Page 58 of The Chosen Heir

“Yeah, baby. Nothing’s going to happen to me, but I need to know you’ll be guarded tonight.” My eyes flicked past her to Tatum, who’d exited the building and was waiting under the awning. The first thing to do was secure those I loved in case Nelu or anyone in his cohort tried to exact revenge. “I don’t want you going out for any reason. Tatum is going to sleep in one of the other bedrooms. You need anything, and I mean anything, you ask him.”

“Shouldn’t he be with you? He’s going to be unhappy, stuck with me instead of being part of the action,” she pointed out.

Yeah, that’s not how it works in my world.

“Tatum will do what I require of him, and that’s making sure you’re safe. It’s an honor to protect those I love, baby girl, and he knows that. He’ll do what’s necessary, without a word of complaint. That’s why he’s my right-hand man,” I assured her.

Pressing my lips to hers, I sucked on her tempting bottom lip. “I’ll be back late, but I will be back.” If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll be back, I silently swore to her. The only thing keeping me sane was knowing I had her to come back to.

“Promise,” she uttered.

“Listen to me. Nelu’s furious, but he’s not a madman. He won’t touch me. He’ll make me pay, but he won’t hurt me,” I insisted.

Her concerned eyes found mine. “And Stegan?”

So sweet. This woman didn’t know Stegan well, but he’d shadowed her often enough in the past few weeks, and she knew he was an important member of my family.

“Stegan did what any man of honor would’ve done in the situation. There will be retribution to pay, but he’s under my protection. No one can hurt him but me,” I intoned.

She inhaled sharply. “W-will you hurt him?”

“I don’t know yet,” I answered. “I have to get more facts before I make a decision. A prince’s blood was spilled. Regardless of what a sniveling little asswipe he is, that wrong has to be made right, and money can only go so far. Nelu is a greedy bastard, so who knows? He might be satisfied with a large enough payment.” I doubt it, but one could always pray. “Enough money and certain other benefits might possibly resolve this without bloodshed,” I finished.

I very much doubted this would pass without bloodshed. Stegan was a good soldier to me. Had never failed me. Not once in the eight years he’d been with me. That was quite a record, and I would do everything I could for him. He’d certainly keep his life and his position as a family member. Beyond that, it was too early to tell. But there would be difficult decisions to make.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Tatum step out from under the awning. It had started to rain, and the plink, plink of raindrops hitting the windshield was starting to come down.

After delving in for one last deep kiss, I held her shoulders and put her away from me. “Come on, out with you. Text me when you’re safely in the apartment,” I commanded.

A brief nod, and she turned her anxious face away from me. By the time she opened the door, Tatum’s hand was on the top of the frame. He bent down, and we exchanged a look in which I communicated how important his task was before he assisted Nina out of the car. Slamming the door shut behind him, they ran through the rain coming down in sheets.

Too soon, they were gone.

Facing ahead, I clenched the steering wheel, focusing my energy forward. I put the car in gear, rolled out of the driveway and drove toward whatever the fuck was going down in Queens.

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