Page 133 of His Prince
“I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“Thanks to you.”
I pull him into a hug and whisper reassurances that he will be okay and how he needs to rest, before standing up, wiping my eyes, and letting Dima lead me back to Vera and Steve.
“Alright, little bloom. Time to make a run for it. Don’t want to get caught up with the police. They won’t be able to help you, anyway. Inept, the lot of ’em.”
She grabs on to my arm, and I must be hallucinating because for a moment I see her tongue flick out, almost like a reptile would, before I blink back my sanity.I’m just exhausted and stressed, I think as we move out into the parking lot, Dima ushering me to the SUV.
Just as I settle in the seat, my phone rings and I see that it’s Diablo.
“I’ve found him,” he says, and I frantically call Vera and Steve over to us.
I put the phone on speaker and ask, “Are you sure?”
“I’m almost positive. This guy is a slob, but I found he owns a shell company that has property all over the U.S. The one closest to you is a house on the outskirts of town.”
Just as Diablo says it, Vera gets a call. She moves away and then returns a moment later, speaking to Diablo loudly.
“Tell me the address. I just want to confirm before I mobilize.”
Diablo rattles off the address, and Vera nods.
“Got him. That fucker.”
I almost faint with relief. We’re going to get him and bring him home.
Everything happens quickly after that. Vera leads us to a parking lot where several older women are waiting, wearing dresses, Brooks shoes, and glasses. None of them look like they can fight this battle, and my spirits sink when I realize that maybe I overestimated their ability to help me. But when they start to grab guns from the trunks of their vehicles, one even going so far as to assemble a Glock without looking at it, I realize that maybe I’veunderestimatedthem.
“Would you like some pie?” one of them asks, and I shake my head.
“Of course he doesn’t want pie. His husband is missing, Bertha.”
Bertha rolls her eyes. “I know, but sometimes people like to stress eat. It’s a thing. And it’s apple crumb. Everyone loves apple crumb.”
I blink as I watch their interaction, and Dima moves up next to me, his hand landing on my lower back.
“I have mixed feelings about all of this,” I whisper.
“Me too. But we’ll take all the help we can get,” he says and then adds, “Felix and Titus are on their way up as well.”
“I don’t want any more men hurt…”
“Well, little husband, it seems we need help, and they insisted. We’ve underestimated Daniil, and I won’t allow it to happen again.”
I nod, sniffling loudly. “You’re right. I know that. And my dad will be here too, but I don’t think we have time to wait for him.”
“We’ll have Mikhail back before he lands. And then, if Daniil is still alive, there may be a fight over who gets to dismember him.”
“They can all have a turn,” I reply and then wince when Vera hands me a gun, the cool metal a shock to my system.
“Do you know how to use it? I’d assume so, as the son of Anthony Costello and the husband to Mikhail Ivanov,” she says, and I see allthe other grannies strapping on bandolier belts, making them look way more badass than they initially appeared.
“Yes, unfortunately, I do,” I reply, knowing that I’ll need to use this to save him. To protect him.
I’m going to have to reach deep within myself to find that part of me.
I need him alive. I need him to come back to me.