Chapter 12
NATASHA
Ihit the sand hard, the weight of Kyle’s body pressing on top of me as he shielded me from the unknown attacker. It wasn’t the first time I’d been shot at, so I easily recognized the sound of a bullet whizzing past me.
What shocked me was that my brother had found me this quickly. No wonder Nadia wanted me to move back to Belvaria. At least there, it would be easier to keep an eye on me. But also easier for my brother to try another attempt on my life.
If only we could prove he was the mastermind behind what was happening.
Frustration surged in me as we laid in the sand. Not only had I been driven from my home and into hiding, but I had been attempting to be honest with Kyle only for it to have been cut short by a bullet.
No others had followed behind it. I suspiciously eyed the rocks on the horizon, searching for the culprit. Did he or she still lurk there waiting for another opportunity.
Fear made me cling to Kyle, desperate to keep him close to me. I did not want to watch the first man I’d ever begun to fall for shot in front of me like I had my father.
He breathed hard, his eyes searching behind us, too. No one moved, and there was no sign of any trouble. But that didn’t mean anything.
Kyle flicked his gaze back to me, concern etched into his features. He gently stroked my hair. “Are you okay?”
I bobbed my head, my fingers still clawing at his shirt.
He puffed out a breath, his fingers still softly caressing my sand-filled hair. “Nattie, that was a bullet.”
“I know,” I answered, still managing to keep my American accent up.
I didn’t know why. I was about to tell him the truth, but something made me keep speaking in the way I had when he met me. I was avoiding the task, feeling so safe and comfortable in his arms despite the apparent danger.
I didn’t want this to be ripped away. I didn’t want to see the expression on his sweet face when I told him I wasn’t anyone close to the woman I had pretended to be, to the woman he’d been so interested in.
And it only made it worse that he didn’t push or ask me for details about it. He merely reacted to keep me safe and continued to protect me.
I swallowed hard, knowing I had to be honest.
His weight lifted as he tried to stand. “Stay down. I’m going to check–“
“NO!” I shouted, grabbing hold of him and pulling him closer to me.
His eyes widened a little. “Nattie, I have to check–“
I didn’t let him finish that statement. I yanked him closer and pressed my lips against his. I wanted to stay wrapped in this moment forever. And I wanted to remember him like this.
Soon, my sister would insist that I return home to Belvaria, and then everything would come to a screeching halt. I needed one last memory.
His body stiffened for a moment before he relaxed into my arms, his lips as eager as mine.
A rush of air swept past me, and before we could part, his body suddenly went slack. My eyes snapped open, shock coursing through me.
I squinted up into the bright sunshine at the figure looming over me. My nostrils flared as someone hauled Kyle’s body away from me.
“Nadia!” I shouted, my British returning, scrambling to my feet to stare at Kyle’s limp form. “Why did you do that?”
“Because, moya sestra, it’s time for you to come home.”
I bent closer, pressing my fingers to his neck. His pulse thrummed against them, strong and steady. I hoped that meant he sustained no serious damage.
I crossed my arms, my irritation refusing to dissipate. “That could have been facilitated in any number of ways that did not involve knocking out my paramour.”
“Paramour,” my sister said with a scoff, “you’re joking. You’ve just met him.”
“Love at first sight.”
“More like desire at first sight. He’s off-limits, and you know it. That’s the only thing that’s driving you to be drawn to him.”
“That’s not true,” I insisted. “Kyle and I have a connection.”
My sister rolled her eyes as she holstered her weapon. Across the beach, her man dropped Kyle’s body far enough from the water that he wouldn’t be carried away when the tide came in.
“Come on, Natashka. It’s time to come home.”
“You’re the one who insisted I leave,” I retorted.
“For your own safety. That clearly has been compromised.”
I pressed my lips into a frown. My heart skipped a beat as I spotted another of Nadia’s crew dragging a body from behind a rock. I snapped my gaze to her. “One of Nikolai’s people?”
“It did not take him long,” Nadia answered. “It’s time to go home.”
I crossed my arms as she reached for me, my gaze landing on Kyle. “We should take him.”
“No,” she answered.
“Nadia, he can be useful.”
“We have yet to determine that. Besides, I’m not certain once he finds out who you really are he will be as willing to be your pawn.”
“He’s not a pawn. Papa would support me in this.”
“Papa isn’t here. I am. If I determine he can be useful, I will fetch him myself.” Nadia waved to Stefan.
I fluttered my eyelashes, unimpressed by her offer. Nadia “fetching” someone usually consisted of her knocking them out in some manner, then kidnapping them. They would awaken in a dark room, cold and alone, and there they would be given a simple choice: do her bidding or cease to exist.
“No,” I answered with a firm shake of my head. “We can–“
Before I could finish, Stefan’s firm hands grabbed hold of me from behind, lifting my slight form easily.
“Take her straight to the car. I will be along in a minute.”
“Stop!” I shouted, kicking my feet. “Put me down!”
My protestations did little good. Stefan was blind and deaf to them. His beefy muscles were big enough to easily wrangle me into the car even if I pitched a full-on fit. And he was more than used to being cursed at in all languages.
There was nothing I could do. I gave up the fight as we reached the edge of the beach, my eyes flicking back to Kyle’s unconscious form. I frowned. I’d lost the first man I’d ever been even remotely interested in. And there was nothing I could do about it.
I resigned myself to never seeing him again as we reached the caravan of SUVs that sat behind my sister’s motorcycle. Stefan plopped me into the backseat and slammed the door before I could utter a curse in my native Belvarian.
The entourage climbed inside, sandwiching me in the middle of the bench seat and fired the engine. Through the darkly tinted windows, my sister approached, motioning for the car to prepare to leave.
She swung her leg over the sleek cycle and fired the engine, zipping ahead of us as we made our way to the private airstrip.
My stomach churned, and my mind spun. I still had my phone, I realized. And it had Kyle’s number. Maybe I could send him a message once we settled into the flight.
I didn’t dare do it now with the eyes of Nadia’s men on me. Nothing would get my phone smashed faster than making it obvious that I was sending an unauthorized text message.
Instead, I’d need to wait for a private moment on the flight. Maybe it would be easier to tell him the truth over text. I wouldn’t have to see the disappointment on his face when he realized I wasn’t who I said I was.
I’d probably just get ghosted.
The car pulled into the airstrip, navigating to a hangar in the back. My sister parked the motorcycle, tossing the keys to one of the men who would stay behind to clean up the mess.
The ones guarding me opened their doors, and I slid into the bright Hamptons sunshine before they led me to the private plane. My sister spoke with the pilot in Belvarian, telling him she wanted to be underway in minutes.
Dutifully, I climbed the stairs and plopped onto the leather couch. A flight attendant scurried to offer me a beverage. “Nyet,” I answered with a dismissive wave of my hand.
She slinked back, awaiting her other passengers who may have a better disposition.
Nadia strode into the cabin a minute later, crossing to me as she swiped her usual tumbler of vodka from the woman.
“It’s a little early,” I said.
“It’s five o’clock somewhere.” She held her hand out expectantly as she took a sip.
“What?” I asked with a shrug.
Her features twisted with amusement. “As if you don’t know.”
She leaned forward, her face inches from mine, the scent of the vodka still lingering on her lips as she fished in my pocket and removed my phone. “Can’t have you texting him like a lovesick schoolgirl, now can we?”
She slid the phone into her pocket and dropped into one of the leather chairs.
My jaw clenched, my nostrils flaring. My chance to text Kyle was gone. My heart twisted. Would I ever see Kyle again? Could I even dare to hope that he’d still care for me. There were so many things I needed to explain to him, so much I wanted to say. And my sister had taken my chance away.
I loved Nadia, and for the most part, I trusted her, but she had a terrible habit of treating me like a child. While I may not have been as savvy as she when it came to dealings of questionable legality, I knew enough. And I knew my own heart.
Settling back into the couch, I pulled my legs up under me as the engines whirred to life and the cabin door closed. I stared at it, feeling as though it cut off any chance I had at happiness.
So many things had already gone wrong in my life, and now the one shred of silver lining I’d found had been left unconscious on the beach.
As the plane lurched forward, I swallowed hard. I’d wanted nothing more than to return home when I’d first come here, and now I wanted nothing to do with it.
My heart sped up a little as I considered the dangers that awaited me. I dug my fingernails into my palm, my lips tugging into a frown. I wasn’t ready to face what I would be forced to face.
And there was no end in sight.
As the plane rumbled down the runway, I clenched my fists. This wasn’t the end. Not for me. Not for Kyle. And definitely not for Belvaria.