Chapter Sixteen
Snake
Zelda
In a roar as loud as a jet engine, Rowan’s red Formula 1 car soars past us on the practice track outside of town. It moves so fast, it’s hard to believe, and Ava’s on the edge of her seat, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Cal’s watching his phone’s timer.
“One minute eight,” he says, touching the face. “He’s so fucking fast. Too bad he can never hit those speeds on the course.”
“It seems dangerous,” Ava says, looking nervously up at him.
Cal’s right beside me, an arm draped around my waist, smiling so big. “Nah, Ro’s an incredible racer. He’s been doing it for years.” Sitting a little straighter, he hands Ava his binoculars. “Watch as he comes through that set of curves. He’ll ease off a little on the first one then let it rip as he pulls into the straight. It’s how he’s able to clock such a great time. He’s fearless.”
I can’t help a grin watching the enthusiasm in his eyes. “You’re really proud of him,” I say, kissing his cheek.
He leans back and gives me a smug grin. “It’s not very sexy, I know. I should be more brooding and competitive. Loki.”
Snorting a laugh, I press my face against his shoulder. “I think it’s very endearing.”
Rowan’s car flies past in another blast of noise and blaze of red, and Cal stands. “Come, let’s walk down. It’s his last lap. We can meet him at the finish line.”
Ava’s on her feet at once, and we follow him along the silver bleachers to the steps leading down to the tarmac.
“It’s too bad he doesn’t compete anymore,” he continues.
We’re holding hands, and Ava strolls beside us. It’s a sunny day, and she’s wearing a white halter dress that ripples in the breeze. She topped it off with a wide-brimmed straw hat, and I swear she looks like she just stepped out of Vogue magazine. I look like I’m headed to a racetrack in cropped khaki cargo pants and a thin sleeveless tank. Cal’s more my speed in jeans and a thin V-neck sweater.
“Why doesn’t he compete anymore?” she asks, placing a hand on the top of her hat.
We step out onto the track, and the wind gusts around us. The sound of Rowan’s car echoes from the other side of the track.
“Too dangerous,” Cal says. “When these guys crash… well, not much is left.”
Ava’s eyes go round, and her cheeks go completely pale.
“But don’t worry!” he hastily adds. “Rowan’s done this so long, the chances of him having an accident alone on the track are slim to none.”
She does a little nervous nod and looks back out to where a streak of red races toward us at blinding speed.
“I’ve seen some of those wrecks,” I whisper in Cal’s ear. “They’re pretty scary.”
“You’d be surprised how far they’ve come with safety on these things. From the suit he wears down to the cockpit design. They’ve got it to where drivers can be out of the vehicle in five seconds.”
“Five? Out of that tiny thing?”
“Yeah, it’s pretty impressive. They call it a ‘survival cell,’ and no fuel, oil, or water lines run through it. No more sitting, trapped in a fiery inferno, like Niki Lauda.”
My heart lurches. “The guy in that Ron Howard movie?”
He exhales a laugh and pulls my head to his lips, giving me a kiss. “Yes, the Ron Howard movie.”
I struggle to push the image out of my head. I can’t even think of Rowan burned beyond recognition. Ava’s up ahead waiting with the pit crew as Rowan coasts in to a stop. He slides out quickly, removing the helmet and giving her a smile. She’s less enthusiastic than when we arrived, and I can’t say I blame her.
“I’m sure your mother’s glad he doesn’t compete anymore,” I whisper.
Cal’s arm moves from around my shoulders to holding my waist, and despite the horrible “what ifs,” I can’t help a smile as I watch Rowan lean back against the car and pull Ava to him, kissing her lips. A deep, accented voice from behind us makes me jump out of Cal’s embrace.
“Yes,” Reggie says, irritation clear in his tone. “Her majesty is very glad he’s not racing anymore. Although, the crown prince seems to have a mind of his own these days.”
“Reggie!” My voice is too high, and I know he knows I know we’re busted. I could die. “What are you doing here?”
Cal’s eyes move from his uncle to me and back again. “Hello, Reg, what are you doing here?” He reaches out and takes my hand again, and Reggie’s eyes move to the connection between us.
I can’t pull my hand away without hurting Cal, but now it’s impossible to hide what’s happening. Ava’s blissfully ignorant of her audience, and when I glance back, she and Rowan are smiling at each other. He leans forward and says something in her ear, and she shakes her head. They’re so clearly new lovers with the way they touch each other, and while I’m dying standing here knowing Reggie’s watching them, deep down, I’m so happy to see her so blissed out.
“I actually came for Zelda,” he says, giving me a pointed look. “I received a call from the executor of your uncle’s estate, and I wonder if you might ride back with me to the hotel so we can discuss what he said.”
“Why didn’t he call me?” I say, trying to escape what’s coming.
He gives me a pointed glare. “Probably because he couldn’t reach you.”
“We were planning to go for dinner, Reg,” Cal interrupts. “Can’t whatever it is wait?”
“Is that so?” he says, still watching my expression.
My heart is beating so fast, it hurts. “Yes,” I say softly. “We were.”
“Then perhaps I can drop her at the restaurant. This shouldn’t take long. Where are you going?”
Cal pauses, and I can tell he’s searching for an argument.
“It’s okay,” I say giving him a confident smile. It is so, so fake. “I’ll meet you at the restaurant.”
“The Brasserie at Columbus,” he says, glancing at his uncle. “I’ll be there in ten.”
“We’re right behind you,” Reggie says, taking my arm.
Cal steps forward and kisses my cheek. “See you in a bit.”
“Tell Rowan his race was thrilling.”
He does a little smile, and we part, me headed to face the consequences, him completely ignorant.
We walk quickly through the breezeway under the metal bleachers out to the parking area where Reggie’s town car waits. The driver holds the door as we climb in, and it isn’t until the doors are shut and we’re driving away with the security glass firmly in place that he turns to me.
At first he doesn’t speak, he only studies my expression. I swallow the knot in my throat. I don’t have a leg to stand on, and I know it.
“It appears your sister has won the heart of the crown prince,” he finally says. “While you were off playing with his brother.”
“I tried, Reggie.” My voice is too soft, too weak. “I really did.”
“I set it all up. I gave you multiple opportunities. Then you sneaked away in the night after you twisted your ankle? You were supposed to have breakfast with the future king!”
After I’d just spent the night with his brother. “He wasn’t interested in me.”
“He never had a chance to know.”
With a sigh, I look out the window at the passing trees and flowers. “Can’t we change the plan? Ava’s not a member of the nobility or anything. Can’t she be the one to help you out?”
Reggie’s eyes narrow. “The plan wasn’t for him to fall in love with a beautiful orphaned girl from America. That’s romantic enough to enchant the nation!” His voice rises a bit, and I flinch. “The plan was for him to fall for you, a phony heiress he thinks would secure Monagasco’s economic future. It would show he’s too inexperienced, too shallow to be our leader. He was to be led around by his cock and duped by someone like you!”
My chin drops, and embarrassment burns in my cheeks. Why did I ever agree to this job?
“That’s not Rowan at all. He’s none of those things,” I say quietly. “He’s very serious about his position. Every time we’re together, he’s reading something or taking a phone call. He’s very fit to be king.”
“Even when he’s planning to race the Grand Prix next week?”
“What?” My eyes widen. “Why would he do that? It’s too dangerous!”
“Because despite what you think, Rowan is irresponsible. Apparently, he thinks national security is less important than the pursuit of his hobbies.”
He turns his phone to me. On the screen is the headline, CROWN PRINCE TO RACE IN GRAND PRIX. My jaw drops. I can’t believe what Reggie is saying.
“He wouldn’t…”
“It seems he already has. Even better, he’s done it with the race only days away.”
“How does that change—”
“No one has time to prevent him or talk him out of it.”
I think about what Cal said, all the safety precautions. I can only believe Rowan has weighed the odds and decided it’s safe. I know Rowan… sort of. At least, I’ve been around him, and I’ve talked to him about his country. I still believe in him.
Reggie is frowning at me, and the bigger question is what now? I’m not foolish enough to think Reggie will continue bankrolling our presence here, and I’m also smart enough to know ten thousand dollars will last maybe three days in this pricey little kingdom. I’ve still got to get us home.
“So is it over? You’re done with Ava and me?”
Reggie’s lips press into a line, and he crosses an ankle over his knee. “In a word? No. You two have become unexpectedly useful.”
“How so?” The last thing I want is to be pulled into another plot against Rowan—or Cal.
Now that I’ve seen how close they are, I know anything that hurts Rowan, Cal will take as a personal injury as well. I sort-of love him for that. It’s so much how I feel about Ava. At the same time, that puts me in a very bad place with the man for whom I’ve developed such strong feelings.
“The two of you have both princes by the balls, to use a tacky expression. Just keep doing what you’re doing, and keep me in the loop on the crown prince. As long as you do that, I’ll keep your account filled.”
This new plan makes me feel even slimier than the first. I hate it, and I don’t want to do it. “You’re wrong. I didn’t even know Rowan was going to race the Grand Prix.”
“They have a security breach at Occitan. It’s possible not even his brother knew what he did today.”
“If there’s already a breach, you don’t need me.”
“Au contraire, Miss Wilder. I don’t know the rat. I don’t know who he or she works for. You’ll stay right where you are and answer any questions I have.”
The car pulls to a stop, and glancing out the window, I see we’re at the Brasserie where I’m meeting the other three for dinner.
“Or what?” My voice it a bit sharper than I feel inside, which is really sort of trapped and miserable.
Reggie’s eyes flash in response. “Or I’ll expose you for the lying little cunt you are.”
My stomach plunges, but I swallow back my tears. He couldn’t have been crueler if he’d slapped me across the face. Still, as much as I hate him, as much as he’s a miserable old fuck, he’s right. I lied.
I lied in a big, awful way, and when Cal finds out what I’ve done, my beautiful dream will be over. The most I can hope for now is damage control. I’ve got to find out what this snake is after and do my best to derail his plans.