Page 20 of Guarding Zuri
Daemon walked up to her. “Good morning, Princess. How did you sleep?”
“It’s still dark.”
“That it is.” Daemon looked up. “A starless sky is always good for sneaking around.”
She shivered. The summer temperatures dipped when the sun disappeared. “We made it? We’re in Cote d’Ivoire?”
“You’re cold.” Daemon whipped off his jacket and offered it to her.“And yes, we are.”
“No.”
“Come on, Princess. Don’t be stubborn. It’s chilly.”
She hesitated, but accepted. “Thank you.” She wrapped the dark jacket around her shoulders. Musk and something earthy wafted over her.Daemon. His scent—and it was wonderful. Soothing. Her frayed nerves calmed. She zipped up the jacket and tucked her hands deep inside the pockets.
Daemon placed his hands on the rail, his gaze moving over the shoreline. “We still have a few minutes, but I want to get moving.”
She started across the deck. Daemon followed. “You should’ve told me so I could be ready,” she said, feeling suddenly useless and a burden.He already believes I’m a princess—not ready to lead my people.The thought twisted her stomach in an uncomfortable way.Why do I care what he believes?
“It’s not a problem. Besides, I figured you’d want to sleep a little more after what you went through.”
Zuri’s stomach dropped to her feet, causing a swell of nausea to shoot up her throat. Her eyes burned, the memories of the day’s events flooding back like an explosion.
Father!
She sniffed and covered the action by clearing of her throat.I won’t cry. Not now. Not in front of him.Her father would want her to be strong. Tears proved weakness. Vulnerability would convince him she was a spoiled princess. Zuri stiffened her spine and pressed forward. Maybe Daemon’s money and resources could be useful. But his empathy? His compassion? Neither were requirements for a bodyguard.
Daemon kept pace. Against her protestations, he carried her bag, so all she had to do was worry about walking. “Thank you,” she murmured, grateful for the lightening of her load, even if it her emotions made up the bulk of the weight.
He offered her a sad smile and then a playful wink, as though he sympathized and wanted to provide comfort, but didn’t know how to go about it. “Think nothing of it.”
The streets were near empty as they made their way to the airport. Two security checkpoints later, and they were on the airstrip.
The plane didn’t seem to be Daemon’s style at all. It was posh, with heated leather seats, multiple bars, and a couple of bedrooms. Zuri half expected a pool to be at the back of the plane and flight attendants in tiny outfits. The attendants—who wore regular uniforms—served her a four-course meal in the hours they were in the air, and now a food coma threatened her concentration. Daemon gave her a tablet with a news feed about her country. She fought through exhaustion and watched for more information on both her father and Joqi, and whether the government had seized their bodies. It wasn’t uncommon for Gohi to defile dead rebel bodies—they were propoganda.
She needed more sleep. The short time on Daemon’s yacht had passed too quickly. After what had happened yesterday, her body protested her every movement. She did not know how exhausted she had been, nor how hungry. But she didn’t want to miss another moment. There wasn’t time to grieve; she had to remain in control. She cast a glance at her protector. He was seated opposite her, moving tablets on the table in front of them while on the phone giving orders. When had she lost command to Daemon?
She likened her knight to a genie, pulling expensive things out of his platinum hat. He had thought of everything, including kidnapping her out of her beloved country. She hated David for agreeing with him. How could she lead a rebellion from across the Atlantic? Would people take her seriously? With her father gone, wouldn’t they accuse her of running away like a coward while the rest of them stayed and dealt with Gohi’s wrath? Would they believe she abandoned them to fight alone? They didn’t have a wealthy bodyguard at their disposal to whisk them away on a private yacht and plane.
Daemon continued his phone conversation. He was always close by. This time, too close. Long, large legs flanked hers, giving her a pinch of pleasurable claustrophobia. The faint smell of his woodsy aftershave never left, reminding her of his presence, despite having discarded his jacket earlier in one of the rooms.
He was almost never out of eyesight. The only reprieve she had was on the yacht in her room. Finally, a moment to herself where she wasn’t under the scrutiny of his gorgeous light and probing eyes that made her tummy do somersaults. She remembered showering the grime of the day off and, after that, nothing until the boat had docked. When had she fallen asleep?
Even the clothes that she wore differed from what she was used to. She looked down at the most comfortable pair of skinny jeans she’d ever worn and a dark green cotton top, loose and airy. Whose clothes were these? Some woman he had romanced on that yacht?
Guilt twisted its way into her belly, feeding off the energy of her food. She had the luxury to shower and sleep in soft sheets while Joqi rested in the center of a wrecked car in the streets downtown. Had David gotten word to his family?
His children!
All he wanted to do was return home to his family.His poor babies.Zuri understood the loss of a father, even though she had barely processed it herself.
Daemon disconnected the call and sighed. Then he smiled at her. Zuri’s stomach clenched as a battle for dominance began between her guilt and the unexplainable response her body was having toward him. She couldn’t think he was attractive! Not at a time like this. Not after the deaths of the two closest to her.
“Just got off the phone with my diplomatic contact. Remember Rutgers from the meeting? He’s working on your immigration status and will have a guy meet us at customs. He’s a few hours away from landing in DC.”
Zuri nodded. That was good. Although it didn’t matter if they denied her.There were plenty of safe havens in Africa, although Gohi might see other countries helping her as an act of war.I can’t put anyone else in danger.
“What’s the matter, Princess? I thought you’d be pleased.”
