Heir in Exile (21 page)

“He can't do that!” Indignant, furious, Chey paced around the edge of the sofa. “Why would he? What would he gain?”

“Using Laur in passing to privately threaten Dare into exile is one thing. Having Laur presented to the outside world, exposing what he and Helina have done, is another. Right now, Aksel thinks Dare is confined to Barbados. Once he realizes—and he will, sooner or later—that Dare is unaccounted for, he'll take whatever steps he deems necessary to protect himself. That includes obliterating an entire house full of 'defective' people should he even suspect for a moment that Dare has discovered Laur's whereabouts. More than that—the truth behind it.” Mattias snarled over the word 'defective' and paced counter to Chey, clearly agitated.

Chey rubbed her brow with her fingertips. The thought of anything happening to Laur, that sweet, gentle giant, made Chey sick. He deserved better than that. Better than being confined to a single residence his entire life.

“So you think the guards might realize Laur went somewhere, rather than just wandering the woods?” Chey asked, glancing at Mattias.

“If someone saw him go out, they might have had a guard follow discreetly and hide in the trees. If that guard saw headlights from our SUV in the distance, where we picked Laur up, then their suspicions would be raised. It's even possible that someone heard you three in the basement. What if a guard followed Laur down and listened in where you couldn't see him? There are any number of scenarios.” Mattias muttered a curse. “We should have been more careful.”

“I think you were very careful. How could you have known?” Chey hadn't seen nor heard any guards the night she went skulking through the house—but then she'd been upstairs with the residents, not hitting up every room on the first floor. It was possible a guard happened to be in the right place at the right time to see Laur rush through the door to the basement stairs and followed to see what his hurry was.

As Mattias said, it could be any number of things.

“It was important to find out what Laur knew and didn't know, but at what cost?” Mattias said.

“I'm not sure. What are you and Sander going to do?” Chey understood Mattias and Sander's desire to make the connection with Laur, no matter the risk. One never knew when the King might uproot the people living in the home, making it difficult to initiate contact again. And Mattias was right. They had needed the information Laur possessed.

“Laur using a house phone to call was risky. He must really be feeling out of sorts. I can tell you what we
won't
do. We won't sit back and allow Aksel to have them all taken out at his convenience. I've called in more security, but they won't be here for another hour and a half at the soonest. That means we might have to take most of the guards here with us.” Mattias glanced across the room and met her eyes. “We'll leave two behind, which isn't as many as I would like.”

“I'll be fine, don't worry, Mattias. I promise I won't leave the house or anything.” Chey had to protect the baby above all things. Running off into the night, into possible danger wasn't high on her list of things to do.

Not anymore.

She realized then that she'd put the baby in jeopardy by going back to get the sample. A dozen
what if
scenarios ran through her mind, all of them more horrible than the last.

“I know you won't, Chey. I worry more about leaving you and the staff here without adequate protection.”

“No one even knows we're here, right? We'll be okay. It's you and Sander and the others that need to take care.” Chey understood the men had to take action. She wished it didn't make her so nervous.

“My staff will keep our confidences. Even so, it doesn't mean Aksel or his security won't figure out what's going on. Especially if they heard Sander in the basement. This holding is the closest to where Laur is staying, which makes it an automatic target.” Mattias ran a hand through his sleek black hair.

“Then arm the staff. They know how to shoot, don't they? At least they'll be able to defend themselves.”

“That is a very good idea, actually. The ones who have experience should be an asset, just in case. And what of you, Chey? Will you want a weapon once more?” Mattias asked, indirectly referencing the gun he'd insisted she have at the cabin.

“I'd rather be armed than not in the event people show up here to do us harm.” Chey
would
shoot an unwelcome intruder if it meant life or death. The brief lessons Mattias had given her before had not been forgotten.

Mattias inclined his head as if he approved, then raised his voice in his own language, speaking to those not in the room with them.

Chey guessed he was passing orders to the guards to arm everyone else. Crossing her arms over her chest, she paced, wishing Sander would walk through the door. If the brothers were even thinking of going to pull Laur and the others out of that house, she wanted to take Sander aside and tell him about the baby. She felt it was imperative that he know.

Out in the foyer, Chey heard the guards gather, then disperse. Just then, Mattias's phone went off. He silenced his orders and answered with a curt greeting.

Chey glanced out the curtained window at the road beyond the surrounding iron fence. No SUV, no headlights closing in on Mattias's manor. Not yet.

“Chey,” Mattias said, ending his call. He was on the move, crossing the room to gather her elbow in his hand. With gentle insistence, he guided her out of the parlor. “That was Sander. He doesn't want to take a chance with Laur and the others. I'm going to rendezvous with him not far from the home and we'll shut the whole operation down. For now, I need you to come with me.”

Chey fell into step with Mattias, climbing the stairs to the second floor. “What do you want me to do?”

“I'll show you. Two guards are staying here and the rest of the staff with training have been armed. It provides an extra layer of protection on the off chance someone has figured out we're onto the situation. Unfortunately, there were no handguns remaining to give you.” He escorted her to her bedroom, walked in without preamble, and guided her to a section of wall where crown molding had been used to create dividing lines and frames.

“If the others are more experienced, then that's where the weapons needed to go. I don't mind,” she said, eyeballing the wall with a skeptical look. She couldn't figure out what they were doing here.

“Only a handful of people know this exists. If,
if
you need a place to hide, then come up here and get yourself into the corridor. You press right here, exactly.” Mattias released her elbow to depress a specific spot over the cream colored molding.

To Chey's shock, a panel moved outward with a whisper of sound. It created a narrow doorway that Mattias stepped into. Chey followed, emerging into a long corridor that ran either direction away from her bedroom. A hidden passageway lit by small lights attached to the walls.

“Where does this lead?” she asked. The corridor was clean and neat, despite its lack of adornment or furniture.

“At both ends, it leads down. Keep going if you feel the passageway has been breached. You will come upon a wine cellar at the last door. There is an underground tunnel behind the south wine rack. Just move it aside, it will roll easier than you think it might. Move it and follow the path. It will lead you to another set of stairs that empty on the other side of the far wall behind this house. From there, lose yourself in the trees.” He met her eyes in the gloom. “
Only
if you must. Yes? If there is no other alternative. This is an extreme precaution that you won't need to use, I'm sure, but it's better to be safe than sorry, as they say.”

Chey memorized the route. She took it all very seriously given her condition, and once again, wondered if she should confide in Mattias. “I'll remember. It's good to know there's a way out.”

“Excellent. I must go.” He led her back into her bedroom and showed her how to ease the panel shut. When he was done, it just looked like any other part of the wall.

“Mattias,” Chey said, glancing from the hidden doorway to his face.

“Yes?” He paused, expectant.

“...be safe. Please tell Sander I said the same.” It was time to forget the argument and the strife between them. Although she meant to tell Mattias about the baby, Chey decided to wait and tell Sander to his face.

He searched her eyes, then inclined his head. “I will.”

Chey watched Mattias retreat, closing the door behind him.

She paced the bedroom, praying her decision not to tell Mattias wouldn't come back to haunt her.

. . .

Sander glanced across the front seat of the Hummer when Mattias climbed in the passenger side. “Did you prepare Chey?”

Mattias closed his door. “I showed her the hidden passageway and explained how to get off the property if she has to. Are we ready?”

Sander spoke above the idling engine. “How many men did you leave behind?”

Mattias pinned an impatient look on Sander. “Two. They're the best of the best, Sander. They won't let anyone get to her without forfeiting their life first. I think she'll be fine.”

A muscle flexed in Sander's jaw. He disliked leaving Chey without more protection than that. “All right. Yes, we're ready. We've got eight plus you and I to make a raid. I think we should bust through the gate and storm the front instead of sneaking overland to come in the back. If they're suspicious at all, they've got more lookouts than before. They might pick us off one by one if we're out in the open.”

“I agree. Laur sounded mildly distressed by what he'd overheard. Surprise is our best option. Go in with the lights off, keep us invisible as long as possible.” Mattias, dressed in camouflage fatigues like Sander, double checked the weapons attached to the holsters on his shoulders and belt.

A guard jogged up to Sander's window. He tapped with a knuckle.

Sander rolled the window down. “What is it? We're about to move out.”

“Your Highness, the King has just made a public statement.”

“What did he say?”

“He confirmed you've gone into exile of your own accord, and that in Latvala's best interest,
Paavo
will ascend the throne.” The guard looked uncomfortable imparting the news.

“Paavo?” Sander spat a curse and glanced at Mattias even as his brother glanced at him.

“He knows,” Mattias said, speaking of the King. “He knows we've discovered Laur and the others and he's taking action.”

“That's what I thought.” Sander cut a look back to the guard. “Our plans haven't changed. Tell the others we're departing.”

“Yes Sir.” The guard jogged back to the short line of Hummers idling behind Sander's vehicle.

“Aksel skipped over you because he knows you're involved,” Sander said, putting the Hummer into gear. Leaving the headlights off, he pulled onto the road, using moonlight to guide him. They were a handful of miles away from the building, too far for anyone to see them under cover of night.

“I believe you're right. But to go public with it...” Mattias exhaled a sound of frustration. “He must know you're not in Barbados any longer, either.”

“My main concern is getting Laur and the others safely away. We'll worry about my exile and Paavo later.” Sander picked up speed, noting the other vehicles were keeping pace at the rear.

“Did you have luck with the generals?” Mattias asked.

“I approached the three I felt most comfortable with. Ones I knew would give their allegiance to me and back me if I attempt to take the throne.” Sander picked up speed, glancing at the GPS to double check the upcoming turns.

“Three is a good start. That is a substantial amount of leverage on your part. What did they say about your exile?” Mattias asked, staring ahead out the window.

“I explained that I was all but forced to leave Latvala and had no plans to remain in exile. They're going to make discreet inquiries down the ranks and see where we stand. I can't wrest the throne away from Aksel without the military behind me.” Even then, Sander knew, it would be a tenuous, precarious task. He had to play his cards just right against the King or he could lose everything.

“I can't believe it's come to this,” Mattias said, removing a gun from its holster as Sander took another turn. He checked the safety and held the weapon along his thigh.

“I can't either, Mattias. I never thought I'd see the day we had to unseat our own father,” Sander said, voice gone grim with the reality of their situation.

“He's made his bed, brother. And made choices that threaten the welfare of our country. I think the people will understand we did what we had to.”

“Let's hope so. All right, we're close,” Sander said.

Mattias reached over to unbuckle his seat belt.

Sander did the same. He wanted to be able to move fast when it mattered.

He slowed for the final turn then picked up speed. Faster, faster, until the speedometer read sixty. Both hands on the wheel, he braced for impact as the entrance came up on their right.