Chapter 20
Eva
Ilet out an unhappy sigh. "He's one of my father's cousins. Twice removed, or something like that."
"Okay. Why would he be paying some piece of shit to make trouble for you?"
"For the same reason we have hardly any contact with the majority of our families. Everyone wants the title. They all think they should have been chosen to control the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
"Run me through how that works."
"My father, as the Grand Duke, is the ruler of Luxembourg. It was a huge honor for him to be appointed to the role. We also have a parliament that he works with. Though he has final say, it's always best if both governing bodies agree before action is taken, or so Father always says. "
"And who is his heir?"
"My brother, Charlie, will take over once my father passes."
"So, this Krier guy comes after you to try to force your father's hand? To what? It's not like he's ever going to hand over the ability to rule Luxembourg. Can he even do that?"
"No. The Luxembourgish Parliament would step in and make another selection if that were the case. As it is, Charlie has to be approved to even take over as successor for it to officially happen," I told him.
"So what's the point of this Krier guy coming after you?"
"Having my father in his back pocket would benefit Richard in many ways. I just never thought he'd be devious enough to try."
"Why now?" Idaho asked, frowning as he tried to put the puzzle together.
"Back home, Father keeps us...very well protected."
"Meaning?" He asked, arching a brow.
"We're basically locked up in our home. My sisters and their husbands and children live in the palace as well. He keeps all of us very close and very sheltered. When we do go anywhere there are tons of guards. And it's almost always a well-publicized public event."
"But he lets you come with him on business?"
I gave him a rueful smile. "It was that, or risk me running away."
"That's what Thomas meant about you losing yourself."
It wasn't a question. I could see the understanding on his face. He was beginning to figure this out. Figure me out.
"I love my family dearly. But I hate that life," I admitted.
"I don't know if I can go back." The words came out soft and full of despair.
I was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Staying here meant putting others at risk, like Idaho and his amazing family.
But going home. I shuddered just thinking about it.
Thomas wasn't wrong. It was as though pieces of my soul died a little at a time living tucked away in the palace.
Some people would probably scoff at me. Boo hoo, poor rich girl living in her rich castle with people that wait on her hand and foot.
But I needed to be outside. To be in charge of my life.
I needed to be free. Coming here was only the second truly selfish thing I'd ever done for myself.
The first was insisting Father allow me to help him with his business.
Later, I'd be able to help Charlie as well.
His sigh was long and slow, making me focus on his handsome face once more. "Then you're really going to hate what we have to do next."
My eyes closed as misery overtook me. When I opened them I saw the truth on his face. He didn't want to do this anymore than I did, but he was being responsible. "No. Please. Can't we handle this ourselves?"
"Eva," he said, patience and understanding clear in his tone. "If this guy is making a move against your father, and using you to do it, then he needs to know. What if Krier goes after your brother next? Or one of your nephews, or nieces?"
I couldn't hold back my cry of dismay. Idaho reached out and pulled me toward him, hugging me close. Auron raised his head and whined. He didn't like that I was upset. I sent him a trembling smile and he lowered his head once more.
"I'm not trying to upset you. But you know we have to call your father."
"I know," I whispered, holding onto his leather vest—no, Seek had told me it's called a cut—as though it was my only lifeline.
Sucking in a breath, I pulled back and nodded.
"You're right. Staying here isn't worth something happening to one of my family members.
I'd never forgive myself if we stayed quiet and they were hurt. "
Sighing, we walked out to the living room and I grabbed my phone off the side table next to the couch.
I'd left it there that morning when we'd gone down to give presents to the children.
Sitting down on the couch, I stared at the dark screen.
I gathered my courage, then opened it and hit a contact. The phone began to ring.
I looked up at Idaho when he sat down and pulled me fully onto his lap. Squirming, I opened my mouth to tell him this wasn't proper—even though we'd been about to do so much more before he'd taken that call—but a voice over the line made me freeze.
"Tatiana," Father said, voice stern. "Your mother has been worried sick."
"Put it on speaker," Idaho demanded in a low voice.
Nodding, I did, mostly because I was already gearing up for the fight with my father. I didn't have the wherewithal to fight Idaho, too.
My throat felt tight as I tried to force the words out. Idaho rubbed my back in soothing circles, helping me relax enough to speak. Suddenly I was grateful that I was so close to him.
"Hi, Papa. I'm sorry," I told him honestly. "I didn't mean to worry her." Father would never admit to his own worry. But I could hear it in his voice.
"Why haven't you been returning our calls?"
"I was busy with school and homework," I told him. Idaho cleared his throat.
"Who was that?" Father demanded. "Is that Thomas? Put him on the phone."
"No, Papa. It's not Thomas. This is...a friend of mine."
Idaho arched a brow at me, but didn't say anything.
"A friend? You're supposed to be studying, Tatiana. And Thomas isn't supposed to let you out of his sight. Put him on now."
I hesitated, not sure how to even start this conversation.
"Mr. Desmet," Idaho cut in.
My eyes widened and I put a hand on his chest, shaking my head no so hard my brain nearly rattled in my head. I stopped, then cringed at the silence on the other end of the line.
After what may as well have been an eternity, Father spoke. "Who is this?"
I knew when he heard me say friend, he thought I meant a female. Idaho speaking made it abundantly clear that wasn't the case. I didn't need to see his face to know my father was seething. His voice said it all.
"This is Levi Sharpe," Idaho said calmly. "I'm the one who helped your daughter get away from the men who tried to kidnap her."
Silence again.
My heart was trying to forcibly remove itself from my chest and my breath was coming in small little pants.
The anxiety I was having right now was the worst I'd ever felt.
Normally, I wasn't a very anxious person, but telling my father all of this was more than I wanted to face.
It wasn't right to make Idaho explain, though. That would just make Father more mad.
"What do you mean, kidnap her?" Father asked in a very measured and deliberate tone. He was holding onto his temper by a thread.
"Papa," I said. "Idah-Levi helped me when some of my girlfriends and I were accosted outside a bar."
"Where. Was. Thomas?"
"I gave him the night off. My friends' boyfriends were with us and I thought we were perfectly safe."
"I had my investigator look into the men," Idaho continued, grabbing my hand and squeezing it in reassurance. "It turns out one of the men was paid by someone named Richard Krier to try to abduct Eva."
"Tatiana," my father growled into the phone. The similarities between him and Idaho were being driven home by a sledgehammer right now. "Is it my understanding that Thomas is not with you right now? That you're alone with this man?"
"Not exactly alone," I stammered. Silence. "But, yes," I sighed. "It wasn't possible for Thomas to stay here, but Levi and his brothers are protecting me. And Thomas checks in daily. Once school begins after the holiday break, he'll be going to classes with me. Papa, I-"
"Enough."
I fought back tears at the authority ringing in his voice.
"Mr. Sharpe."
"Yes?"
"Is my daughter safe there with you?"
"She is."
"I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt, since you looked into this matter of your own free will and had my daughter call me to tell me what was going on. I'll ask a favor of you."
I was holding Idaho's hand with both of mine, nearly strangling it with my death grip as I listened to my father rain down judgment.
I was about to find out what my penance would be.
He'd never lifted a hand to me. I wasn't scared of him.
It was the threat of being put back into my cage I was worried about.
"What's that?" Idaho asked.
"I'll ask that you continue to protect my daughter until tomorrow evening."
Idaho looked down at me, a frown marring his handsome features. "What's happening tomorrow evening?"
"You're going to bring my daughter to me. Four o'clock at the hotel there in a place called Dove Mountain."
"I can do that."
"Tatiana?"
"Yes, Papa," I whispered.
"I love you. I want you safe. Please don't fight me on this."
"Okay." I didn't have it in me to fight him anymore.
It was over. Even with those men attacking us and finding out that Richard was behind it, nothing would take away the joy I'd felt while I was here.
The small taste of freedom would have to hold me over for, possibly, the rest of my life.
Father was going to take me home, marry me off to some stuffy aristocrat, and effectively drown me in misery for the remainder of my life.
The fact that he was personally coming to get me was the last nail in my coffin.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Tatiana."
"Okay, Papa." I hung up the phone, trying to hold back the sobs that were attempting to break free of my chest. Strong arms wrapped around me and it was as if the dam inside me burst. Tears poured down my cheeks as I cried on Idaho's shoulder.
His shirt and cut were soaked by the time I pulled myself together enough to sit back and look at him.
"Sorry," I whispered, wiping at the wet spot on his shoulder.
"Don't worry about it," he replied. "You okay?"
I shrugged. "What choice do I have?"
He sighed and stood up, lifting me with him. He set me on my feet, then grabbed my hand and led me to the kitchen. He pulled out the chair for me at the table, then got busy making something at the stove.
I looked down as he set a glance in front of me. "What is it?"
"Whiskey. Sorry I don't have anything fancy, other than wine, and you need something with more kick."
Wrapping my hand around the glass, I stared down into the amber liquid.
"Are you afraid of him?"
My eyes flashed up to his. "God, no. I love him. I just-"
"Hate your life."
I nodded. That statement summed it all up. There was nothing else to say.
"Drink it, Eva."
Obeying, I lifted the glass and took a small sip. I gasped as the alcohol burned a trail down my throat to where it settled in my belly.
"More."
I did as he said, taking another drink. This one went down smoother. He sat across from me at the table and we drank in silence for a few minutes.
"What do you want to do?" he asked.
I knew he meant about my father. About the meeting tomorrow. But the question made me think. This was likely to be my last night in America. My last night with Idaho. I'd never see him again once I left here. The thought made me want to cry all over again.
"Eva?" he prompted when I didn't answer him.
Taking a deep breath for courage, I tipped the glass back and downed what was left of the whiskey in the glass. It took some doing not to cough after the fact. I knew what I wanted.
Idaho watched me set the glass down and stand with a suspicious look on his face. It morphed into hunger when I walked over to where he was sitting and straddled him, sitting on his lap.
"I want you to make love to me."
A muscle in his jaw flexed as he ground his teeth together. "That's not a good idea."
"You didn't seem to mind earlier," I replied.
"Heat of the moment. You're a fucking-"
I didn't want to hear it. It didn't matter anymore that he was in this for some kind of favor from my father.
He was strong, and sexy, and I didn't want to go back to my mundane life while still a virgin.
I was tired of always following the rules.
Slamming my lips down onto his, I took control of my own destiny.