The Prince and the Player

“Thank you,” she whispers. “I don’t know what I would have done if you’d been hurt.”

The fury in my chest eases. Lifting my chin, I kiss her forehead before looking into her beautiful eyes. I’m ready to ask her now, right this moment, but we only have this moment before the mob of reporters surrounds us.

“Your royal highness!” one yells. “Why did you pull out of the race when you were winning?”

Two more shout, “We’ve heard rumors of possible tampering with your vehicle!”

“Is it too soon to suggest a possible assassination attempt?”

I hear over the noise Fayed won the race, and my lips press into a frown. Touching Cal on the shoulder, I lean into his ear. “I’m passing this baton to you.”

He nods, and my hand is on Ava’s lower back. I hope to guide her through the confusion, through the restricted area beneath stands, and to my waiting limo. My plans for the beautiful woman at my side can continue at Occitan.

“Oh, wait! It’s Zelda!” Ava takes off, out of my grasp into the crowd.

“Ava, stop!” I’m calling after her, but I know if I enter the fray, I’ll be mobbed.

I call to her again, when I hear a sharp noise. It’s popping like firecrackers, or the noise of a car backfiring.

Ava’s face changes a moment. She looks confused… just before she drops like a stone.

“AVA!” My voice is a roar as I run to where she’s fallen.

My brain registers it was a gunshot, and all of it—losing the race, the damaged car, the mob of bystanders, everything disappears in the face of losing Ava.

I’m throwing bodies aside as the crowd disperses around me. People are screaming and falling to the ground, or running from where my beautiful Ava lies on in a heap, her eyes closed.

Zelda

“NOOO!!!!” I scream as I see Ava’s green eyes change from joy to horror. She falls so fast. She’s on the ground like a rag doll, and people scatter in all directions away from her like oil fleeing a drop of water.

As I run to her, I notice another figure in a red jumpsuit also running in my direction. It’s Rowan. We meet at my sister, and he has her in his arms before I can breathe.

“Follow me!” he shouts, heading toward the stands.

I’m right behind him, but I’m looking everywhere over my shoulder. I know who did this, and I’m afraid it’s not over. They could be anywhere, aiming for us right this second.

“Run, Rowan! Run!” I shout. “Faster!”

We’re through the metal door into the restricted area beneath the stands, and I push the doors closed behind us.

“Paramedics are here.” He’s at a red phone, dialing zero, but I see his fingers tremble. “The best emergency response crews in the country are on hand in case of an accident.”

I’m at Ava’s side, holding her hand. “Hang on, Ava-bug!” My voice breaks. My throat hurts and tears blur my eyes. She’s ghastly pale, and blood soaks the navy dress she’s wearing. “Don’t die on me, Ava-bug! Please… Please, Ava-bug…”

My whole body is shaking. I’m searching all over for where they hit her when I’m shoved out of the way, and paramedics surround my sister.

Rowan is at my side, and I look up to see his jaw clenched. His eyes are wild, and I know it’s taking all his power to stay back and let them work.

Plastic bags and tubes are drawn out and run to her body. I grip his arm as they move her onto a hard plastic stretcher.

“She’s losing blood,” a woman says, shoving a card at me. “We’re taking her to Memorial East.”

As fast as they appeared, they’re rushing her out the door, into an ambulance and speeding away.

“NO!” I scream, running after them.

“Zelda! This way!” Rowan runs in the direction of a side door, and I’m right behind him.