Bad Nerd Falling (33 page)

He suspected in addition to himself,
his dad, Maks and both of his sisters all carried a piece. As well
as Emerson and blood relatives on that side. That way not one
person knew, but several of the royal line, could locate their
national treasures if need be.

“
These treasures are part
of your nation’s wealth?” Ben clarified.

Aleksi tucked a hand into his pocket.
“You can think of them as the national treasury. We mine precious
and semi-precious gems here, as well as several rare minerals. We
possess a few gold and silver mines that are still producing and
our engineers are constantly researching new ways for us to spread
our profit into new areas.”

“
We seek ways to keep the
country profitable far beyond our generation.”

“
Our forefathers,” Aleksi
indicated him, “were concerned that we continue to remain
profitable throughout future generations. Because of their
foresight, we are still as wealthy a nation now as we were
then.”

“
A terrorist would do well
to take the palace then.” Beaumont spun his mug in circles, and he
gazed down into the depths like he expected it to spout
answers.

“
Yes.” Prince Aleksi
didn’t quibble.

“
However, they can take
the palace, but she probably won’t give up her secrets.”

Their forefathers had been beyond
wise. Back in their day, it was much easier to take a stronghold as
all you needed was a bigger, better trained army. Their ancestors
decided to “hide” their treasures so that if the palace was taken,
they had a better chance of recovering their wealth at a later
date.

Another excellent move they made was
to not flaunt their great wealth. The palace they currently sat in
had been added to over the years, and while quite beautiful, it
didn’t compare to some that were lavish beyond belief. Their de
Leos ancestors had kept their wealth well hidden.

“
The measures we’ve taken
through the years to conceal our goods have proven most excellent.
We work tirelessly to improve upon them.”

“
Has this palace ever been
taken?” Beaumont asked.

“
Yes, several times
through history.” Aleksi pointed to some artwork on the far wall
that provided a reminder that it was possible.

He stirred. “But the de Leos family
always took it back soon after.”

“
There are secrets here
that you boys haven’t had time to discover.” Aleksi leaned back in
his chair with the easy assurance of a man who knew he held the
winning hand. That hand had been hard won and fought for through
the centuries.

“
We’re very happy to be
defending a place that is perfectly capable of defending herself,”
Tigger finally decided. He bit into a pastry and some of the
filling gushed out. The SEAL caught it long before the pudding ever
hit the table.

It was something others like them took
for granted. But Aleksi’s eyes first widened, and then narrowed as
a brand new, predatory smile lit his face.

“
I think we’re in good hands.” He stared at Derek
Shively who sucked the filling off his finger and continued eating
with the grace of a man who is at peace with his abilities. He
didn’t need to flex his impressive muscles but was fully capable of
doing so when necessary.

Chapter 25

“
I still don’t think this
is a good time for me to leave,” Tia stated again. She glanced
around Aleksi’s office and realized anew this was the last thing
she wanted.

Aleksi turned to stare at her. “This
is the perfect time.” His voice made it very obvious he had no
intention of altering her schedule.

“
Aleksi, things are
heating up right now. I should be here, not in Hershey.”

“
Your cousin is leaving
today, and
so are you
.”

She glowered at him, but it ricocheted
right off her obstinate fiancé. “And people tell me I’m
stubborn.”

“
You are.” He softened
that blow by curling an arm around her and tugging her against his
lean, muscular frame.

Before she could formulate a counter
argument, he joined their lips. Any protests died as Aleksi’s lips
worked their magic. She was certain she had more but they all
fled.

She kissed him back with everything
she had, because she needed him to miss her. Miss her so much he
couldn’t live without her. Because if he managed to live without
her, her world would implode.

With that thought circulating through
her brain, she pressed closer, desperate to imprint herself on
him.

His kiss was every bit as desperate.
“I’m not certain how I’m going to live without you.” He sounded
resigned and a little unhappy.

That made her heart soar before she
realized she had to live without him too. Her heart immediately
crashed and burned. With a long sigh, she trailed a hand over his
cheek.

“
I don’t want to return to
Hershey.”

Aleksi’s arms tightened. “I know,
sweetheart. I know all too well.” There was something else there,
though. Something she couldn’t put a finger on, that despite his
words to the contrary, he was relieved she was leaving.

She took a step back to stare into
those dark eyes she loved so much. They gave nothing away other
than the fact that he loved her and would miss her. Yet something
secret churned behind those amazing eyes.

“
What aren’t you telling
me?”

“
What are you talking
about?”

“
You’re relieved I’m
leaving,” she accused.

Again, his arms tightened
around her. “I
hate
that you’re leaving. But I am happy you’re doing what you
must so you can return home and be with me permanently.”

That all resonated with truth: it
wasn’t a lie. But it also wasn’t quite true, either. Some other
reason buzzed around in his brain, something he didn’t want her to
know.

“
I don’t want to go.” She
settled tighter against him and pouted.

He traced the bottom curve of her lip.
“I know. But the sooner you go the sooner you’ll be
home.”

It was odd that she had lived most of
her life in Hershey, Pennsylvania, but now it wasn’t home.
Rurikstan, with Aleksi, was home. “I wish this was already
finished.” Her lips turned down.

“
Am I interrupting?” Ben
asked from the doorway.

“
Yes,” both she and Aleksi
answered. They grinned at each other.

“
Too bad.” He strolled
into Aleksi’s office with easy grace. “Mark is almost ready to go.”
Ben glanced at Tia. “Have you even started packing?”

Her cheeks suffused with red. “No. I
don’t want to leave.”

“
You know The Packers will
help you pack up the condo. In fact, they’ll do it for
you.”

“
That’s right. I forgot
all about The Packers again. They’re professionals.”

“
Just drop a bug in my
mom’s ear and you’ll have them all on your doorstep by six
a.m.”

She chewed on the inside of her cheek.
“I don’t want them there by six.”

“
They bring treats,” Ben
coaxed.

She brightened. “That’s true. KC said
they brought cinnamon rolls and cookies.”

Aleksi’s nod was slow. “So
you’re hoping they come, bring treats,
and
help you pack?”

She darted an amused smile at
Ben.

“
No, she’s hoping they
do
all
her
packing. Lazy girl.” There was no missing the affection in Ben’s
voice.

She chortled. “Like I could do even
half as good a job as them.”

Ben considered that. “True. My mom
mentioned that Julie is looking for a new place. You might want to
take her to see your condo again.”

“
Julie’s condo is really
small.”

“
Who is Julie?”

They both turned to Aleksi. “One of my
sisters.” Ben looked like he considered ignoring that
question.

“
One of them? How many do
you have?”

Since Ben looked pained, she answered
for him. “Four.”

Aleksi, in the act of
leaning over to scoop up his coffee mug, paused. “Four?” He turned
wide eyes on Ben. “
Four?
”

“
Yes.”

“
One of them is
biological, but the other three are not.” Since she had three
brothers, it was only fair he had four sisters.

“
I grew up with the three
who are not. A few years back I met the biological one in Kuwait. I
looked KC up and met Janine, my fourth sister.”
[
The Corpsman and the Nerd
- Book 2 - The Morrison Family Series]

“
No wonder you joined the
Navy.” Aleksi’s dark eyes stayed wide. “That’s a lot of
sisters.”

“
Yeah. They’re okay
though.”

“
And we have so many
cousins that there were plenty of boys for him to run around
with.”

“
We Morrisons don’t lack
for relatives.”

“
I’m packed, but you’re
not.” Mark sauntered into Aleksi’s office.

“
I’m sort of packed.” To
add credence to her lie, Aleksi choked on the sip of coffee he was
in the process of taking.

“
That’s a great counter
argument.” Mark helpfully thumped Aleksi on the back.

“
Thanks,” Aleksi wheezed.
He wrapped an arm around her and tugged her close. “Go
pack.”

Not happy with the order, but
understanding she needed to do so, she kissed him goodbye and took
herself off to her rooms so she could figure out what to take with
her and what to leave behind.

To her credit, she had thought about
this, even though she tried not to. In the end, it didn’t take all
that long for her to throw the things she needed into a suitcase.
She was zipping it up when Mark knocked.

“
Are you
ready?”

“
No.”

“
Too bad, we need to leave
for the airport soon.” He didn’t sound sympathetic at
all.

“
I hate this.” She plunked
onto her bed.

“
It’s not permanent.” Mark
joined her.

“
It feels like
it.”

“
Did you say goodbye to
your lab staff?”

“
No, not yet.”

He sent her a speaking look.
“Shouldn’t you?”

“
Yes. But I’m dreading
it.”

This time his eyebrows soared. “You
dread saying goodbye?”

“
No, I dread leaving
them.”

“
Why?” His forehead
pleated.

“
Because they have to
return to the hospital and I know they don’t want to.”

“
Why do they have to
return?”

“
Because like me, they
have to fulfill their contractual obligations before they’re
cleared to formally leave the hospital. Then they’re free to work
with me in the palace lab full-time.”

A thought occurred to her and she sent
a speculative look at Mark.

“
Don’t look at me in that
tone of voice,” Mark mock scolded.

Tia giggled, as she was certain he
intended.

“
What do you want,
Tia?”

“
Do you know why Aleksi is
in such an all fired hurry to get me out of Rurikstan for the next
few weeks?”

Mark didn’t answer at once. Tia
jumped. “You know. Tell me!”

“
I don’t know for certain.
But I do wonder why Ben is here. And part of his team. It occurs to
me that Aleksi must be expecting the worst.”

She gasped. “That
jerk
…” There wasn’t a
term in the English language that described her despicable
fiancé.

Mark patted her. “Remember something.
I’m guessing, and he might be too. It could very well be that this
is just a training exercise for Ben and buddies and has nothing to
do with terrorists.” His shrug was eloquent.

“
This is why Aleksi wants
me out of the country. He more than suspects an attack,” Tia
declared. She wasn’t certain how she knew, but she
knew
. Her perfidious
fiancé wanted her out of the country and safe.

Tia surged off the bed and stomped to
the doorway. Behind her she heard Mark mutter, “Uh oh.”

She was so angry she didn’t take the
time to respond. Instead she sailed through the hallways until she
reached Aleksi’s office. Tia banged on the door before she barged
in. Ben and his buddies as well as Vlad Wellington were all
clustered around the table set in one corner.

Aleksi frowned as he rose. “Tia I
thought you were packing.”

She stormed across the expanse of
carpet. “I was. I’m finished.”

Ben groaned, because he knew this
tone. Aleksi might suspect something but the other men in the room
had to be confused. She jabbed a finger into Aleksi’s chest.
“You’re anxious to get rid of me because you think there’s going to
be a terrorist attack and you want me gone.” Anger and betrayal
infused every word.