Page 33 of The Last Strike

“I am missing a daughter. Asher has taken her hostage, and I want you to find out where she is being held.”

When Luang didn’t immediately respond, Khalil said. “Did you hear me?”

“I heard you,” Luang said. “I haven’t heard about this, which means they’re keeping it very quiet. I can’t ask questions about this without raising suspicion, Khalil.”

“Well, you better find a way, Luang, or I will hit Valencia with so much sarin even your palace won’t protect you.”

The silence that followed was tainted with anger.

“Luang?” Khalil asked when he didn’t respond.

“I told you your water supply had been poisoned, and you gave your word you would not attack Valencia again. Do not threaten me again, Khalil.”

“That promise exists while you maintain your allegiance to Adani. If you are not helpful, I will do what needs to be done,” Khalil retorted.

A silence followed, but it seemed to pulse with anger.

“I will find out what I can,” Luang said, his tone sharp, “but I cannot ask Asher. I will have to use other resources and that may take time. I will update you when I can; if you launch an attack there will be no information.” He hung up without another word.

Khalil felt the wrath of Luang’s words through the phone line. But he didn’t care—he needed his daughter back and under his control before she could humiliate him.

He should’ve killed her when he’d had the chance, instead of that useless boyfriend of hers. He thought he’d taught her a lesson, but Theodora was like her mother: she’d always had to learn the hard way.

Theodora was nothing like Khalil.

Nicholas, however, was like his father in every possible way, and the only one Khalil could rely on. He was an excellent crown prince and he’d be an excellent king when Khalil decided to hand over the throne—but that would not be for some time.

At that moment, Nicholas turned the corner. He saw Khalil and smiled.

“Father,” he said, as the smile fell from his lips and his eyes hardened. “Any update on Theodora?”

“As a matter of fact, I suspect we’ll have her location soon,” Khalil said.

Nicholas’s eyebrows lifted. “Oh?”

“Yes. People can always be encouraged to be our allies. It might take some time, a day or two, but the information will come, I am sure of it. Luang is very motivated to find her.”

Nicholas nodded. “The sooner the better. Theodora must be made an example of.”

Pride swelled within Khalil.

“I’m going to get her location, then we’ll use it to our advantage. Theodora is going to help us without even knowing. We’re not going to attack immediately, but watch instead. We’re going to follow Asher’s guards to and from the location and use that information to plan another attack on Asher. This time we will win. This time he will die.”

Nicholas nodded as the corner of his lips turned up. “I like your plan, Father. Asher must be stopped.”

“Come, let’s have a drink and talk strategy,” Khalil said, full of pride and hope. He would win this war, and it would be a masterful victory.

Khalil had barely taken a step before Grace walked into the hallway, her eyes meeting his. She was yet another problem he had to deal with—the problems never ended.

“Your Majesty,” she said, smiling with a sweetness he despised.

“Grace,” he responded. “How is the situation in Santina?”

She looked down, and Khalil knew he wasn’t going to like what she said next.

“It is only a matter of time. My sources have not yet been able to provide Asher’s location. He has not returned to the palace, and he is not at the Bennett residence. We believe he must have secured another location. We will find him.”

Khalil nodded. “Find him fast, Grace.”

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