Chapter 51
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
A leaning, forgotten bungalow sits at the end of the lane. Its once bright blue paint now peeling and faded to chalky shades of gray. On the porch, Mikail’s leaning against the one remaining porch post. A shotgun is tucked under his arm.
When I turn off the engine and step out, he tips his chin.
I glance at the gun.
He says, “Figured it was you that I could hear driving in, but wasn’t sure.”
When Kate’s door opens, Mikail’s eyes go to her. They stay far too long and are filled with a mix of relief and possessiveness.
“Kate.” He says one word. It holds a million unsaid things if I’m right.
She rushes up and hugs him and I look away as I try to bring up the echo of her promise to me. Playing back her words over and over in my head is the only thing that keeps me from charging the man. Mikail hugs her back, watching me over her shoulder. “I see Wolf has been taking good care of you.”
When she steps back, she glances at me. There’s a softness to her gaze that makes my heart trip over and I feel like a fool for not trusting her. “He has been taking very good care of me. Enough about me, though. I’m so glad you are okay. I thought someone had grabbed you from the hospital.”
He shakes his head. “I had shit to do besides sit around in the hospital.”
I ask, “How did you find the men?”
“I thought I recognized the driver of the van. I had my guy look into it. Turns out, I was right. He grew up on Isla Rosa, but has been in the States doing construction work. When I tracked him down, he was heading to the airport to come here. I followed.”
Mikail stoops down and picks up Kate’s bag. “It’s all in there. Including the pendant.”
She takes the bag and clutches it to her chest. “I can’t go into it, but this pendant is very precious.”
The man shifts, shoves his hands in his pockets. “It’s Isla Rosa’s dark secret, isn’t it?”
Kate glances at me. “I think so. I think it’s the reason for my father’s attempt to sell off the topsoil.”
“How did you know?”
“I talked to the antique dealer. He was twitchy and evasive. Wanted nothing to do with the pendant.”
“So, more people know about this than I expected.”
“The elders, I think. But they might have known the risk.”
Kate’s eyes fall to the ground. “But my father’s about to ruin everything.”
Mikail shakes his head. “This isn’t all your father’s doing.”
I ask, “Wilton?”
Mikail’s frown deepens as he nods. “That’s who all arrows point to. I think we should pay him a visit. What do you say?”
I open the door to the SUV. “What are you two waiting for?”
* * *
“This fence is pathetic.”
Mikail chuckles. “I’m pretty sure it’s just to keep the deer out of the Palace garden.”
“Pathetic security,” I grumble.
“Isla Rosa’s never really had a problem with crime.”
I grit out through my teeth, “But the rest of the world does, and that means that bad people might do bad shit.”
With ease, Mikail lands on the ground on the other side of the thin chain link barrier. “You don’t have to tell me. But getting the King to think differently might be hard. He’s not exactly up on King shit.”
As I land on the ground, I say, “Who the hell is he if he’s not up on King shit?”
“He was the cousin of the last King, the guy who died. He was the next male relative… thus…” He chuckles. “Kate’s dad would rather be golfing than making decisions about the Kingdom.”
“Why doesn’t he quit?”
That makes Mikail laugh. “You can’t just quit being King.”
“Well, you can change shit. Nothing has to stay the same.”
As Mikail ducks through the brambles, he says, “You know you’re going to be the next King, don’t you?”
I catch my toe on a root. “Not bloody likely.”
“Kate hasn’t told you?”
“She did. Still not happening.”
His face goes dark. “I’d have done it. Just to make something better happen for this place. But Kate didn’t marry me. And the truth is, I knew when I got a letter from the King about being her supposed Fiancé in the future it was bullshit. His name was even stamped.”
“More of Wilton’s antics?”
The man nods grimly. “I’d put money on it.”
Stealthily, Mikal leads me across the grounds toward the separate building where Wilton’s office is. “Penelope made sure he’s there?”
“Yep. Scheduled some kind of meeting for him.”
I chuckle. “A meeting, alright. His face with my fist.”
“You’ll have to beat me to it.”
We step over a big fallen tree. “Coin toss?”
He makes a face. “You got a coin? I never carry that shit. I guess we could flip debit cards.”
“That’s about all my credit cards are good for. Apparently, Milton drained my account at the same time he did Kate’s.”
“What the fuck?”
“Tell me about it. That’s one of the reasons I’m here. He’s gone too far. Maybe I’ll make him eat my card, now that I think of it.”
We share a laugh as Mikail walks along carefully in front of me.
When he reaches a row of blooming shrubs, a dozen meters from the small building, he drops onto his haunches.
He glances at his watch. “We’ve got two minutes before Penelope’s going to make a distraction in case any other guards are around.
Which is just enough time for me to say something that needs to be said.
I just want to tell you that I respect whatever it is that you and Kate have.
But if you fuck her head or her heart up, I’ll come for you.
And this time, you won’t get the jump on me. ”
He extends a fist. I bump mine into his. “Understood. But just so you know… I’m hard to sneak up on.”
He grins. “Don’t be so sure of yourself, old man.”
My mouth drops open. “Old man?”
“You’re older than me.”
“By like five years.”
“Ten, I’m guessing.
“I’m a fuck of a lot wiser.”
He ignores that one and glances at his watch just before he hops over the shrubs. With a satisfied chuckle, he says, “What’s wrong, geezer? Can’t get your ass off the ground?”
I shake my head. I hate to admit it, but I like the fucker.