49. Nina
49
NINA
I take another shower once returning to the palace.
My family’s emotions and relief weren’t a comfort. After being attacked by Anton, their concern for me doubled, and now it tripled. My stomach twists; I don’t like being the source of any distress.
With my hair and body washed, I lower onto one of the steps leading to the bed and tuck my knees to my chest. For what feels like the first in a while, I’m alone. I inhale a deep breath and shut my eyes. No lawnmowers, cars, planes, or voices. It’s quiet.
I drop my head. Memories flash across the back of my eyelids of Wesley being cut and punched. His painful groans. His black-and-blue face. My chest wrenches from those few seconds I tried to wake him up.
And Arlo is coming back for him.
I’ve done everything for my family. If not for Dad, I wouldn’t have quit volleyball, picked a five-year program and worked myself into the ground, or even gone to school in-state. I could’ve fought for those things, but Dad’s will to argue was always stronger than mine. I know Maia didn’t ask me to be the peacekeeper; keeping our little family flowing easily has always been my job. Dad made sure of that.
I quickly step into my sneakers and head toward the voices in the sitting room of this wing. My parents, Maia, and Aunt Beverly suddenly cut their discussion short, perking once I appear in the threshold.
“How do you feel?” Ruby asks.
“Fine,” I say. “Do any of you know where Wesley is? I need to talk to him.”
Aunt Beverly rises, her knee-length dress swishing around her. “Mr. Troutbeck is in a meeting with Jack.”
“Where?”
She stiffens. “It’s best to let our security team handle this matter.”
“I still have to speak to him.”
Dad gets up and walks toward me. He runs a hand over his troubled demeanor. “From what I see, this is dangerous… You should be staying as far away from him as possible.”
My lungs tighten. “Him?”
“It,” he corrects, his gaze falling. “You should stay away from it .”
I can only imagine what they were discussing before I walked in. They made judgments based on a file of information about Wesley. But that doesn’t show what he’s truly like.
“I understand you’re upset,” Aunt Beverly says, “but these protocols are to keep you safe. It’s our understanding that this problem concerns your bodyguard, not you.”
Tears of frustration prick my eyes. “This problem,” I grit, “became mine the second I watched the man I love beaten and nearly killed. You expect me to walk away?”
“If it’s?—”
“No,” I cut off Dad. “I’m done making decisions based on how it might affect you or this family.” I look between him and my aunt. “You two might be okay with ignoring the people you love, but I’m not.”
I spin on my heel and head down the corridor, ignoring their calls for me.
It doesn’t take me too long to locate Wesley. I jump in on the security team meeting, sitting between him and Jack.
Jack recounts yesterday’s events based on Wesley’s information, and I confirm every frightening detail. I don’t leave once we move on to discussing Arlo’s business and influence, and all except Wesley appear surprised or even unsettled by my continued presence, Mason included.
“Your Highness,” Jack says, “we will send for you when we come up with a notable idea. You should rest after such a long day.”
I won’t let him, or anyone, discredit my seat at the table. I set the fire that got us out. I nearly killed someone. I’m the princess and eventual queen of this goddamn country. I earned my spot here.
“Thank you for your concern, but I’m staying.” I look around. “I know you all think I’m naive?—”
“We don’t think you’re naive at all,” Jack says.
“Fine, then however much credit you give me, give me more .”
A quiet moment passes over the group as if considering whether they want to argue this. They don’t.
Wesley speaks up. “We need to offer him something he wants even more than who killed Santiago.”
“A blind eye,” I suggest. “We’re bound with the police and military, correct? They investigate everything regarding the Elias family, including me. What if we give him a get-out-of-jail-free card?”
He shakes his head. “That’s not enough.”
“If we emphasize how big of a charge kidnapping the princess is,” Mason says, leaning back in his seat with crossed arms.
Jack waves a hand. “He can argue he didn’t know at the time. It’ll get thrown out.”
“Kidnap is kidnap,” he stresses.
“Yes, but kidnapping a royal family member is the threatening charge, which can get thrown out. It’s not strong enough.”
“There’s no love or loyalty between Arlo and his brother,” Wesley pipes. “He didn’t necessarily believe my reputation and was ill-prepared. Now that the princess and I bested him and left a mess, he’ll be gunning for us out of pride.”
Silas presses his elbows onto the table. “But you said he left you alone on your way to the rendezvous. How much does this affect Her Majesty’s safety?”
I blink, realizing that Her Majesty is me.
“I think one of my old associates saw us underground and wanted in on the action,” Wesley says.
Old associate. We spoke to no one other than the homeless man, Adonis, and—Daria. I bite the inside of my cheek. I might respect her if she didn’t put Wesley and me in more danger.
“Is there a reason we can’t arrest him for everything else he’s done?” I ask.
“It’s a waste of our court system’s time and money,” Jack explains. “He has enough lawyers to drag it out for years. Meanwhile, he’ll make bail and continue business as usual.”
“The police have an investigation started on him, though?” asks Gregory.
“Yes. We could kick this to them, but it doesn’t solve the fact that we’re waiting for Arlo to green-light Beck.”
I mask my distress. The meeting goes on for another hour until we stop to eat. My family keeps their distance, almost as if they don’t know how to act around me. It’s the first time I made a decision wholly for myself, and I force down the guilt. In spite of being princess and starting a career in service for others, Wesley is the one thing in my life I won’t compromise on.