The nighttime sky makes it difficult to see Paris as it races by. This is not the leisurely tour I had hoped for. Men with guns chasing us, using real bullets kill the romance of the city. My scream of alarm is not a French love song. Daniel pats my hand. After a quick prayer, I close my eyes, hoping we don’t die as the motorcycle revs and tilts through the streets.
The overcrowded street does not hide the sound of the other motorcycle. A loud horn to our left frightens me and I squeeze Daniel harder waiting for the inevitable pain. His quick reflexes stop that from happening. He is shaking with what I can only imagine is laughter. I’m glad he can find some humor in this life and death chase.
Daniel makes a quick right onto another crowded street, but makes another right into an underground parking garage. After finding a parking space, he cuts the engine, removes his helmet and dismounts the bike swiftly. Once I dismount with his assistance, he takes my helmet then engulfs me in a fierce hug.
“Are you okay?” He checks my body for injury.
He sags in relief. My legs feel like liquid rubber as the adrenaline starts to leave my system. His eyes are bright, cheeks flushed with life and chest heaving with exertion. I grip his shoulders to stop from falling.
“I’ll be fine. Why did we stop?” I question, loving the feel of his warm arms wrapped securely around me.
“It’s too risky on the motorcycle. We’re out in the open. Those gun shots were too close.”
He leans in giving me a chaste kiss on the lips.
“Don’t think I forgot about you running away, but we have more pressing matters to deal with. We need a car.” He says, tugging on my hand.
“You have a car here?” I question.
“Of course not. We’re going to borrow one, just like we borrowed the motorcycle.”
After trying about a dozen cars, a Volvo sedan is unlocked. Daniel unlocks the passenger side door, swinging it open for me.
“Get in.”
Then he sets about disabling the alarm and hotwiring the car.
“Seat belt.” He says as the car roars to life.
“Where are we going?” I ask, securing my seatbelt.
“I have a boat waiting for us in Germany.” He replies patting my knee. “Are you ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
Can you ever be ready for danger, especially of the gun toting type? At that thought, a police motorcycle speeds by as we come to the top of the exit gates in the parking garage. I inhale sharply when I notice the driver is not dressed as a police officer. Daniel pats my knee and I crouch down in my seat trying to be invisible.
“Don’t worry. You’re safe.”
I squeeze his hand trying to reassure him I believe him. I believe in Daniel’s ability to protect me, but there are too many factors outside of his control.
“I still don’t know how they found us.”
“Does the Kin- Does the-” I clear my voice trying to sound more sure of myself. “Does my father know about me?”
“I don’t think so. Not yet. There aren’t too many who do know and those who do are loyal to me and only me. I haven’t met with the King since before we met. Remember when I said he has withdrawn a lot from society?” He looks sideways at me. I nod. “Much of my job is doing what he fails to do. Think of it as he is the President and I’m the Vice President. If something happens to the President or he is indisposed, the Vice President steps up. Well, it is the same with us.”
After paying the garage attendant, who doesn’t seem to notice the theft of the car, Daniel makes a left.
“If the King knew about you and you had grown up in our lands, you would be performing these duties and more. I think I mentioned that the female line inherits the crown, unless no female is born?” He says.
I nod and his smile leaves my stomach a fluttering mess.
The outside fades away with the absence of noise as I ponder his words. Princess? The only truly positive thing out of this nightmare is I have a father who never knew I existed. This birthmark- no scratch that- “royal brand” was the clue all along. My mother knew, which is why she always had me cover it up.
The silence grows between Daniel and me with mounting tension. The sudden sound of classical music lifts the quietness of the car. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Daniel take out his phone.
“Yeah.” Daniel says with authority and listens to whoever is on the phone. “They found us. I can’t talk long. I’m getting rid of this phone, so I’ll be black for a while. Just make sure everything is ready for us in Germany. We’ll be there in the morning.” He pauses, listening again. “I don’t know. There must be a leak. Start looking for it. We can’t afford another one. I’ll be in touch.”
As I gaze out the window, I realize I lost track of time. I was deep in my own thoughts. The freeway spans in front of us. Quickly, I look behind the car and sigh when I see no one pursuing us. The sudden cold gust of wind forces me to look for the source. I see Daniel tossing the phone out the window. I look back watching it bounce off the ground once breaking apart with the numerous subsequent bounces.
“Daphne, I know you have more questions, but you need to rest now. You’ve had quite a day.” He says, dismissing me.
“I’m not tired. Stop treating me like a child. I want to know more especially if I’m to believe you.”
“Not believe me? What more do you need?”
“You can’t just drop an atom bomb like you did and expect there not to be collateral damage.” I reply coldly. “You expect me to not ask questions and take a nap? Seriously?”
“I can and I will.” He looks at me sternly and the butterflies take flight again. “You will do as you’re told. You ran and look what happened.”
“No, no, no. Don’t you dare blame that on me. It’s a good thing I did run otherwise we would have been there when they fond us.” My face flushes with emotion. “Did you truly believe I couldn’t hear what you said to Dante? How dare you not tell me we’re engaged? That’s almost as big as being a princess.”
“First off, we’re not engaged. We’re promised to each other.”
“you say potato, I say potato.” I murmur.
“Secondly, you’re probably right.”
“I am?”
He laughs.
“Finally, take a nap. We’ll discuss this on the boat. You’re tired.”
“You know what Daniel, fuck off.” I say and turn in my seat. “I’m tired of being dismissed by you.”
“Watch your language. A Princess does not swear.”
“Well this one does just like a truck driver.”
“You’re a Princess. Start acting like one.”
I turn in my seat acting like a wild woman, hitting him solidly in the arm, bruising my hands in the process. Daniel grabs my wrists in his one hand, reminding me again how much bigger and stronger he is than me. He pulls the car off to the side of the freeway. He drops my wrists as if they were hot coals and gets out of the car.
Astonished, I stare as he stalks to my side of the car. The passenger side door is wretched open. Daniel reaches in unsnaps the seatbelt and grabs me by my upper arms, pulling me from the seat. He stares deeply into my eyes, unnerving me.
“Stop acting like a spoiled brat.” He says a second before his lips descend on mine.
The pent-up frustration, fear, and passion of the kiss ignites a fire in me. His hands release my arms and slide down my body to my waist. There they pull me into to him, molding my body to his, as he leans me against the car. His left hand glides down the curve of my ass to lift my thigh high on his hip. I moan feeling his hardness press against my most intimate parts. He nips my lower lip in response. I am putty in his arms. My anger forgotten. He pulls back resting our heads together.
“I did tell you we were promised.” He says in a whisper.
I look at him with confusion, blinking rapidly.
“On the beach.” He continues, not looking me.
The memory of that day comes back with a renew sense of lust. My mind is still whirling with so many emotions I can’t concentrate. All I know is the hardness pressing against me. He steps back, looking me up and down.
“I never thought… I never dreamed…” He starts, but stops when a horn beeps at us bringing us back to the present with all its danger out here in the open. “Get back in the car, Daphne.”
Suddenly, I’m exhausted. My emotions are ready to get off this roller coaster ride. The tension is always there. It never abates. My fuse is very short and slowly burning. Daniel closes my door and I lean my head against the window. I fall asleep and the last thing I remember is him putting the car in drive.