Chapter Twenty-Four
Running
Rowan
A bead of sweat rolls from my temple down the side of my face. My arms are exhausted, and that fucking right wheel is pulling again. I’m not as far ahead of Fayed as I need to be to make a pit stop. He’ll retake the lead, and we’ve only four laps to go. Everything is focused on these final laps. One mistake could cost me the race.
“Ro, we have an issue,” Cal is in my helmet. “It’s possible your car has been sabotaged. I need you to bring it in.”
“What? NO!” I can’t come off the track at this point. “You checked it yourself!”
“I don’t know how. It’s possibly what’s causing the cornering problem.”
I feel a jerk to the right as I’m flying down the straight, and a quick look in my mirror shows Fayed right behind me. “I’m almost finished. I can make it.”
Downshifting quickly, I hit the brakes as we take a tight corner. The wheel jerks in my hands and I hear a ping. No, I think straightening out of the turn and slamming the throttle down. We shoot into the straight, the tunnel looming just ahead. Plunge into blackness; blinding white on the other side. The stands pass so fast, they’re a blur of color, and all I can think is I’m there. I’m hitting the top speeds. I’ve completed seventy-four laps, and I’m not quitting now. Victory is in my grasp.
Flying through the starting line, I don’t hesitate. I pass the pit starting the seventy-fifth lap. Cal’s in my ear again.
“Ro! I need you to bring it in NOW!”
Reaching up, my hand hovers over my headpiece. I don’t turn it off, but I don’t respond either. I’m coming up on the first of nineteen corners. Another downshift, another slam on the brakes, another groan from the front chassis. Only three more laps.
My speed drops from four hundred kilometers per hour all the way down to forty through the hairpin. One more curve, and I feel a slip in control. I feel the frame starting to give.
“Rowan?” The voice in my head now is not Cal’s. My chest tightens when I hear her. I’ve been dreaming about her all night. “Ro, it’s Ava. Please come in. Please.”
“Where are you?” I say, easing off the accelerator as I take the next curve. Again the wheel vibrates hard.
“I’m in the pit. Felicity gave me her pass.”
Shit. I’m on the straight, and the pedal is to the floor. My speed tops out at two ninety-three then plunge into darkness. The wheel shakes again. The car jerks to the right, and I’m dangerously close to the wall. Blinding white light hits me as I try to correct. My muscles flex as I fight with the steering column. I’m off the track, my speed goes all the way down.
Fuck! Shifting, I guide the car back onto the lanes. I’m one curve away from the pit, and I know I have to bring it in. I have to do it for Ava.
Fayed’s coming out of the tunnel as I pull back onto the asphalt. He flies past, and my chest tightens. We have to move at lightening speed if I’m going to catch him again.
I’m around the curve and pulling into the pit, the crew surrounds me in a swarm. Tires off, they check the chassis. Cal’s right with them, and I see the moment his face pales.
His head drops against his forearm, then he looks up at me. “The front arm is completely severed.”
I’m out of the cockpit in seconds, running to see what he’s seeing. He points to the damaged suspension. “Looks like it was bashed with a club. It’s been a time bomb waiting to go off. You could’ve been killed.”
“It’s over.” My shoulders fall, and I scrub my fingers over my brow. “FUCK!” I shout, slamming my helmet into the cockpit. Fists on my forehead, I blink out at the cars roaring past. Only two laps to go…
Cal walks around to where I’m standing, his brow lined. “This happened after qualifying. Who had access to the parc fermé?”
We both look to the crew. One person is missing. “Heinrick’s guy?”
“Impossible. Heinrick wouldn’t send someone to hurt you.”
“Maybe he didn’t know.” I’m still looking toward the crew when I spot the one person able to bring me back, green eyes full of worry—Ava.
Leaving Cal beside the car, I cross the space. She’s out of the gated area and running to me, her navy sleeveless dress moves in the breeze.
When we meet, I rest my forehead against hers, sliding my palms down her cheeks, to the sides of her neck. Her hand goes into the back of my damp hair; the other touches my cheek, and our eyes close as we breathe each other’s air. My insides unclench.
“Thank you,” she whispers. “I don’t know what I would have done if you’d been hurt.”
The fury in my chest eases. Lifting my chin, I kiss her forehead before looking into her beautiful eyes. I’m ready to ask her now, right this moment, but we only have this moment before the mob of reporters surrounds us.
“Your royal highness!” one yells. “Why did you pull out of the race when you were winning?”
Two more shout, “We’ve heard rumors of possible tampering with your vehicle!”
“Is it too soon to suggest a possible assassination attempt?”
I hear over the noise Fayed won the race, and my lips press into a frown. Touching Cal on the shoulder, I lean into his ear. “I’m passing this baton to you.”
He nods, and my hand is on Ava’s lower back. I hope to guide her through the confusion, through the restricted area beneath stands, and to my waiting limo. My plans for the beautiful woman at my side can continue at Occitan.
“Oh, wait! It’s Zelda!” Ava takes off, out of my grasp into the crowd.
“Ava, stop!” I’m calling after her, but I know if I enter the fray, I’ll be mobbed.
I call to her again, when I hear a sharp noise. It’s popping like firecrackers, or the noise of a car backfiring.
Ava’s face changes a moment. She looks confused… just before she drops like a stone.
“AVA!” My voice is a roar as I run to where she’s fallen.
My brain registers it was a gunshot, and all of it—losing the race, the damaged car, the mob of bystanders, everything disappears in the face of losing Ava.
I’m throwing bodies aside as the crowd disperses around me. People are screaming and falling to the ground, or running from where my beautiful Ava lies on in a heap, her eyes closed.
* * *
Zelda
“NOOO!!!!” I scream as I see Ava’s green eyes change from joy to horror. She falls so fast. She’s on the ground like a rag doll, and people scatter in all directions away from her like oil fleeing a drop of water.
As I run to her, I notice another figure in a red jumpsuit also running in my direction. It’s Rowan. We meet at my sister, and he has her in his arms before I can breathe.
“Follow me!” he shouts, heading toward the stands.
I’m right behind him, but I’m looking everywhere over my shoulder. I know who did this, and I’m afraid it’s not over. They could be anywhere, aiming for us right this second.
“Run, Rowan! Run!” I shout. “Faster!”
We’re through the metal door into the restricted area beneath the stands, and I push the doors closed behind us.
“Paramedics are here.” He’s at a red phone, dialing zero, but I see his fingers tremble. “The best emergency response crews in the country are on hand in case of an accident.”
I’m at Ava’s side, holding her hand. “Hang on, Ava-bug!” My voice breaks. My throat hurts and tears blur my eyes. She’s ghastly pale, and blood soaks the navy dress she’s wearing. “Don’t die on me, Ava-bug! Please… Please, Ava-bug…”
My whole body is shaking. I’m searching all over for where they hit her when I’m shoved out of the way, and paramedics surround my sister.
Rowan is at my side, and I look up to see his jaw clenched. His eyes are wild, and I know it’s taking all his power to stay back and let them work.
Plastic bags and tubes are drawn out and run to her body. I grip his arm as they move her onto a hard plastic stretcher.
“She’s losing blood,” a woman says, shoving a card at me. “We’re taking her to Memorial East.”
As fast as they appeared, they’re rushing her out the door, into an ambulance and speeding away.
“NO!” I scream, running after them.
“Zelda! This way!” Rowan runs in the direction of a side door, and I’m right behind him.
Hajib has the car waiting, and we’re in it, driving as quickly as possible after the ambulance.
* * *
It feels like hours pass before a female doctor with short brown hair comes out to tell us what’s happening.
“Majesté,” she does a little bow to Rowan. “Bonjour.”
“Comment est-elle?” he says quickly.
“La dame est bien—”
“English, please!” I practically shriek, startling them both.
“Pardon!” The doctor says in a thick French accent. “I did not realize…”
“Will she be okay?” I plead.
The woman continues almost too quickly for me to follow through her accent. “She lost a lot of blood, so she’s very weak. The bullet passed cleanly through her upper arm just missing her brachial artery. I stitched up the wound, and we’re monitoring her vitals. She’s very lucky it did not hit her heart.”
My head goes light, and I’m sure I’ll faint. Rowan catches me, helping me to a nearby chair. Bodyguards have cordoned off the area, so it’s only the three of us in the waiting room. The doctor tells Rowan something I don’t understand and disappears down the hall.
Overhead a television blasts in French. I read the subtitles explaining how the entire country is on high alert following two suspected assassination attempts on the crown prince at today’s race.
Police have set up a tip line. The words tighten my chest.
Police are searching for anyone who knows anything about this attack. If you saw anything or know who might be behind this, call…
My mind is racing. I know who’s behind this, and they know I know. How long before they track me down? I’m the only witness outside their group who can testify against them, who can expose them all.
“Cal is with the men examining the car,” Rowan says, misinterpreting my dark expression. “Otherwise, he’d be here with you.”
Cal… Another pain in my heart. I won’t see him again…
“He’s okay?” I ask.
“He just sent me a text. He couldn’t reach your phone.”
“My phone was… taken.”
We don’t speak for several moments as the television continues in French. A nurse approaches us and does a slight bow. Her voice is also accented.
“Do you know the young lady’s next of kin?”
“Me,” I stand quickly, going to her. “I’m her sister, Zelda Wilder.”
I don’t miss the way Rowan looks at me.
“Very good.” The nurse hands me a clipboard. “I need you to fill out these forms as soon as you can.”
I take the clipboard and turn to face the truth. Rowan is straight in his chair, his blue eyes fixed on me.
“I need to tell you something,” I say, glancing down at the papers. “I don’t have a lot of time. Do you think… do you think it’s possible you can listen to what I have to say without asking questions? Even if it sounds ugly at first?”
“I won’t promise anything.” Rowan’s voice is tense, anger just below the surface. I’m on the verge of tears.
“Ava is my sister,” I say, clearing my throat. “We lied about her being my friend. I thought it would keep her safe. I didn’t know the person who brought us here had his own agenda.”
Rowan stands, and his hands are on his hips. “Is this about my uncle, the duke?”
I take a deep breath and walk past him to sit in the chair again. I’m not sure I can say this standing.
“I met Sir Reginald Winchester in Miami… at a casino. He hired me to come here and pretend to be an heiress, to seduce you. He said he wanted to humiliate you, to prove you weren’t fit to be king.”
I’m afraid to look up. I can’t bear to see his face as I say this. “I brought Ava with me because I never leave her behind. Our parents are dead, and it’s always been up to me to take care of us. We’ve been on our own since we were kids.”
Rowan still doesn’t speak. When I dare to glance up at him, his jaw is set, and a gleam of anger is in his eyes. My insides crumble.
“I’m telling you this because I’m so sorry, Rowan.” I fight the tears. “As soon as I met you, I knew Reggie had lied to us. But it didn’t matter. He wasn’t interested in the original job anymore. He’s been working with Wade Paxton. He used us as a distraction, a smoke screen to help him get back in the country. He was behind the sabotage of your car, and he had Ava shot… I’m next. I know too much about his plans. He’s going to kill us both.”
Rowan’s hands lower, and I see them clench into fists. Ice-cold fury is in his voice. “Reggie did this.”
He leaves me with that, and I watch as he crosses the room to one of the men standing guard. They speak in French, in low voices, and the man’s eyes harden. He nods, speaking into his cuff before turning and striding quickly to the elevator. Rowan stays in the space where the man was a few moments longer, and I watch as his chin drops.
He takes a few deep breaths before returning to me. Anger is still in his eyes, and I swallow hard, summoning every bit of strength I have left to do this one last thing. I have to get this promise before I run.
Standing, I meet him halfway. “I only have one thing… one request.”
“Zelda—”
“I know you hate me. I know you’re going to throw me out, but if you would please, please, Rowan… Take care of Ava. Please believe me, she would never be here if it weren’t for me.”
“She lied to me.”
“Only to protect me.” My eyes heat, and I feel the pressure in my chest growing tighter. “You have to understand. Not being able to tell you the truth was breaking her heart. I’ve never seen her so happy… or so miserable.”
His expression is closed, and I do the only thing I can think to do before a king. Dropping to my knees, I’m not ashamed to beg him. I look up at Rowan’s eyes, and the anger has been replaced with confusion.
“You love her, don’t you?” I’m taking a chance, but I have to do this for my sister.
He only pauses a moment, his blue eyes traveling around my face. Another beat, and he nods. “I do.”
The slightest glimmer of hope encourages me on.
“She loves you.” I take a shaky inhale. “I promised her I’d always take care of her, but now… after all that’s happened, I realize I’m putting her in danger. Only you can keep her safe now.”
His lips press together a moment. He pauses again before answering me. “I intend to ask her to marry me.”
My eyes slide closed as relief surges through my body. “You’ll make her so happy.”
“She’s made me so happy.”
Blinking fast, I rise to my feet. “I have to go. This is just the beginning. I know what they’ve done and who’s involved. They’re coming for me.”
“No—you can’t leave. We’ll protect you—”
“Don’t you understand? They’ve been planning this for years! They’re way ahead of us. You saw how fast they got to Ava. They had a gunman at the track before I even got there.”
“I won’t let them hurt you.” Rowan’s voice is a low command. “We’ll find them.”
“The way you found the person who sabotaged your car?”
Anger burns in his eyes, and I know he’s hearing me. I’m petrified with fear, but I have to get as far away from this place, from Ava, as I can. My insides tremble at the memory of what Wade Paxton promised to do to me. After all I’ve seen, I’m sure he wasn’t bluffing now. I only hope I can stay ahead of them.
“Seth is waiting. He’ll help me hide.”
“Seth?”
Shaking my head, we don’t have time. “I owe him money. Ava can explain it to you. Thank you, Rowan. Thank you so much. I’m so sorry for what I did, for helping them. One day I hope I can make it up—”
He takes a step forward. “But what about Cal?”
Those words rip through my stomach. As painful as everything I’ve endured in the last twenty-four hours, this question has the power to gut me.
“Please tell him I said goodbye.” Tears thicken my throat. “He deserves someone better than me.”
Turning away, I run to the elevator before he can stop me or see me break down. I’m in the small box, hiding in the corner by the control panel, pressing the L button over and over as the doors close.
In the mirrored walls I see my bruised cheek. It’s nothing compared to my battered heart. Zelda Wilder is no princess. The closest I am is a dirty Cinderella, an orphan on the run, and that’s not the kind of girl for a prince.
The door opens in the lobby, and standing there in dark jeans and a long-sleeved navy sweater is Seth. His amber brow arches, and our blue eyes meet.
“Ready?” he says.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Come on, then. Let’s go.”
I take his hand and follow him to the waiting cab. He pays the man and says one word: airport. Fishing in my pockets, I find the door card to our room at the Fairmont and the black American Express. It’s a small relief.
“Thought you might need this,” he says.
I look down, and he’s holding the green ambassador’s visa Reggie gave me.
“How did you get this?” I ask.
“I went back to your room and looked around.”
My eyes narrow at the thought of him snooping in our stuff. “See anything interesting?”
“Not much.”
Shaking my head, I return my gaze out the window to the passing traffic. Ava will be safe now and live happily ever after with her handsome prince. I won’t let myself think about Cal. I’ve got to get as far away as possible, keep running, and hope the bad guys never catch me.