Love Inspired Suspense April 2015 #2 (36 page)

“I don't. I would never,” she gasped. “She is a lovely girl. I don't mean her any harm at all.” The words came out as strangled sounds in between heavy sobs.

“If you do not want harm to come to the princess, you will help us. We're trying to save her.” Ronin stepped back from the table to keep from once again slamming his fists down on it. He didn't want to scare the woman any more than he already had.

“But you admitted to leaving the note on her bed.” He pushed on.

“Yes,” she sobbed. “I left the note.”

“Why?” Ronin was quickly losing the little patience he had. This woman obviously wasn't the mastermind behind the attempts on Thea's life, but she had to have had contact with the person who was. She had gotten the note from someone along with the orders of what to do with it. She was their best chance at finally following the trail all the way to the person at the top.

“Why did you leave the note?” he repeated.

“I was told to leave the note. That's all I know.”

“By who?” Ronin leaned closer. She was close to giving the name, he could feel it.

“If I tell you, they'll kill my son.” She barely managed to get the words out before breaking out into another round of tears.

Ronin stepped back, glancing over at his brother.

“This is all we have,” Jarrod said softly as he handed over a file. “She has one son. He's a cadet, first year in the Royal Academy.”

They were losing time. Ronin's mind raced with how he could sway the woman to share what she knew with them. He moved back over to the table.

“Do you know who we are?” Ronin asked, motioning toward his brother and himself.

“Yes,” she sobbed. “Your father was a good man.”

“Do you believe we can give your son protection?” Jarrod asked.

The woman glanced at Jarrod, then back at Ronin. A glimmer of hope shimmered in her teary eyes. She nodded.

“Your son will be under our protection the second you tell us the truth about what is going on.” Jarrod moved close to the table, as well. “He will be safe.”

“Tell us who had you leave the note,” Ronin pressed again.

Despite the hope on her face, she hesitated.

“Whoever you are protecting has threatened your family. Is that really the sort of person you want to have on your side?” Ronin reached in and grabbed her hands gently. Drawing them close, he looked directly into her eyes. He hoped she'd read the sincerity there and do what was best not only for her family, but also for Thea and the country she represented.

Silence filled the room. Ronin's heart raced. He let go of her hands and backed away. Short of torture, he had done all he could do to get the name from her. She had to see that it was for the best. Once he knew the name, he'd be able to finally put an end to this nightmare Thea had lived through. She'd be able to reclaim her legacy and live her life and maybe he'd find a way to go on without her.

Ronin fisted his hands at his side to keep from reaching out and grabbing the woman. He knew she was thinking. In her mind there was a lot to weigh. But he needed the answer. The woman sat up in her chair and folded her hands on the table. Time ticked away slowly, but her eyes showed she had made her decision. He knew it would only be a matter of seconds before she finally said the words.

“Lucia Delmont.”

He heard the gasp from Jarrod simultaneous to his own.

“Are you sure?” His mind raced faster than he could form the words, faster than he knew he'd be able to act.

“She is an evil woman.” The woman nodded. “When she couldn't have King Donovan, she made another king she
could
have.”

Her words made little sense, but he didn't have time to listen to more of her story. All the pieces from the past few days fell into place.

“I need to know where Lucia is,” he said to his brother and the other guard who were already following them from the room. “Now,” he added on his way down the narrow hallway. Jarrod was close on his heels. Ronin had left Thea with a young guard. He'd been a fool to let her out of his sight. He'd promised he'd protect her, and just when she needed him most he'd abandoned her.

Turning the corner he ran straight into the young man he'd left to watch Thea.

“Sir,” the young man addressed him. “It's the princess. There's something wrong. She's having an allergic reaction and needs her adrenaline auto-injector.”

“And you left her?” Ronin shouted.

“Lucia Delmont is with her.”

It took every ounce of control he had to not give in to the anger and tell the kid what a stupid mistake he had made for leaving her...but he'd left her, too.

Fear clutched at his heart. He'd been afraid for her life before, but this time was different. For the first time he could see what his life would be like without her in it. He didn't like what he saw. That fear must have shown on his face.

“I'll get it.” His brother knew, just as he knew. The princess was in grave danger. “Go! Find Thea.”

Ronin rushed into the main room, where he'd left her. He moved quickly through the crowd, searching for a glimpse of her. He couldn't lose her now, not when he'd just realized what life without her would be like.

She might hate him for the things he'd said and the way he'd acted. But if he had to be her personal servant for the rest of his life, he would take whatever seconds of her time she could spare him. He'd treasure each moment and every glance. He had been a fool for thinking he would be in her shadow.

Thea was not the sort of woman who would settle for that. She loved completely and would make her man the king of her heart no matter what his social status might be. She'd tried to share that with him, and he'd closed his heart to it.

He raced through the guests, checking every room for signs of Thea or Lucia. He couldn't be too late. He pushed the thoughts away. He wouldn't be too late. He would find her, and when he did he would tell her all the things he should have shared before. He would tell her he loved her.

FIFTEEN

H
e would come for her.

Thea reminded herself over and over. With each tremor of pain that shot through her body, she continued her mantra. He would rescue her. She couldn't give up hope. The night air was a relief against her burning skin but only temporarily. It was just a matter of time. She knew that. She had obviously eaten something. Or Lucia had slipped her something. Either way, she needed her auto-injector. If she didn't get it soon, she would slip more and more into a state of anaphylactic shock.

There was little doubt in her mind. If that didn't kill her, the woman would.

The cool air felt good on her skin. But the burning continued. The world spun. Her mouth dried. “If you are looking for your prince, he is not coming.”

“He...” Thea tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come. Her tongue was too swollen. She knew she needed to save her breath, to try not to let the panic overtake her.

Ronin would come for her. She didn't need or want a prince, charming or otherwise. She needed him. Since that first day, he had awoken a part of her she had never known existed.

He was that piece of her that she hadn't known was missing until she was without him and felt what being alone was truly like.

“Poor princess. It really is a shame that your homecoming will be so short-lived. But if it makes you feel any better, you will soon be reunited with your dear father.” The woman moved closer and Thea took a wobbly step back.

It was then Thea became semi-aware of her surroundings. She had known they had moved farther away from the house—but not this far. In her confusion she'd let the woman maneuver her down the path that led to the dock and boathouse.

She stood out on a dock. Thin rails bordered the sides.

“At first I had thought to bring you out here and drown you. I've heard it's quite a peaceful way to go.” She laughed, a vile sound that bore no empathy or compassion. “Supposedly it only hurts if you try to hold your breath.” The woman glared at her. Hatred filled her eyes. “But now that I can see my peanut oil had such a lovely effect on you, I think I'll be just as happy to watch you slowly suffocate and die. It's surprising what only a few drops can do. I'm surprised you didn't taste it.”

Thea choked on the breath she tried to suck in.

“Or maybe you did,” Lucia continued. “Maybe you were just too busy trying to pretend you didn't recognize me. But you did, didn't you?”

Thea nodded.

“At least you are smart enough to realize there is no need for lies now.” The woman's voice was a shrill sound to Thea's ears. Just like the voice in her dream.

“Why?” Thea was barely able to squeeze the word out of her tightened throat. She had to know. Why would anyone hate her so much that they'd want to watch her suffer?

The woman moved toward her and Thea stumbled back, grabbing at the rails of the dock. Her world spun in a dizzying swirl of flashes.

“I would have thought in all this time away, you would have remembered more about what happened the night your father died. That is the main reason I wanted you dead, after all. Once I found out you were still alive, I couldn't have a loose end about.”

“But my father...” Thea had no strength to finish the sentence.

“The poor man. He should have married me.”

The woman moved toward her again, but Thea was too weak to move away. Lucia's cold fingers brushed against her cheek. Thea turned her head from the touch.

“You are such a pretty girl. If you weren't so much older than my dear son, you would have made a lovely bride for him. It was my plan all along, you see. I would have had control of the throne one way or another. He needs a younger bride, though, and a woman who has been raised to know her place. That could never have been you, could it, Princess?”

Thea grabbed at the dock railing, struggling to pull herself up to face the woman but collapsed instead at her feet.

“You always were quite the fighter. Your father would have been so proud. But Adriana, she will make the perfect bride. When the news of her making it out of the fire is discovered, then all will be well.”

“Adriana?” Thea whispered, a low croaking sound.

Darkness threatened. It kept tugging her in, pulling at her. Thea fought against it and fought to make sense of the words the woman spoke, but she was sure she couldn't be hearing her right.

“Yes, Adriana. I saved her from the fire myself. She was such a tiny little thing. Even I have a heart, you see. I might not have to marry the sad little man at all. Not when I have a son who could be king. That is all I've ever wanted, you know. Power is everything. It would have been better for me to be queen. I would have made a good queen. But I can settle for control. When it became obvious I couldn't win your father's affections, I killed him. I thought I'd killed you and your silly brother, as well. After that it was easy to make my own king. I should have known better.”

Thea's throat tightened.

In the distance she could hear the sounds of the guests still mingling. It struck her as odd that the laughter of strangers might be the last sound she heard. Then she heard it. Someone called her name.

Ronin! She wanted to shout his name. She screamed it in her mind, but she didn't have the strength left to make a sound.

“You really are hard to kill, aren't you? I can almost understand now why the men I sent to kill you failed so miserably. But if you want a job done right...” The woman paused and pushed at her, shoving her closer to the edge of the dock. “You need to do it yourself. Even the man I brought with me to kill your father couldn't do it. In the end I had to do that myself, too.”

Thea struggled to fight back. But she had no strength left in her. The little air she could breathe wheezed through her tightened throat. The voices grew closer. If she could just hang on.

“You really need to just give up and die.” The woman pushed at her harder, shoving her against the edge of the dock.

Thea forced her eyes open. The woman kicked at her again, pushing against her. Thea's body toppled, falling over the edge into the freezing water below.

The water closed over her. Darkness pulled her in as she sank. She tried to swim, to fight against the weight, to suck in air, but her throat was swollen and tight. Her lungs burned.

She had to fight. She couldn't die now. She reached out, grabbing at anything. She had to hold on.

* * *

“Hold on, Thea!” Ronin shouted as he grabbed her hands tightly. He pulled hard, yanking her up over the dock edge while Lucia stood and watched, her lips turning ever so slowly into an aloof smile.

He paid the woman no attention. Jarrod wouldn't be far behind him and he'd see to her; right now he needed to get Thea out of the water.

He held Thea by the wrist, pulling her limp body up over the edge of the dock.

“You stupid, stupid man,” Lucia crooned from behind him. “You have no clue what you are doing. You are ruining it all.” She lunged and too late Ronin noticed the flash of steel in her hand and her intent.

Her hand rose in the air and came down quickly. Ronin moved to protect Thea, his body shielding her. The blade sliced through his coat, cutting into his shoulder.

He reacted with a wide swing of his arm, pain slicing through his body as his forearm connected with the woman, sending her sprawling. The knife fell from her hand and over the edge of the dock into the dark water.

“She needs her injection!” he yelled, hoping someone would be close enough to hear him. Where was Jarrod? He removed his coat and wrapped it around Thea. Bending over close he listened to see if she was breathing. Her lips were purple and swollen.

“Just let her die!” the woman screamed as she lunged again.

This time Ronin was ready. He pulled his gun and aimed it directly at her face.

“Not another word!” Ronin pulled Thea close and glared up at the woman. Lucia took a step away. “Don't you dare move. Not an inch. If you move again I will shoot you.” It wasn't an empty threat. She had tried to kill Thea. Part of him hoped she would push him and see what happened.

He'd arrived at the dock just in time to see Lucia kick Thea over the edge. In that moment he could have killed her. Surprisingly, she hadn't been his first thought. Thea had been.

He kept his gun aimed at Lucia, but even now he was more worried for Thea than what might happen to the other woman. For all he cared she could run. They knew who she was now. They knew her plan and just how evil she could be. There was no place she could hide that she wouldn't be found.

For now, Thea was his concern. He held her close to his body for warmth. Her breathing was shallow, but she was alive.

His heart raced through the possible outcomes. She was in shock. She could die. Time ticked by slowly; it felt like hours, but within minutes Jarrod was there. Ronin reached out for the auto-injector that would give her the boost of adrenaline she needed. Quickly he gave her the shot in her upper thigh.

“I've already called for an ambulance, but it could be a while.”

“I'm going to take her to the house and see if we can get her warm.” Ronin scooped her up in his arms. “Do you have her?” he asked, nodding toward the woman who had caused them so much pain.

“Yes.” Jarrod grabbed Lucia's arm, pulling it behind her back and cuffing her.

His shoulder burned and he could feel the warmth of blood seeping through his clothing. None of it mattered.

Thea was safe. He pulled her limp body close. She couldn't die now, not when he'd finally realized how much he truly cared for her.

Ronin made his way back up to the house. Thea needed to be warmed as quickly as possible and monitored. If her breathing didn't return to normal soon, she might need another injection.

The guests still mingling in the main room spread out, leaving him room to carry her through to a lounge chair in front of the fire.

Where was the ambulance? Ronin held her limp hands in his. He felt helpless. There was nothing he could do now but wait. He watched her intently, searching for any signs that she would be okay. Her skin was so pale.

“What can I do?” Jarrod asked from behind him.

“Where is Lucia?” Ronin choked the words out.

“She is secure and the police are on their way.”

“Good.” Ronin nodded and began rubbing Thea's hands between his own. “Bring me blankets.” He pulled the chair over closer to the fire. She needed the heat. “And double-check on that ambulance.” Helplessness was not a feeling he was used to, but he'd felt it so many times the past few days. Every time they'd had a moment when they weren't sure what to do, Thea had prayed. Her faith had been so strong, it had almost seemed strong enough for the both of them. But now she was weak. She needed him now, more than she'd ever needed him before. She needed him to be strong. It was in that instant that Ronin knew. The only thing he could do for her was pray.

She needed him to have the same strong faith that she'd shown through their whole journey. She needed a man who was not only strong physically and emotionally, but who also could have that same strong faith she had. That would be the sort of man who would see her through the rest of her life, the ups and downs that they would have no control over. The sort of man who knew when they were at the end of what they could do and needed to let go and see what God could do.

He knelt by her side, took her hand and closed his eyes. He could be that man. He let go, trusted and prayed. “Please, God. Don't take her away from me now. I need her.” He paused, searching his heart for the words. “I love her.”

He felt her hand move and opened his eyes. Her eyes fluttered open.

“Ronin,” she whispered.

“Shh...don't talk.” Ronin's fingers tightened around hers. He knew talking would be painful and she needed to give her body a chance to warm and for the swelling to go down. But she would be okay. “You're safe. You're going to be okay.” He gave voice to the thoughts racing through his mind.

She would be okay. God had heard him. He knew that.

She swallowed hard, a grimace crossing her features. She was still in pain, but her breathing was returning to normal and a pink flush slowly seeped back into her skin.

Every bit of fear he'd had was chased away by a moment of complete peace. He looked into her eyes and saw all the love that had been there earlier when he'd turned her away. He'd hurt her.

He would never hurt her again.

Her hand tightened around his. She didn't have to say a word; it was in her eyes. They were filled with love. A love he didn't deserve but was so happy to have.

“I almost lost you,” he said, swiping a lock of wet hair from her face.

She shook her head. “Not that easy,” she whispered.

Ronin smiled, the love in his heart spreading. He knew he was grinning like a lovesick fool, but he didn't care. She really was going to be okay if she had her wits about her enough to tease him.

“The ambulance just passed the gate.” His brother laid his hand on his shoulder. It was then Ronin remembered the room full of people surrounding them.

“No hospital,” she croaked out.

“Yes, hospital,” Ronin corrected. “You need to be checked out to be sure everything is okay.”

“I'm fine,” she argued while struggling in her wet gown to sit upright.

“This is the way it's going to be, Princess,” Ronin said, leaning over close so his words wouldn't be heard by everyone. “I'm not taking no for an answer.”

He knew she'd have more to say about that if she could talk without pain, but he was spared anything she might have said by the EMTs wheeling a gurney through.

He stepped back and let them check her over.

Relief flooded his mind, heart and soul.
Thank You, God
, he muttered under his breath. He would be forever thankful.

“Sir.” One of the technicians addressed him. “Looks like we need to check you out, as well.”