Chapter Twelve
Valenti wasn’t sure who he was more furious with, Lotte for tossing out hypotheticals he’d rightly said he would see happen over his dead body—because, sí, he would be damned if he stood by and watched another man place a ring on her finger, even if it was an imaginary, convenient one to get herself away from Valenti—or himself, for the terror holding him hostage, clogging words he’d wanted to roar at her deep in his throat.
Admitted, they were terrifying words. Exposing words. Words that would flay decades of calcification off his heart and soul and leave him vulnerable. To great and moving feelings.
Haven’t you been vulnerable all this time?
He swallowed against the bracing voice, the image of her face, free of subterfuge or guile, filled with hurt he’d caused, making his next breath rumble out like a faulty engine.
What the hell was he doing?
She was his ward, yes. But she was also a strong, capable woman—as he’d been privileged to witness these past few weeks.
Besides, he’d stepped over the line weeks ago.
And as he’d consoled himself with predicting, the world didn’t stop.
Hell, if anything, it—and she—had revealed a glory of possibilities. If he was brave enough to reach for it.
True, the picture she’d shown him on the terrace had shaken him to his core. But he’d also seen the hope in her eyes. Seen her pain when he’d dismissed her feelings as infatuation.
And if he was still inclined to hide behind the potential scandal of admitting he felt something for his ward, theirs wouldn’t be an original story.
Hell, his family had scandals coming out of their ears, and he should know.
In his line of work, he’d become privy to more shenanigans than anyone deserved foisted on them in one lifetime.
So stop making excuses and act!
‘This is where I kissed my wife for the first time. Do me a favour and don’t ruin the memory for me with any sombre, stoic bullshit, today of all days, would you?’ Teo said with a firm slap to his shoulder.
‘What are you talking about?’ he hedged, even as he turned around, his gaze scouring the ballroom for Lotte.
‘You weren’t exactly subtle in your little skirmish with your ward. On the contrary, it looked quite dramatic.’
‘Have you seen her?’ he asked sharply when another sweep didn’t reveal her.
‘She left the ballroom about ten minutes ago. And for God’s sake, answer that buzzing. I would’ve thought you of all people would be more diligent about that sort of—what?’ he demanded sharply.
Valenti wasn’t paying attention. Because the chill sweeping through him at the number of alerts he’d missed on his phone was the last thing he wanted to be feeling right now. In his experience it didn’t portent anything good. Coupled that with Lotte’s disappearing act—
His heart staggered sickeningly as the phone buzzed to life in his hands. ‘Soto. What is it?’
The first few words from his butler propelled him into movement.
‘For God’s sake, what is it?’ Teo demanded, all traces of humour wiped from his face.
‘It’s Lotte,’ he bit out.
‘What about her?’ the sharper query came from Azar, who’d stepped onto the terrace, that same sixth sense that bound them all unsurprisingly summoning him. In some abstract part of his brain Valenti admonished himself starkly to stop this scene from unfolding a third time.
‘She’s taken my Temerario,’ he threw over his shoulder as he raced down the terrace steps.
Teo cursed under his breath as he followed. ‘And?’
Valenti didn’t answer. He couldn’t. The knot of fear in his gut was expanding, spreading ice through his veins.
‘Hermano, wait!’ Teo grabbed his arm. ‘Talk to me.’
Valenti paused even as his heart thundered wildly.
‘She had a suitcase with her.’ Repercussions raked over his skin like lethal blades.
Dios, had he ever imagined he knew torment?
Because it was nothing compared to this reality.
‘I think she’s leaving me. And… I’m not ready to let her go.
Because I think she’s it for me. Is that enough? ’ he almost snarled at his twin.
Teo’s frown eased right before it strengthened. ‘That’s not all,’ he said.
Valenti’s fingers tightened around his phone, and he forced air into his lungs. Still the ice expanded. ‘The car’s GPS has stopped off the highway. In the middle of some random street.’
Azar’s frown didn’t ease his anxiety. ‘Could she be stopping for something? Gas, maybe?’
Valenti scoffed at the absurd question. Even if he wasn’t royalty, he would have enough minions to ensure he or anyone else who drove his car didn’t stop to pump their own gas.
‘I don’t have time to answer your questions,’ he spat, just as Sabeen appeared at the top of the steps.
The prospect of further delays made a growl rise from his throat. ‘Your wife wants you, Teo. Go.’
He stalked away, fully aware that his brothers had ignored him, were following hard on his heels.
‘Valenti?’ Teo called out.
Teeth clenched, he shook his head. ‘Seriously, not now, Teo.’
His twin caught up to him. ‘You will find her, and you will bring her back. Then you’ll lock her down by any means possible. Sí?’
The charged imploration further terrified Valenti. Because he wanted every single one to be true. ‘My security team will keep in touch. You’ll know everything they know in five minutes.’
‘Gracias.’
‘Valenti,’ Azar’s voice brooked no argument.
He stopped despite every sinew straining to race away. ‘Yes?’
Eyes eerily similar to his examined him with the same intensity he knew lived in his eyes. It was the Domene way. ‘She means something?’
His breath shuddered out, the truth permanently altering him forever. ‘She means everything.’ He may only have accepted that recently, but deep inside he knew Lotte Lillegard had held a powerful place in his heart for a long time.
Dios santo, let him be given the chance to repair the damage he’d done.
‘Then do whatever it takes to bring her back. You’re not allowed another misfortune. Do you hear me?’ the King demanded.
A rock wedged in his throat. With a brusque nod he finally gave into the urge and raced to the palacio doors.
The King’s own fastest supercar waited with the driver’s door open and the engine running. Behind it, three cars filled with Cartanian’s black-clad personal army.
But even as he dove into the car and stomped his foot on the gas, he knew that not even the world’s most efficient army could do a single thing if the woman he loved had been harmed. But Valenti knew one simple thing to be true.
If he lost Lotte, he would also lose the will to live.
‘Hello, beautiful. You’re awake. Good.’
Lotte forced her eyes open, then blinked to better see in the dark surroundings. She was in the back seat of a car, and it was dark outside.
The vicious headache throbbing at her temples made her swallow a moan.
Memory filtered in as she attempted to move and felt a sharp pain at her wrists. The row with Valenti. Fleeing the palacio. The crash…
Bleary-eyed she glanced down. Her breath stopped.
Dear God, she was tied up?
‘You’ve given me quite the runaround,’ her captor said, twisting in the front seat to peer down at her. ‘No worries. I relished the challenge.’
She sucked in a breath which threatened to turn into a sob. No, she was absolutely not crying over this situation. ‘Y-you’re sh-sh-posed to be in jail.’ She stifled another moan. He’d given her something, maybe drugs that slurred her speech?
His grin would’ve been almost charming if it wasn’t borderline unhinged. ‘It helps when you happen to be the favourite grandson of a judge,’ he said.
She squeezed her eyes shut, gathering herself. ‘What a-are you planning to do with me?’
His eyes darkened. ‘Are you going to live up to the promises you made?’
‘Wh-what promises?’
‘Be bold. Be brave. Reach for what you want. Remember I’m here for you, always.’
Her signature words, repeated back to her in his mildly sinister voice sent chilled shockwaves through her. She didn’t think it was wise to point out that she’d said that to millions of her followers.
‘And what is it you want exactly?’ she asked as evenly as she could manage, considering the heart hammering itself into extinction against her ribs.
Disappointment reflected in his face. ‘Did the flowers and the notes not clue you in? I’m in love with you.
We’re meant to be together.’ He tapped the laptop on the passenger seat.
‘And once we get you ready, there’s a celebrant waiting online to marry us.
’ Another demonic smile displayed perfect white teeth.
A hysterical laugh tore from her throat before she could stop it.
Wasn’t it just marvellous that she would throw the loophole of freedom through marriage in Valenti’s face only for her to land herself in this situation? Could she have scripted this demented set of circumstances any better if she’d tried?
‘Don’t laugh at me,’ came the growled warning.
She shook her head frantically. ‘I’m not. I’m laughing at myself.’
His anger didn’t abate. ‘I still see nothing funny about us being together. If you hadn’t made me chase you around the globe, rescued you from him…’ He leaned over and lowered his face to hers. ‘I don’t know what the hell you saw in him. He’s twice your age. Is it the royalty thing?’
She pursed her lips so nothing would fall out and compound her already dire situation.
Had she been free to, she would have told him that no, Valenti’s status had nothing to do with how she felt for him.
She would love him no matter what. His very act of staying penitent for what was ultimately an unfortunate set of circumstances, while harrowing and formidable for having such a stranglehold on him, revealed an honour and loyalty that touched her.
The wide river of feeling that spoke to his humanity that made her love him.
And yes, her frustration that she couldn’t overcome it was breaking her heart into even smaller pieces right in this moment.