Page 32 of Inevitable
She leaned back a little. “I don’t see you crying.”
I heard Brock and Nate snicker a little, but I ignored it. “I don’t cry,” I grumbled. “And I’m trained for this sort of thing. I was the rescuer. You were the victim.”
“I don’t think I like being a victim of any kind.” She sniffled. “I’m used to taking care of myself. This whole situation was a lot. Nick was nearly assassinated, and you, Brock, and Nate had to put yourselves in danger just to rescue me.”
“I’m alive, Emma,” Nick said calmly through the headphones without turning his head to look at her. “Once I find out who my enemies are and eliminate the threat, I’ll be safe. Bloody hell! I was more worried about your safety than mine. I had bodyguards who kept me safe. You were vulnerable and snatched because I wasn’t vigilant enough about your safety.”
“We weren’t really in danger,” Nate added. “We do this kind of thing a lot. We know what we’re doing.”
“You aren’t invulnerable,” she argued.
“We know that,” Brock informed me. “But we take a lot of precautions. And it was probably Marshall who really saved your life. I didn’t like the thought of him surrendering himself. I knew we could eventually get your location, but you didn’t have that kind of time. I thought the assholes would at least keep you hydrated.”
“They didn’t even give you water?” Nick asked gruffly.
“Almost none,” she admitted reluctantly.
“I’ll make those assholes pay for nearly killing you, and for those bruises on your face. I guess I’m indebted once again to the operatives of Last Hope and to Marshall.”
Emma shot me a questioning look.
“Long story about my billionaire partners’ wives. They were both American geologists who almost died here after being kidnapped by some random rebels. But they lived, married their billionaires, and lived happily ever after. You don’t need the details of that ordeal right now.”
Emma just needed to relax and think about something more positive, like the fact that we were going home.
“You’ll be getting that hot shower soon,” I reminded her.
She pulled back from me a little. “Thank God. I probably stink.”
I pulled her back against me. “You’re fine.”
The bruises on her face made me livid; her hair was a little matted, and she looked a little rough from her ordeal, but she was still beautiful.
Her gorgeous blue eyes were still just as mesmerizing as they’d always been.
“I just got word that my military has the kidnappers in custody,” Nick mentioned.
“That was fast,” Emma commented.
“They were in place and ready to sweep in as soon as all of you were safely gone,” Nick commented. “If all goes well, I’ll have my enemies contained soon.”
“How is the king?” Emma asked softly.
“Still fighting off a very bad case of pneumonia, but the doctors are hopeful,” Nick said solemnly.
The Lanian king might be demented, but it was a relief for me to hear that he might live. Nick loved his father, and he’d told me recently that he wasn’t ready to be the king.
It was easier for him to be the unofficial ruler for now. He could keep a lower profile and work on all the changes that needed to be made in Lania.
In my opinion, he’d make a great leader, but Nick had spent a lot of time in England before he’d come back to Lania several years ago. He needed more experience dealing with the politics of the monarchy.
“Are you sure you don’t want to rest up at the palace for a while?” Nick offered in a sincere voice. “I’d be honored to have you all as my guests.”
“No offense intended,” Brock said. “But I never want to stay in Lania longer than absolutely necessary.”
Nick chuckled. “No offense taken, mate. I know none of you have a good history here, but you’re welcome to be my guest any time you’d like. I’d like to show you the better side of Lania.”
“Some other time maybe,” Nate said unenthusiastically.
