Page 239 of Sweet Royal Romance Suspense

“Sophie.” Chad’s voice came through the headset.

She glanced up, and Chad’s green gaze was staring back at her.

“Please focus on flying,” she begged.

He grinned and winked, charming and self-assured as ever, but thankfully turned back forward. They flew through the mountain pass far too quickly. “Forgive me, beautiful. I can’t drag my gaze away from your arresting face.”

Malik’s brows rose, and she shifted in her seat, her damp dress ripped and clinging to her.

“I need to know where we’re going,” Chad continued.

“We’re meeting some of Jensen’s men at the airport,” Malik said, his voice suddenly stiff. “They have Sophie’s parents and daughter with them.”

“All right. Give me a moment.” He switched frequencies and she assumed he spoke to the airport traffic control, then he was back. “Care to inform me what’s going on?”

Though Chad had given her some tender kisses and was constantly teasing her about dating exclusively, he wasn’t one to let anything ruffle him or give pressure. He had so many women after him, he didn’t need to pressure anyone.

Sophie’s gaze darted to the royal guard seated close to her, also wearing a headset. He gave her a reassuring nod. He looked strong but young with smooth, unblemished skin, sandy-blond hair, and blue eyes. He couldn’t have been out of secondary school. The man up front was older, with a dark beard and dark hair.

“We’ll have to talk and make a plan when we get to the airport,” Malik said. His phone rang. He answered it. “Jensen.” A pause. “Thank you. We’ll meet them there. Thanks again.” He hung up. “Your parents and daughter are on their way.”

“Thank you.” Why was her gut still churning? What if the officers Jensen had sent were the same ones who had taunted Livvy and made her friend’s life a living heck? They could be taking her daughter and parents straight to William Rindlesbacher.

“If you’re in enough danger that you’d fall off the ravine and steal the general’s honeymoon helicopter to fly you to protect your daughter,” Chad said, interrupting her stewing, “we might need to have a plan in place and be on the move as soon as we pick up your parents and daughter.”

Sophie worried her lip and looked at Malik. His gaze was reassuring, and he looked prepared to help her through whatever she needed. If only she knew what she needed. Her only instinct had been to run, and to protect Sunny. She’d be a mess without Malik and Chad’s help right now.

“I can have my jet prepped and we’ll fly wherever you want to go,” Malik said.

“I’ve already stolen the honeymoon copter and I have plenty of range,” Chad said. “I’ll fly Sophie where she needs to go.”

Malik looked ready to protest, but Chad spoke again before he could.

“It’s a moot point until we know what we’re facing and where we’re going. Sophie?”

Still, she hesitated. “I … don’t want too many people to know the … situation.”

“This is Lieutenant Mason Henson.” He gestured to the younger man. “Mason recently took a knife between the shoulder blades and still managed to rescue Princess Aliya and Prince Curt from two serial killers.”

He paused as if to give Sophie time to be impressed. She was. “Thank you for protecting them,” she said to the young lieutenant.

“It was an honor, Miss,” he said quietly.

“This is Captain Levi Favor.” Chad tilted his head to the man at his side. “Levi would cut off his left arm before he’d betray the royal family.”

The captain looked back and nodded very seriously to her.

They exited the canyon and Chad glanced at her again, as serious as he ever got. “You can trust all of us, Sophie. We’ll be at the airport in minutes, so I think it’s time for a very quick story and a decision about our next move.”

“He’s right,” Malik said, squeezing her hand.

Sophie swallowed hard and spoke quickly. “A very evil and influential man threatened to kidnap my daughter. I need to escape with her. I have money saved and I can disappear. I just need to … shoot, we should’ve had my dad open my safe and get my cash and passport.”

She clung too tightly to Malik’s hand. These men were helping her out and she was a disorganized mess. That wasn’t like her. She’d carefully planned and executed every move since she’d found out she was going to be a mother, and the father of her baby was the man she hated and feared more than anyone besides maybe Treven’s own father.

“Don’t worry about the money,” Malik said. “Do you need to leave the country?”

“I think so.”

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