Royal Rescue

Leo was all she had left. Being separated from him these past fourteen years had probably taken its toll on her. The next few weeks wouldn’t be any easier than what she had already faced, but there was too much at stake to risk losing her now.

“I didn’t shoot your brother.” Even to him the words seemed like too little. He could only hope she would believe the sincerity in his voice. Now that he finally had the truth within his grasp, he would not let it go.

She was thinking of running again. He could sense it. Feel it as tangibly as the tiny shards of frozen rain beating against his skin. Ronin took a deep breath and squelched the urge to step toward her. Her eyes widened with apprehension. She was ready to flee. He knew she would run until there was no strength left in her. Her instincts were on target. She was in danger.

But not from him.

She took a larger step away, then another.

His mind raced. He could grab her and haul her to his car. There would be kicking and screaming involved. Not exactly the best way to go about gaining her confidence. Short of knocking her unconscious, which was really not an option, he had one shot at swaying her over to willingness.

“There is only one way you are ever going to see your brother again.” He hated using her brother and her need to see him as bribery. But it was the truth. Whether she knew it or not, she really only had one option.

Him. He just had to convince her of that.

She stopped in her tracks but made no move to step in his direction.

Her stillness gave him hope.

Icy pellets crunched beneath his feet as he took a small step toward her.

A gust of bitter wind blew wisps of hair free from her cap. Russet strands danced across her face but didn’t hide the uncertainty that swept over her features. He couldn’t blame her for not trusting him. A tiny part of him admired the way she followed her instincts.

“And what way is that?” Her voice was a soft whisper. Gone was all the gusto she’d tossed at him mere moments ago.

“Come with me.”

“You must think I’m a fool.”

Ronin thought her many things, but a fool was not one of them. She was one of the only people alive who could tell the truth of what had happened the night her father, the king, had been killed. Since that night she’d not spoken of what she’d seen or heard. The secrets buried somewhere in her mind made her an even bigger target than her brother. Not only was she heir to the throne as the firstborn, but she also held the power to condemn the real person responsible for the king’s death. The wrong man had been imprisoned. Ronin knew that to be absolute.

She held the knowledge that could free his father.

“Come with me and you’ll see your brother again. Arrangements are being made this moment for you to reclaim the throne that was taken from your father.”

“That is lunacy.”

“Is it?” he asked.

“Why now?” She stared at him. Her face was nearly devoid of any emotion. Her lips parted, then closed. An argument of pros and cons seemed to war behind her questioning eyes. He could only hope he was close to gaining her cooperation. “We were safe before last week. What has changed to make someone come after me after all this time?”

So many things, he thought. He was unsure of where to begin.

A car passed by them on the street, reminding him of their surroundings. The streetlights crackled and flickered to life just beyond where she stood near the curb. The icy snow mixture was falling heavier, and it was getting darker. He’d hoped to be on the road before night fell.

“Princess Dorthea, there is a lot to explain. But not here.”

She needed to know the truth. She deserved it. He would not keep that from her. He had nothing to hide. He was finished hiding. When he had been sent to bring Leo in, it had taken weeks to gain his trust. Once he had, they had become close friends and Leo had shown him the peace that could only come from living completely in the truth.

Leo had believed in him even when their country hadn’t.

A few seconds ticked away, but it felt like minutes. He didn’t have the benefit of weeks like he’d had with the prince. He watched her, the play of emotions sweeping over her face. She chewed at her bottom lip, her uncertain eyes glancing around her, then back at him. He noticed the instant she made her decision.

At that same moment he spotted the car at the end of the block, its bright lights beamed in their direction. Its tires spun in the ice and gravel mixture covering the road, sending an eerie squeal through the night as it headed toward them.

Toward her.

TWO

Thea gasped as the car’s wheels spun on the snow-slicked pavement. The driver revved the engine and the car made a beeline for her. Her first instinct was to say a quick prayer as she waited for it to slow or turn. Instead, it picked up speed.

A quick glance at the man she’d distanced herself from showed he’d noticed the car, as well. His gaze darted between her and the vehicle. This wasn’t the first time she’d faced death. Like the other times, someone was with her. The fact that she wouldn’t be facing it alone should give her some solace.

It didn’t.

Out of the corner of her eye she could see Ronin rushing toward her. He would die for her. If anything, knowing he would try to save her made her even more terrified.

On instinct, she turned to run, too, to save herself, but her feet slipped out from under her and she hit the pavement. The ground was frozen and slick beneath her as she turned, hoping to get to her feet. But before she could, she was pulled against a hard body. Ronin’s strong arms encircled her, encasing her in a cocoon of safety.

His warmth seemed so familiar yet so new all at the same time. The fuzzy memory was so close she could almost reach out and pluck it from her mind. Just as quickly as it came, it was gone.

He rolled against the pavement, pulling her with him. Thea buried her face against him. They landed in a heap of tangled arms and legs against the far curb. The car flew by in a whoosh of air, barely missing them.

Ronin held her close, but she turned her head against his chest to see the car attempt to screech to a stop after passing them by. The sudden braking sent the car spinning out of control on the ice. Metal scraped metal as the car sideswiped the few vehicles parked in front of the diner.

“Are you hurt?” Ronin asked, sitting them upright. He quickly ran his hands over her arms and legs, checking for broken bones.

“I’m not sure.” Thea closed her eyes tightly, then opened them slowly in an attempt to clear her head. Her body shook with the gamut of emotions flooding her. She was alive and thankful for that.

The car continued its slide down the street. It came to a stop only when its front fender smashed into a light pole at the far end of the street. Sirens sounded in the distance.

“Can you stand?” His voice was filled with concern as he stood, then outstretched his hand to help her to her feet. Two black-clad figures stumbled from the vehicle. Thea watched in shock as they pointed in her direction. They were men, big and bulky, about the same height as Ronin. One of them reached inside his coat and pulled out a handgun, waving it in her direction as the other man shouted and made wild gestures with his hands.

The sirens grew louder. Blue and red police lights lit the night sky.

“Can you stand?” Ronin repeated, louder this time as he grabbed her hand. He pulled her to her feet without waiting for an answer. “We need to go, Princess.”

Thea gave no protest as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. It was only a matter of time before the men finished whatever argument they were having and came after them. Worse yet, they might decide to use their guns and start shooting at them. She followed Ronin’s lead as he guided her across the city square and the park to where he’d left his car. Sleek and black, it was exactly what she would expect him to drive. Dangerous yet powerful, just like the man who controlled it. He held the door open for her, but before giving in to the compliance she knew was expected of her, she risked one last, quick glance around her.

Police sirens grew closer. He was right. They had to go. Staying would endanger not only them, but also any innocent bystanders who might get in the way if the men came after them. The local police would be here soon, but men like these held no regard for the police. She slid into the passenger seat, her body strangely numb to everything going on around her. She barely noticed as Ronin grabbed her seat belt and fastened it across her.

Within moments they were leaving the small town behind them.

Tiny bits of ice hit the windshield, the wipers keeping a steady rhythm in an attempt to keep the windshield clear.

“They were trying to kill me.”

She glanced over at Ronin in the driver’s seat. His eyes remained on the road ahead, except for occasional glances in the rearview mirror.

He had risked his life for her.

“We could have both been killed,” she whispered.

“You’re safe now, Princess Dorthea.” She knew his words meant to calm her, but safe was something she hadn’t felt for a very long time.

Part of her was still wary of him, but the way she’d felt when he’d wrapped his arm over her shoulder and steered her to the car had sent her back in time. It had brought back the memories of when another man, much older, had protected her and made her feel safe when her world had been falling apart. For so long she’d hoped and prayed for a life that was normal again. Safe would be nice.

“Thea,” she said. “My name is Thea now.”

She wasn’t sure if he was even listening now, but she cringed every time he used her formal name. Princess Dorthea was a person people died for. She was tired of that person. It might be her title, but she wasn’t a princess anymore. She wasn’t sure if she ever really wanted to be again.

Thea relaxed against the headrest and took a deep breath. Her stomach turned, both from hunger and the stress of the events of the evening. She fought against the nausea rising in her throat. Asking him to pull over so she could vomit was one humiliation she’d prefer to not have to deal with.

In an attempt to take her mind off her stomach, she turned her head to study Ronin’s profile. Thea couldn’t quite put her finger on what was so familiar about him. Maybe he looked like someone she’d once seen in a movie or on television years ago. That must be it. He just had that sort of face.

“Is everything okay?” he asked, catching her staring at him.

“That’s a silly question.” Thea attempted a laugh, but it emerged as more of a choked squeak.

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“I’m sorry about your head and the brick.” Thea reached toward his face, her fingertips brushing over the nasty cut just above his eyebrow.

“Are you?” he questioned.

“Yes, I am. Despite my earlier behavior, I’m not the sort of person who runs around bashing unsuspecting men upside the head.”

“If it makes you feel any better, I wasn’t totally unsuspecting.”

She smiled at his remark.

“And if it makes you feel any better, it probably won’t scar.”

“Even if it did, it would blend right in with the few I have already.”

“Well, then it would make you look even more dangerous.” Thea studied his face, taking in the few faint lines of small scars she’d not noticed earlier. He’d seen his fair share of battles of one sort or another. “I assume looking dangerous comes in handy in your line of work.”

“And what sort of work is it that you think I am in, exactly?”

“I think it’s safe to say you would have killed me by now if that was your intent. So you must really be here to rescue me.”

Thea wasn’t sure exactly what job title that would be. It really didn’t matter. Given her true identity and the circumstances under which they’d met, she assumed it would be safe to say he was a bodyguard in some shape or form. If he’d been anything less, she imagined the brick would have sent him running.

“You’re going to have quite the bruise yourself.” He nodded toward her chin.

“That was my own doing, though. I’m a bit clumsy when it comes to balancing on wobbly toilet tanks.”

“Are you hurt anywhere else?”

“Everything seems to be in working order.” Thea stretched her legs and wiggled her arms around as proof. She felt a twinge of pain, but bruising was expected after the ordeal they’d been through.

“Still, as soon as I’m sure we’re not being followed, we’ll find a spot to pull over and stretch our legs just to be sure. Maybe pick up some food, too.”

Her stomach turned again. It had been days since she’d eaten.

“I’d like that.” She glanced over at him. He knew her name, but how much more did he know? “I have no money,” she added. When the safe house where she’d lived for the past year had been overrun, she’d barely had time to grab her bag. Her guards had told her to run and she’d run. Just like a good little princess.

“I know,” he replied in a gentle tone. “You must be starving.”

“I am hungry.”

The few dollars she had saved from her part-time job at the local diner had lasted only a couple days. She’d slept where she could find a safe spot and survived on vending-machine snacks, just getting by, waiting for today, when she was supposed to meet Leo.

Leo would have known what to do.

She had complete trust in her brother, and he’d sent this man to her. She sneaked a glance at his strong profile again. For the time being she would have to trust him, too. There was something about him that still raised warning flags in her mind. He had secrets, things he hadn’t shared completely with her. But she’d see this through. Despite her reservations about going home, she needed her brother. If this man could take her to him, then she’d go along with him for now. But that didn’t mean she’d trust him blindly.

Something about him and this situation didn’t sit quite right, but she would find a way to turn it around, even if it meant letting him be her protector for a few days. It would be worth it to see her brother. If there was even a remote chance she could be reunited with Leo, she would take it. For so many years she’d only dreamed of having a normal life once again. It wasn’t easy to trust him, but what choice did she have?

She didn’t like needing someone else to fight her battles for her, and she didn’t want to endanger any other lives. But she was smart enough to know she’d never find the answers without help. He was her best chance at finally finding out who had killed her father and wanted her dead. Once that person was caught and punished, she’d at least have a chance at a normal family once again.

* * *

She attacked the plate of french fries as if she hadn’t eaten in weeks. As soon as the waitress had placed the meal in front of her, Thea had bowed her head and given a quiet prayer of thanks, then dug into the food with her full attention.

A twinge of guilt shot through him. He’d driven longer than he probably needed to, but he couldn’t take the chance they were being followed. Even now they were taking a chance. But she had to eat.

There was a very real possibility this was the first meal she’d had in days. Her most recent safe house had been compromised last week. Ronin hated to think of how she’d been surviving since. Or how she’d even managed to make it out safely. He smiled to himself. She probably went out through a window. Not that it was a laughing matter. She was in very real danger. He’d do well to not let himself get too comfortable with her. He needed to keep reminding himself of that.

Her safety had to come first.

He checked his watch. They’d driven for several hours. It would be midnight soon. With the weather it had been slow going. It didn’t help that he’d stuck to using mostly back roads. There had been no sign of any other vehicles in miles, besides those whose drivers had lost control and ended up in ditches along the highway. Like he’d promised, when he was sure they were safe, he’d pulled over for a much needed break and food.

They sat at a table near the back of the truck stop. Only a few people—all truckers from what he could tell—were out at this time of night and in these conditions. From his position he had a good view of the entrance over Thea’s shoulder. Ronin took a bite of his fries, hoping she wouldn’t notice how intently he’d been watching her and the doorway behind her. She’d been on edge since they’d left the town behind them. Not that he could blame her. The fact that she hadn’t fainted dead away or lapsed into a fit of hysteria spoke a great deal for her inner strength.

He’d studied every written fact about the princess for months knowing that she was probably the best, if not only, hope he had of clearing his father’s name. But all of the studying he’d done hadn’t begun to prepare him for the truth of who she really was. All of the words written on paper couldn’t really capture the essence of her.

Although after all this time and all she’d been through he hadn’t expected a pampered, tiara-wearing princess. He watched her take a very large, unladylike bite of her cheeseburger. He hadn’t really anticipated her being able to blend into her surroundings so well, either. He should have known better. “Expect the unexpected” was a good motto to live by.

Despite the fact she had learned her fair share of survival techniques, he could still see a softness around the edges. She would be offended to know he noticed.

By all appearances she was paying him little attention while she ate her meal. But he’d caught her watching him, even though she’d kept her eyes lowered. She was guarded and wary. Both were good qualities to have when you weren’t sure where danger might be lurking. She’d be wise to not trust every stranger they might come across.

She was wise to not trust him.

“You have some ketchup...” He made a motion at the corner of his own mouth, hoping she’d find the spot. “Right there.”

The tip of her tongue flicked around the corner of her mouth, licking her pink lips clean.

“It’s not polite to stare.”

“I’m sorry, Princess Dorthea.” When she shot him a glare, he corrected himself. “Thea.”

“You must think I’ve turned into a barbarian.” A juicy hamburger grease mixture with mayo and tomato ran down her fingers. She set the remainder on her plate and used her napkin to wipe her hands clean.

“If I were going to think you barbaric, it would have been when you hit me with that brick.”

“I might do it again if I felt threatened.” She smiled but he knew how serious she was. He could already tell she was very stubborn. That was just another characteristic about her that surprised him.

“No matter how sorry it made you, of course,” he teased, tossing back her earlier statement.

“Of course,” she agreed with a nervous laugh.

“While I admire that you are capable of taking care of yourself, your brick-wielding days are over. I’m here to protect you now.”

He heard her sharp intake of breath and noticed the flash of daring in her eyes but was spared the reply as the waitress walked up to their table.

“Can I get you guys a refill?”

“Yes, please.” Thea pushed her nearly empty glass of water to the edge of the table, where the waitress could pour from the pitcher she held in her hand.

Ronin nodded and did the same.

“I hope you’re planning on leaving a good tip,” Thea said after the waitress had walked away. “Most waitresses live on tips, you know.”

He couldn’t say that he knew or didn’t. It was one of those things that in this place and time didn’t really matter much in the grand scheme of things. But it mattered to her.

Thea fidgeted with the straw in her drink, swirling it around between the ice cubes, staring at it, but he could tell her mind was somewhere else.

Ronin knew nearly everything there was to know about her. She’d been allowed to work part-time as a waitress at local diners near her last few homes. The choice had been a foolish one. Being in the open made her an easy target. If not for the fact any money the sympathizers had managed to get from the sale of family jewels and salvaged belongings had long ago run out, it probably wouldn’t have even been considered. Although he’d only known Thea for a short time, he could imagine she’d been very stubborn about wanting to pay her own way.

Foolish or not, the job might have saved her life.

“I worked as a waitress.” Thea pulled her hands back and placed them in her lap. “I wasn’t home when they came for me. A coworker asked me to cover a shift and I snuck out. I was at work. I came home and found them...” Her words trailed off.

Ronin reached across the table, willing her to take his hand so he could pull her from the terrifying memories she was lost in. Just then, the waitress reappeared, pad and pen out in front of her ready to tally up their meal and any extras she might be able to talk them into. “Can I get either of you some dessert?”

Thea jumped in her seat. For a brief moment he thought she might get up and run.

“I’m sorry, hon. Didn’t mean to startle you,” the waitress said, noticing Thea’s edginess. “The pecan pie is very tasty and made fresh this afternoon. We even buy the pecans locally from a grove down the road.”

“No nuts, thanks. We’re allergic.”

Thea eyed him from across the table. The fear seemed to change to suspicion.

“I think we’re about finished up here,” he said, glancing over at Thea. “Unless you would like something else?”

“I’m fine, thank you,” Thea replied guardedly.

“Just the check, please,” Ronin requested. The sooner they got back on the road, the better.

“Sure thing,” the waitress replied. “You two aren’t from around here, are you?”

“Just traveling through.”

“We don’t get many travelers this time of night, especially with this weather.” She rambled as she totaled up their order, ripping the paper from the pad and laying it on the table next to his plate. “Now, in the summer, that’s a different story. We have some of the best catfish fishing spots around just a few miles down the road.”

Ronin pulled out a few bills, with a large tip figured in, and laid them on the table.

“I’ll be right back with your change.”

“You can keep it,” Ronin replied.

“Thank you. That’s mighty kind of you.” She flashed him a big smile. “You two be careful out there. We don’t usually get storms like this one this late in the year. Even so, it’s turning into the worst storm in years. Many of the highways will be shut down soon if it keeps up.”

“I’d like to use the restroom before we get back on the road,” Thea stated after the waitress had gone.

Ronin wasn’t sure if she was asking for permission or voicing a fact. The tone in her voice was one he hadn’t heard from her yet. It left no room for argument. As she brushed past him, he couldn’t help but wonder if he’d just been put in his place.

With large strides he caught up with her just before she entered the bathroom. Blocking the door, he flicked the light on and checked out the small room before letting her pass.

“I think we need to get something straight.”

“We do?” Her eyebrows raised in question.

“Yes, we do.” Ronin took a deep breath. “This is the way it’s going to be. While I am protecting you, I am in charge.” He paused, waiting for the argument he was sure would come before adding, “You will do as I say.”

She crossed her arms in front of her and stared but said nothing. Was she mulling his words over in her mind or had she already totally dismissed them?

“You’re not thinking of coming in here with me, are you?” she finally said.

“Not at all,” he replied. He enjoyed the flash of fire in her eyes as he teased. “Just checking for windows.”

Ronin leaned a shoulder against the wall by the door and waited. He might appear relaxed, but he kept his eyes and ears tuned to any movement and noise around them. That conversation had gone better than expected. There was a storm brewing in her mind, though. It was just a matter of time before she let it all loose on him.