Page 76 of Ruthless

“You don’t need to be here to investigate. I can take you—”

“Stop right there. I’m not leaving my family. They need me.”

“I know they do, but they need you alive. Eve, darling, you escaped today, but the next time, you might not be as lucky.”

“That wasn’t luck, Gideon. That was training.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe you think I’d just run out on them.”

“You wouldn’t be running. You would be safe and able to concentrate on finding out who’s behind this.”

“My brothers have already accused me of leaving my family and abdicating my responsibilities. I’m not about to run like a chicken at the first sign of trouble.” She gave him a narrow-eyed, pointed look. “I need your support on this, Gideon.”

“You have it, Eve. Always.”

“Thank you.” She walked out of the bathroom, saying, “I’m going to change clothes and get back to my father.”

Blowing out a ragged sigh, Gideon followed her. She was too stubborn for her own good. Nothing was going to convince her to leave, but whether she stayed or left, he would be right beside her. He just hoped that would be enough.

* * *

Eve slipped into her father’s bedroom, certain that he would be asleep after such a dreadful ordeal. Nothing could have been further from the truth. Five people milled around the room, all on their phones, all talking rapidly. Her father was lying in bed, looking worse than he had before. Fearing another setback in his condition, she ran to him. “Papa? What—”

He held out a shaking hand for her, and she grabbed it, almost breaking down without knowing what had happened. Tears rolled down the king’s grief-ravaged face as his mouth contorted with anguish.

“Papa, please,” she whispered. “What’s happened?”

“Your brothers, Lina. They…they…” He shook his head, unable to finish.

“Lina.” Her uncle emerged from her father’s office, his voice quivering and grave. “I have some bad news.”

“What? Will someone please tell me what’s going on?”

She was vaguely aware that Gideon had come to stand beside her, his arm firmly around her shoulders. Appreciating the support, she straightened her spine and braced herself for what she could already tell would be horrific news.

“Your brother Nicolas’s plane has gone off radar. The pilot called in a Mayday, saying their engines had malfunctioned. Then they disappeared. Rescue planes have been dispatched to search for them.”

Horror filled her as she said softly, “Who was on the plane with him?”

“Camille and all three of their children.”

She closed her eyes, grief rolling through her like a tsunami. Before she could begin to process the tremendous loss, her uncle said, “That’s not all, I’m afraid. Alexandre and Chloe were attending a charity event. They were both shot.”

Stumbling at the news, she was grateful for Gideon’s support as he tightened his arm around her shoulders to keep her upright.

“They’re dead?” she whispered.

“Chloe was pronounced dead at the scene. Your brother is in surgery. I don’t have any details yet.”

No. No. No. She could not believe this was happening. Her entire family was being destroyed, and she had no clue who was responsible or why. Wrapping her arms around herself, she absorbed the blows. She had already lost one brother, and now she might have lost her other two, as well as her sister-in-law and her precious nephews. Her father was still not out of the woods.

For the first time ever, Eve questioned her reasons for leaving her family behind. There had been reasons, good reasons, but right at this minute, she couldn’t justify any of them. She had missed out on so much by not being with them. What kind of a daughter and sister did that? If she had been here, maybe she could have prevented what was happening.

“Eve.” Gideon’s calm, quiet voice broke into her ravaged thoughts. “Until we get solid word, don’t accept defeat. Understand?”

“Yes, yes. Of course.” She nodded, letting Gideon’s words bolster her. She knew better than anyone that even when things looked darkest, there was always a chance for a shimmer of light. She had to believe they would all be all right. She had no choice.

“Lina,” her uncle said. “Could I talk with you privately for a few moments?”

She took a step and then hesitated, looking at her papa. She didn’t want to leave him.