Chapter 9 #2
“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him since that firefighter charity auction. Would a fling be enough? But it will have to be because my life is in New York.”
“Ah,” Bette said, with understanding.
“Nolan talks to Knox about you all the time,” Quinn confided. “However, I think he wants more than a fling. He’s really not a fling kind of guy.”
“That’s another thing!” Helena pointed at the table. “He’s such a good guy, and well, I can be a bitch.”
Quinn rolled her eyes at that. “Being a strong woman and demanding equal respect and refusing to back down does not make you a bitch.”
“It makes you a badass,” Gigi told her.
“I see it all the time,” Bette added. “Women act the way men do and we get labeled as a problem or as a bitch, while men do the same thing and are told ‘good job for being assertive and not backing down.’ It’s one of the reasons I didn’t want to go into finance.
I grew up in it and I might punch someone in the nuts if I hear women just don’t get it like men do one more time.
I manage my own portfolio and I out-produce both my brother and my father.
But Chad, Brad, or Thad will just pat me on the head and tell me not to worry my pretty little head like that. ”
“Exactly!” Helena held out her hand for a fist bump from Bette, who might now be one of her new best friends. Gigi too. They all just clicked together as the hours passed quickly.
“Kori!” Quinn called out as they finished their dinner and Helena yawned.
Helena looked up to find a handsome man in his mid to late twenties walking toward them wearing black sweat pants and a tan long-sleeved athletic shirt.
“Kori, this is my best friend, Helena.”
Kori held out his hand and shook hers. “Yes, Nolan’s updated me on your situation. It’s nice to meet you officially. I know I saw you at Quinn and Knox’s wedding.”
“Nice to meet you too. What do you mean, Nolan has updated you?”
“I’m third-in-command for the Rahmi Royal Guard. We’re stationed at Desert Sun Farm with the royal family. Nolan told me what’s going on with you and Kazim Garang. If anything happens, I’m to bring in the soldiers and evacuate you to our security building at the farm.”
All the women turned to give Helena a smirking smile as if they were silently telling her they’d been right and Nolan liked her.
“How about an escort back to the bed and breakfast instead of a full-scale military operation?” Quinn asked.
“I can—”
Helena was cut off by a glare from Kori. “No, ma’am. It’s dark out and it’s the responsible thing. I’m not telling Nolan I let you walk home.”
“What does Nolan have to say about it?” Helena muttered.
“My twenty dollars on you two getting engaged in three weeks, that’s what,” Kori said with a smile that transformed the hard planes of his face to one that oozed sex appeal.
“Ma’am?” Kori held out his arm for her and Helena shrugged.
It appeared to be a losing battle, but even though she felt forced into it, she was glad to have the protection.
She just wasn’t going to admit that out loud.
Helena hugged her friends and they all promised to do this again soon. Helena wasn’t out the door when her phone pinged with a text message. Quinn had started a group chat just for them.
“You’re smiling,” Kori observed.
“I’m not even living here, have only visited twice, and yet they’ve made me feel more welcome here than in my entire life in New York.” Helena shook her head and put her phone away. “I know that sounds silly.”
“Not at all. I’ve been here just under two years.
Talk about a culture shock. I thought of America as places like New York City or Los Angeles.
Rahmi isn’t a big island, but it’s much bigger than Keeneston.
It was quite an adjustment to come here and I was nervous.
I wanted to prove myself to the royal family and my bosses, yet I was embraced by everyone so quickly.
I was here for a job, but found myself hanging out with guys on my night off, getting stalked by Belles, and spoiled by the Rose sisters.
So, it’s not silly at all. However,” Kori paused and looked down at her as they waited to cross the street, “I warn you, though. Once you’re here and part of the town, you might find yourself wanting to stay.
I can’t imagine going back to my old life in Rahmi. Ever.”
Kori placed his hand on the small of her back and used his body almost like a shield as they crossed the street. A shield from what, she didn’t know. But Helena did know that Kori’s touch was different from Nolan’s. Kori was professional and . . . cold? Nolan’s, well, his touch heated her body.
“I know about Garang,” Kori told her as they began to walk toward the bed and breakfast. “I was involved in a military operation against him one time when he was a pirate. He was targeting our cargo ships about five years ago. We engaged in a firefight with him and his crew. He sacrificed his crew in a heartbeat to get free. He has no honor. He has no problem sending people to die.”
“Which means,” Helena said with a sigh, “he’ll keep sending them after me because he doesn’t care if they come back or not.”
Kori nodded in the glow of the street lamps. “Exactly.”
“Will I be spending the rest of my life in hiding?” She wasn’t really asking Kori. Helena was realizing that could be a real possibility.
“Not if we kill Garang.”
Helena blinked in surprise. “What?”
“Kill enough people, become a big enough thorn in his side, and maybe he’ll decide to take you out himself. Then we cut him down. Or, maybe I can pull some strings and send a small group into South Sudan to assassinate him.”
Helena stopped at the bottom of the porch stairs. “You have enough power to get the King of Rahmi to authorize an assassination?”
“Never said that’s who I would get authorization from.” Kori winked at her and climbed the stairs. He entered the code on the door and it unlocked. He opened the door and they were greeted by Lucas with a rifle pointed at them.
“Welcome home!” he called out lowering the rifle.
“You want me to clear her room?” Kori asked.
“Nah. I’m the host. I’ll kill any intruders. Come on, Helena. Let’s get you tucked in for the night.” Lucas turned and headed to the stairs with his gun in hand.
“Good night, Helena. Nolan has my number if you need anything.”
Helena thanked him and was regaled with Bertha the polar bear stories as Lucas swept the second floor and cleared it of any potential danger. Then finally she was safe in her room behind a locked door.
Helena got ready for bed, did her skincare routine, and was crawling into bed when she heard a floorboard creak outside her door.
Helena froze, seeing a shadow under the door.
Whoever was out there didn’t knock. They didn’t tell her fun facts about polar bears.
They didn’t offer food. Terror had her picking up her phone, but no, what could Nolan do?
She was in danger now. She unplugged the lamp and took the shade off of it.
Helena crept slowly to the side of the door.
She reached a shaking hand to turn the lock as slowly and quietly as she could.
Then she yanked the door open, screamed, and swung the lamp.