The Prince and the Player

He takes a step forward. “But what about Cal?”

Those words rip through my stomach. As painful as everything I’ve endured in the last twenty-four hours, this question has the power to gut me.

“Please tell him I said goodbye.” Tears thicken my throat. “He deserves someone better than me.”

Turning away, I run to the elevator before he can stop me or see me break down. I’m in the small box, hiding in the corner by the control panel, pressing the L button over and over as the doors close.

In the mirrored walls I see my bruised cheek. It’s nothing compared to my battered heart. Zelda Wilder is no princess. The closest I am is a dirty Cinderella, an orphan on the run, and that’s not the kind of girl for a prince.

The door opens in the lobby, and standing there in dark jeans and a long-sleeved navy sweater is Seth. His amber brow arches, and our blue eyes meet.

“Ready?” he says.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Come on, then. Let’s go.”

I take his hand and follow him to the waiting cab. He pays the man and says one word: airport. Fishing in my pockets, I find the door card to our room at the Fairmont and the black American Express. It’s a small relief.

“Thought you might need this,” he says.

I look down, and he’s holding the green ambassador’s visa Reggie gave me.

“How did you get this?” I ask.

“I went back to your room and looked around.”

My eyes narrow at the thought of him snooping in our stuff. “See anything interesting?”

“Not much.”

Shaking my head, I return my gaze out the window to the passing traffic. Ava will be safe now and live happily ever after with her handsome prince. I won’t let myself think about Cal. I’ve got to get as far away as possible, keep running, and hope the bad guys never catch me.

Plans

Rowan

As soon as the elevator doors close, I speak to my chief security guard. “Keep me informed where she goes.”

“Yes, your grace.” He steps to the side to make the call, and I go to the room where Ava is recovering.

My promise to Zelda had been easy to make. Her words confirmed everything Ava already told me our very first night together at the Paris Hotel. The only thing she left out was Zelda is her sister—although, she’d actually told me that, too. I understand now she was trying to tell me everything that night, but she couldn’t betray Zee.

Now it’s time for me to become her security. I’ve been ready to assume that role since the night I swore to avenge her past. Her beautiful eyes blink open, and protective warmth surges in my chest. I sit at her bedside, taking her hand in mine and lifting her knuckles to my lips.

“How are you feeling, my beautiful lady?”

Her voice cracks when she answers. “What happened?”

I hesitate, not wanting to frighten her. “I don’t have an easy way to say this… You were shot.”

I see her pulse quicken on the monitor. Her fear stokes my anger at the men who did this.

“But… Who? Why?” she says.

“Your sister thinks it was to keep her silent, to warn her against telling what she knows.”

Ava’s eyes widen, and she starts to pull away. “You know about Zee?”