest. He stiffened. Charisse was back at it again, this time with plastic zip-ties. She worked with practiced efficiency, looping the restraints around his wrists with deliberate slowness, her fingers brushing against his skin. “Stay put, darling prince,” she purred. “I need you here.”
There was nothing he could do. They were surrounded by guns, and he couldn’t fight back as she fastened the zip-ties to the door’s interior handle, tightening them with a soft clicking sound.
Phoenix cackled at his predicament, and then appearing as eager as a gladiator out on his first fight, he grappled with the door near him and stepped out onto the ancient stones. The others followed him, making his entrance a little less brave than he probably imagined it to be. They thought they were going after an unarmed Bris.
“It’s okay, my little mutt!” Charisse whispered into his ear. “Daddy always called me his little princess when I was a little girl! I was made to be queen.”
His stomach turned at her delusional grin.
“But I’m going to marry the man I love,” she announced, still close enough that her breath touched his face. “And he adores me!”
His irritation reached a snapping point. “No, I don’t—”
“Not you, termite.”
He’d honestly never been called a termite before. The military teams rushed past them outside. Gunfire answered their attack.
Surprise. Surprise.
And then something bigger, far more destructive followed. An explosion rocked them against the seats. Achilles fell back with a grunt. Charisse toppled against him with a cry of fear as violence erupted around them.
Ducking down, he felt his arms wrench painfully against his restraints, stopping him from finding direct cover, even while Charisse shrieked and burrowed into his shoulder. “Charisse, cut me loose. We’ll both be killed!”
The woman let out a triumphant cackle of laughter, mingled with terror. What was wrong with her? Did she think she was watching a gladiator match? Charisse’s beautiful blue eyes narrowed on him like glinting jewels. “I loved him long before I ever met you!”
“Who?”
“Daddy took him in as a favor for a few months in America, called him mad after I fell in love with him; didn’t want me to have anything to do with him! My sister tried to steal him from me, thought he was trying to play me, but no one is as good at that as I am—if anyone will do the seducing, it will be me!”
In what universe?His eyes swerved to the rebels emerging from hidden tunnels and their concealed positions through the tiered seating. Between Polly’s cunning and Phoenix’s stupidity, O Skia had set up the perfect trap for them.
“He’s here!” she shrieked. “I knew it!” She was turning manic! She held Achilles’s reluctant attention as he watched her transform into both shrieking crone and sensual siren with wandering fingers. They found his neck. “Aggie is here!”
