Chapter 24
Felix
The conversation with Rico’s wife, Amelia, was harder than he thought it would be.
She had known a bit about what Rico did but not everything, and the physical weight on his chest hadn’t lessened any when he’d cushioned the truth for her.
He’d told her Rico had been helping them with the investigation and had been caught in the crossfire.
He would see to it that she and her family were well looked after for the rest of their lives—it was the least he could do.
Scrubbing his hands over his face after he’d splashed it with cold water from the taps in the bathroom, he stared at his reflection, tilting his face one way and then the other to view the leftover bruises and scratches.
He’d looked worse from previous events, but these hit him harder because they were more personal.
They’d done this to him because of Brett, and that wasn’t fair.
Brett would see these attacks as his fault, and Felix could honestly say he wasn’t sure what his boss’s reaction to them would be.
His stomach churned; he wasn’t sure he wanted to know what Brett’s reaction would be because it wouldn’t be anything good.
He had a feeling Brett would leave, and where would everyone be if that happened?
He was the best thing to happen to the royal family and to the guards under his leadership.
He wiped away the lingering drips of water and straightened. After one last sigh at his reflection, he dried his hands and returned to Sec HQ. Only Dominic and Sam were around, and he asked the latter where Brett had gone.
Dominic winced. “To see Malcolm.”
His entire being tensed, and he couldn’t move if his life depended on it. “What?” he murmured, not quite believing what Dominic had said.
“He went to confront Malcolm about the men and everything.” Dominic sighed and crossed his arms. “I told him it wasn’t a good idea to go alone, but he wouldn’t listen.”
He tightened his fists at his side, trying not to let the what-ifs burn through his mind, and then shuddered. He closed his eyes for a second, pushing down the dear coursing through him, and exhaled before meeting Dominic’s gaze. “He’ll never listen. I should be used to that by now.”
“Doesn’t make it hurt any less when he doesn’t, though, does it?” Dominic muttered, staring down at some papers on the table.
Felix stepped closer. “What’s this?”
“The same stuff we were looking at earlier. I’m hoping that if I glare at it enough, it will tell me what’s going on.” He gave a wry smile. “What I wouldn’t give for a magic wand right now.”
Brett walked through the door, and Felix glared at him, but he didn’t react.
“Andrew, Kean and Kendal are heading out for the evening. We need all hands on deck. As important as our problems are, the royal family is more so. As usual, take Colt, Nick, Landon, Emmy and Viola. And then you, too, Dominic, that’ll give you two on each of them.
” Dominic didn’t seem put out by Brett’s words, even though Dominic was the one who usually organised the guards for the king.
“Felix, I need comms and everything ready to go in thirty minutes.”
“Where are they going? I didn’t see anything on the calendar,” Felix asked as he headed for the store cupboard behind Brett’s desk. He could still hear him as he grabbed the box of radios and earpieces and returned to the room.
“It had been cancelled because of what’s happening, but a couple of people kicked up a fuss about them missing this charitable event, and so the king changed his mind.
Luckily, we’d already scoped out the venue and have all the schematics on hand.
Plus, we’ve been there before. The main thing we need to consider is the added issue of what is happening to the guards.
Keep your wits about you. Let’s get ready. ”
Dominic disappeared, and Brett headed for his desk, brushing past Felix as he went.
Felix swallowed the lump in his throat, knowing Brett was in work mode and that nothing personal would intervene while he had to keep everyone safe.
While Felix worked to get comms ready for everyone, he watched Brett from the corner of his eye as he typed messages and called everyone he needed to.
“All done,” Felix said several minutes later.
“Good. Can you take them to the king’s suite, as that’s where everyone is waiting? I’ll join you shortly.”
Felix grabbed eight of the fourteen sets and strode from the room, getting his head in the game.
As much as he could’ve done with a bit more rest from the events of the past, however long it had been, he was grateful for some normalcy.
When he reached the suite, he knocked, and Colt opened the door.
Entering, he handed out the comms to each guard before being enfolded in the arms of one Prince Consort.
Kendal tightened their hold for a second before holding him at arm’s length again.
“I’m so glad you’re back,” they said, “and fairly unharmed.” They stared at his bruises. “If you hadn’t already sorted them, I would’ve done it for you.”
Felix grinned at the image of Kendal holding a smoking gun with a ton of villains lying around them. “I’m sure you would’ve done a better job than I did, Your Highness.”
Kendal grinned and faced the others. “I’m sorry we’re being such a pain. I know we said we wouldn’t go to this event, but it means so much to them. And to us,” they added softly.
Brett entered behind them and, obviously having heard Kendal’s words, said, “We had already planned to be there and had done the security checks before you cancelled, so it’s not a problem at all, Your Highness.
” He stopped beside Felix, their shoulders brushing, and a shiver went through Felix’s body, though he tried to hide it.
Felix blinked, inhaled and glanced up, right into Kendal’s eyes.
Kendal’s mouth curved slightly before they looked away, and Felix shook his head minutely, silently cursing his body.
He wanted nothing more than to grab Brett and hide them both away in a locked room so they could continue what they started in the chapel and at Brett’s house.
He didn’t want them to end, but something was telling him that it would.
His instincts had never proven him wrong—even when he had walked into that alleyway, he’d known something bad was going to happen.
“Felix,” Brett murmured, “you won’t be going with us to this event.”
Felix snapped his head to the side, meeting Brett’s gaze. “What? Why?”
Brett raised his eyebrows. “First, you’re injured.
Second…I’ve had a phone call from your mother.
She wants to see you. She was a little…peeved.
” Brett swallowed hard. “She said a few curse words at me because she had found out you were free from the news instead of from you or me—despite your phone call to them.”
Felix sighed and stared at the floor. It was the right thing to do, but he wanted to get back to normal.
He wanted to go with Brett and the others and guard the royal family.
He wanted to forget everything that had happened.
But instead, he had to see his family and probably either lie to them about what happened or tell them the truth and explain to them why he had so many secrets. It didn’t seem fair.
“Okay,” he said, though it was the last thing he wanted to say. “Will I see you later?” he muttered, his voice as low as he could get it.
“Maybe.”
That was all he got. Maybe. “Are the royals going to the club after the event? If so, I’d like to go with them.”
Brett studied him for a second. “I don’t know, but I will let you know if they decide to. Will that work?”
Felix nodded. “As long as you do.” He couched the order with a small smile and turned away. “Have a good evening, Your Majesty, Your Highnesses,” he said.
“Thank you, Felix,” Andrew said. “I hope you’ll be back to full strength soon.”
“I plan to be.”
He nodded and left the suite, heading for Sec HQ so he could grab his stuff and go to his parents’ house.
“Felix, wait!”
He spun around, seeing Brett heading towards him. “What—”
Brett kissed him, his hands cupping his head while tilting to give him better access. Felix’s mind went blank as he opened for Brett’s exploration, but it didn’t last. As fast as he’d taken him, he let go, holding Felix steady until he could stand on his own. Felix stared at him.
“I couldn’t leave without…” Brett swallowed and licked his lips, his hands brushing down the front of his suit.
Felix smiled. “I’m glad. I’d hate for my order to be the last thing we said to each other if something bad happened.”
Brett’s mouth curled. “See you later,” he whispered, dropping another chaste kiss on his lips and turning away.
“Stay safe.”
Brett faced him again but continued walking backwards. “Always do.”
Felix grinned and watched him until he disappeared and then continued on his way.
After he grabbed everything he needed, just in case he didn’t return that day, he shoved it all in the boot of his car.
The journey to his parents’ house gave him time to think, which he’d always thought was a blessing until then.
It meant he had time to decide what route he was going to take with his words, but also to panic that he wasn’t with Brett, protecting him.
His shoulders tightened further as he parked, and his spine straightened.
The front door opened, and his mother stepped outside.
He inhaled and exited the car, moving closer with heavy feet.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see them; he just wanted to forget and carry on as normal.
“Hi, Mum.”
Ruby had tears in her eyes, but she smiled and opened her arms. He fell into them and hugged her tightly, inhaling her scent.
“I’m glad you’re home,” she said.
“Me, too.”