Love Inspired Suspense April 2015 #2 (33 page)

Over and over again she swung the pipe in front of her.

“Thea!” Ronin shouted. “You got him—you can stop.”

She stopped and pulled the hood away from her head. She glanced wide-eyed first at him and then to the man on the ground.

She turned to Ronin and smiled weakly. He watched the fear, the terror and the shock of what had just happened and of what she'd done register across her features. Her hair flew wildly around her face as she looked down at the man.

“It's okay. He's not getting back up anytime soon.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” He would be more sure when he had the cuffs off and was able to use them on their assailant. “Can you get me his gun?” He knew she wasn't going to like going anywhere near the man, but he needed more from her. “And can you search him and find the keys?” He pulled at his cuffs.

A new emotion crossed her face, and for a split second he knew she was thinking of leaving him there and running again. He hoped she wouldn't. She might not want to admit yet how much she needed him, but tonight had shown him something he'd never imagined possible.

He needed her.

The terrified look left her face and she attempted a small smile.

“Bad guys really do need to learn not to talk so much,” she said.

Her words surprised him.

She needed to talk to calm her nerves, he imagined. He willed her to keep moving forward and get the keys. If conversation was what she needed, he was happy to help.

“How so?” he asked.

“They always seem to make the same mistake—all that talking when they should just be getting the job done.” She poked at the man and jumped back, as if she were expecting him to wake up and lunge at her. “They should just kill a person right away and get it over with instead of talking and giving the person a chance to get away.”

“I guess he learned his lesson.”

“Yes, yes, he did.” She studied the man and then quickly rummaged through his pockets. After a few seconds she hopped over the body. “I think I rescued you this time.” With a smile of victory, she dangled the key in front of her.

Her smile warmed his heart. She was truly special and whether she was a princess or not, he needed her. Not just for the truths she held in her mind, but for who she was.

“But I wouldn't have needed rescuing at all if I hadn't had to rescue you.”

“I'm sorry.” Her smile vanished and he wished more than anything he could bring it back. “They told me Leo would be there. I couldn't risk it.”

“I know.” He understood. It still stung that she thought she would be better off without him. But he was sure she had her reasons. In the same circumstances he'd probably have done the same thing.

“Is Leo safe?” she asked. Her voice was filled with concern and a dash of fear.

“Yes.” He was glad he could bring her good news among all the bad that had happened tonight. “My brother Declan is with him. He will be released from the hospital in a few days and taken someplace safe until the threat is eliminated.”

“Thank you.” Her smile was back and it lit her face. “Would you still like to be rescued?” Thea teased, shaking the keys at him again.

“I would very much like to be rescued, Princess,” he teased right back. “Before the cavalry arrives, if you don't mind.”

“Do we have cavalry arriving soon?” she asked. Her smile faded as she moved closer to unlock the cuffs from his bloodied wrists. “You're hurt.”

“So are you.” She would definitely need to be checked by a doctor. He'd seen firsthand the callous way the men had treated her. There was no telling how long she'd been unconscious or how they'd knocked her out. “And yes, we do have backup this time. My brother should be here at any moment with his men.”

As if on cue, three dark cars pulled in behind them in the vacant lot. He recognized his brother immediately as he emerged from the lead vehicle and strode toward them.

“Princess Dorthea, we need to get you away from here quickly.”

His brother was never one to beat around the bush, but he knew Thea would only balk at being ordered without any sort of explanation.

“This is my brother Jarrod,” Ronin explained. Then he asked, “Do you have the safe house ready?”

“Everything is prepared. But we need to go now.” As Jarrod spoke, his men were already moving about, picking up the still-unconscious man off the ground and securing the van. “We don't have long before the police arrive or whoever he was working for comes to finish the job.”

Ronin nodded. It was imperative Thea was secure before anyone else arrived on the scene. He reached out his hand toward her and without hesitation she took it.

“Did you get the other man?” Ronin asked.

“Yes,” his brother replied as they walked to the car.

“What was going on at the house?”

“It appeared to be a gathering of a select few Portasean officials.” Jarrod stopped at the car, holding the door open for Thea.

“Someone else was there.” Thea startled them both with the comment. “I remember them saying something about not killing...” Her voice trailed off. Ronin could only imagine the struggle it was to relive the ordeal she had just been through. “One of them wanted to kill me there and the other said something about they couldn't because
he
was there.”

“He?” Ronin asked.

Thea nodded before climbing inside the vehicle.

“I'll get someone to review the guest list right away,” Jarrod stated as he started to push the door closed behind her.

“I'm with her,” Ronin said, blocking the door before it could close. His tone left no room for questions. “I'm not leaving her side until we are 1,000 percent sure she's safe.”

If Jarrod had a problem with it he didn't say anything as Ronin slid into the backseat next to Thea.

It was hard to believe just hours ago he'd thought he needed to distance himself. He couldn't imagine leaving her alone now. Now was when she needed him most. The danger was very real and imminent. If the killer wanted her dead before she could be presented as Princess Dorthea Jamison of Portase, they would have to do it soon.

“Is there even such a thing as 1,000 percent?” she questioned as the car started moving.

“Probably not,” he said, taking her hand again. “I just want you to feel safe.” Truth be told, 100 percent was complete and as safe as she could be, but when he was with her he felt whole. She was above and beyond what could complete him.

He wished it were possible to be with her after his job was finished, but it wasn't. She was about to get a dose of what her real life would be. That was a world he couldn't be a part of. Not in any capacity other than her bodyguard.

He couldn't imagine the pain it would bring to see her every day and have her be just out of reach. To see her and know what an amazing woman she was but to not be able to be a part of her life would be unbearable.

He'd rescued her and kept her safe. He would continue to do everything he could to protect her. But soon he was going to have to find the strength to say goodbye and let her go rule her land and take her throne.

That was her life, and he couldn't be a part of it.

TWELVE

T
hea twirled in front of the full-length mirror. The intricate beading on her dress glimmered as it caught the sunlight beaming in through the window of the home that had been secured as a safe house. Tonight she would be presented as the long-lost Princess Dorthea Elizabeth Jamison of Portase.

Ronin had stuck by her side like glue the past few days. He'd been with her as she had been brought to the safe house his brother had set up and shown to a lush private suite. There she'd been seen by a physician to make sure she hadn't suffered any ill effects from the chemicals they'd used to knock her unconscious.

Once her health had been cleared, she'd been left alone to rest. Every time she closed her eyes, though, she heard the voices and felt the bag over her head once again. She should have felt safe knowing Ronin was on guard outside her door. But she didn't.

The days passed by in a whirlwind. She was poked and examined and felt as if she was under a microscope. But she never felt completely safe. Ronin and other guards had always been there, serving as a reminder that she was being watched. They only succeeded in reminding her that if they were watching, others, who meant her harm, could be watching, as well.

Private agencies that dealt with genetic and fingerprint testing had been brought in to once and for all confirm her identity. She'd been photographed, fingerprinted and DNA sampled to verify she was, indeed, Princess Dorthea. Ronin had barely spoken to her, but he'd always been there, blending into the background like the other guards they'd placed in her suite and at the doors. He'd made good on his promise to never leave her side, but somehow he'd managed to distance himself at the same time.

She didn't like it. Someone was still out there who wanted her dead and she wanted Ronin by her side the way he had been. She felt safe knowing he was watching, but she wanted to talk to him and be kept in the loop. The not knowing terrified her the most. But they'd given her very little time to worry over it or do anything about it.

After her identity had been verified, she'd been pampered, coddled and treated like the princess she was supposed to be. Not that Ronin hadn't treated her well before, but it was different now.

Her hair, nails and makeup had been done to perfection. She had been provided a private assistant who saw to her every need before she was even aware she had the need. She was stuck between a world of her every dream coming true and some sort of fantasy she'd never imagined.

She barely recognized herself.

The dress was nice, though.

She twirled one more time.

Despite the glamour, she would trade it all in a heartbeat to be back in that small Kansas farmhouse, cuddled in front of a fire, her lap filled with puppies and a man seated beside her who cared for her. That was her dream. Not this.

“The color is perfect for you,” Rita, her new personal stylist, complimented. Thea nodded. She was happy the woman finally didn't bow and curtsy with every word she spoke. She'd found out Rita was the sister of one of the men who worked for Ronin's brother and now they were chatting like old friends. Or what she'd imagined friends would be like. “And it will go perfectly with the emeralds in your tiara, necklace and earrings.”

“It will definitely have me looking the part,” Thea surmised. No matter how much they worked at dressing up her outside, she felt like an imposter. She'd left the life of a princess behind a long time ago. She hadn't known what she was giving up then. But she'd grown accustomed to a life other than royalty. She'd traded tiaras and gowns for baseball caps and denim.

She ran her fingers slowly over the detailed beading of the gown. All of this was not her. Not anymore.

“You look ready to meet the king.”

The other woman's words did nothing to make her feel more comfortable. They only reminded her of the danger she was in.

“When will I meet him?” Thea asked.

“He's sent word that he will be at the dinner party tonight and that he's anxious to see you.”

Thea's thoughts ran rampant. Would he try to kill her during the main course, or wait for dessert? She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly in an attempt to steady her nerves.

“All that is missing is your scent,” Rita announced. “I have several here for you to choose from. We have to find just the right combination that will be uniquely yours.” The woman moved to the dresser, where she had left a silver tray with various bottles, and returned with one in hand. “Just a spritz.” She spoke as she sprayed a fog of perfume over Thea. “What do you think?” A light scent of jasmine and cinnamon filled the air, landing on Thea's skin with a cool blush.

“That's nice,” Thea remarked. She was certain that particular bottle cost more than she'd made in a year at any of the part-time jobs she'd been allowed to have.

“Let's try another,” Rita suggested. “Although we can't try too many more or you won't know which smell is which.” The woman laughed and returned with another bottle. Thea smiled as Rita spritzed her again. This time the smell shocked her senses. In a whoosh it brought back the memories of the night her father had been killed and the dream she'd had. The smell reminded her of something or someone. The memory lingered like the scent of vanilla against her skin.

Ronin would know what to do. She glanced around the room to see if he was watching from his usual post. Another guard was there in his place.

Thea stared at herself in the mirror. She was surrounded by people who were there solely to care for her and see to her every need. But she'd never felt more alone.

There was a light rap on the door.

“Come in,” she called out.

The door opened and Ronin's brother entered. If she hadn't remembered him from the other night, she'd have recognized him immediately. He had the same build as Ronin. He wore his hair shorter, but the color was the same dirty blond. It was his eyes that gave him away, however. They held the same mischievous yet troubled look. She hadn't seen him since the night at the van and she didn't remember him dressed the way he was now. Today he wore a suit and an earpiece. He looked the part of head of security.

“Your Highness,” he greeted her with the bow that still took her by surprise. “I'm not sure if you remember me from our first meeting. My name is Jarrod Parrish. I'll be handling your security until it is officially transferred over to the Royal Guard.”

Of course she remembered him. She doubted any of the Parrish men were easy to forget. It was his words, though, that caught her by surprise.

“I thought it was members of the Royal Guard who were trying to kill me.” It hardly seemed like a good idea to turn over her safety to them anytime soon.

“They were, but now that you have been proven to be a rightful heir to the throne, it would be foolish to attempt to harm you.”

“And you don't think the person who wants me dead capable of being foolish?”

He shot her the look then, the one just like Ronin had when they'd first met. The one that said he wasn't quite sure what to think or say.

“I would imagine anyone who would try to harm you would be quite foolish,” he answered. “Which is why we will not be handing over the responsibility until we have no doubt you are safe.”

“I'm not safe now,” Thea stated. She wouldn't be safe until the person who had been pulling the strings was found. But she hoped he'd take her response as a question. She was curious what answers he had. She was tired of being left out of the loop. When he didn't offer any response, she added, “Am I?”

“You are safe as long as you don't leave your rooms. There are guards posted at every possible entrance.”

Another thing this man had in common with his brother was the ability to say a lot and not really answer a question. Thea grew impatient for honest, complete answers, not the watered-down versions. Of course she was safe as long as she stayed in one spot, where she could be watched over constantly.

She felt like a caged animal. Every once in a while they'd toss her a pretty dress or shoes to keep her pacified. She was tired of being treated like a prisoner. She was supposed to be a princess, after all.

Maybe it was time she started acting like one.

“Ronin told me your father was imprisoned for killing the king,” she said.

“Allegedly” was his only reply.

“Was he tried and found guilty?” Thea hadn't had a chance to do any research herself to see what the official reports said about what had happened. She only knew what Ronin had told her. She wanted to know more. She needed to know why the man who had rescued her had been treated so badly.

“He was.” His face hardened. A muscle at his jaw twitched. The same reaction always showed when Ronin was troubled.

“If it is within my power to make this right, I will.” She wasn't sure what sort of power she held, but surely when Leo arrived he would be able to set things right. Ronin trusted his brother and she did, too. He was a good man. She could see that just as she'd seen it in Ronin. The very fact that he'd risen above the dishonor they'd tried to bring on his father showed that.

“My brothers and I would be honored if you would,” he replied with an appreciative gleam in his eyes.

“Speaking of your brother,” Thea began. It was about time for him to make an appearance. “I want to see him.” Even to her own ears her voice didn't quite carry the authority she was going for. But she was sure her hands on her hips and the steady gaze she leveled at the man did.

The man gave her the same slightly surprised look Ronin would have. A muscle at his rugged jaw tensed, then relaxed. For a moment she thought he might smile. But he didn't. “As you wish, Your Highness.”

She watched him as he backed out the door.

At least she finally had figured out how to get things done around here.

They wanted a princess, and they had one. She was new to being in charge, being royalty, but it was in her blood. Thea straightened her back and prayed for the strength she would need to get through the next few days. The princess they had kept hidden wasn't the same princess they'd gotten back.

She had come to Denver with one purpose in mind. There would be no more hiding out and waiting for the person behind the curtain to expose themselves. She could think of only one thing that would once and for all put an end to the pain that had plagued Ronin's family as well as hers. They would have to draw the person out.

They just needed the right bait.

* * *

“She is some woman.”

Ronin snorted. Even the sound reminded him of her. It was just the sort of thing she'd do when he surprised her or said something that caught her off guard.

“She's demanded to see you.” His brother relayed the message he'd just received from Thea.

“Demanded?”

“Yeah. Pretty much.”

Ronin scribbled his signature across the paper he'd just finished reading. It was his statement. A piece of paper that laid out every detail of what had happened since he'd met Thea. Surprisingly, even though every bit of information was there, the words didn't begin to cover the experience of being with Thea.

She'd been on his mind. He'd been with her throughout her transformation, watching as she'd changed from an ordinary woman into a princess. He'd been on duty outside her door earlier today and caught glimpses of her as the woman they'd brought in to assist her carried dresses and shoes in and out of her room. He missed Thea. Glimpses were not enough.

But he would have to get used to it. Seeing her and not being able to reach out and take her hand was one of the most difficult things he'd ever done. Seeing her just a little bit every day killed him inside.

Not seeing her at all would be easier. But he had promised to stay with her until they were sure she was safe. And she was not safe yet.

No matter how he felt, he was going to have to get used to distance. She was the princess now. Their time together had brought him something he'd never thought he would find, but that moment in time was all it could be. He was not the sort of man a princess wanted, and he would never be settled for. Even if by some strange occurrence she could want him in her life, he could never be the sidekick to a princess.

His faith might have been something he'd neglected through the years, but it was vital to him. His basic core belief was that a man should be the head of his home. How could a man be head of royalty when he was just a normal person?

It wasn't possible.

“You've got it bad, don't you?” Jarrod remarked after intently studying him for a few moments.

“Don't know what you're talking about.”

“Of course you do.” His brother reached across the desk, flicking at a stack of papers. “You do not like paperwork.”

“Someone has to do it.”

“Someone who is hiding out,” his brother remarked. He pulled out a chair across from Ronin's desk and took a seat. “It isn't like you to ask to sit at a desk.”

Ronin had no argument for that. He
was
hiding out.

“I needed a job.” He shrugged the admission off.

“You had a job.”

“And I did it,” he snapped. Ronin glanced up at his brother's face, expecting to see that he was offended by the harsh tone he'd taken. Instead he saw his smug smile. There was no use trying to deny the facts with his brother. He was too perceptive. “Will she ever be safe?”

“Is anyone ever safe?” his brother asked.

“You know what I mean.”

“She is safe as long as she doesn't leave the room. But someday she's going to have to leave the room.”

Thea likely hated being trapped in that room. She was probably already pacing the floors and getting that closed-in feeling. She was restless. That was probably why she'd demanded to see him.

“Someday like tonight?” Ronin questioned. They were planning to transfer her to the royal estate just outside Denver and officially present her as Princess Dorthea. High-ranking officials were to be there along with the current king for a formal dinner party in honor of the princess.