“Nothing is impossible. We have reason to believe there’s someone in the United States who is planning an attack.”
“On me?”
“Yes. At this point, based on what happened to your family, we are operating as though your life is at risk. We believe that the individual wanted to carry out the attack today and that he is getting information from the inside.”
“Inside?”
“In the palace, somewhere. Perhaps even here. It could be one of your people.”
Sitting on the commode, Sofie never felt less like a princess. She was hiding in a bathroom, with her ex, figuring out who was trying to kill her. Panicking would serve no purpose, so Sofie fought back the urge lose it, and pulled herself together. “What do I have to do?”
“I have permission from the palace to take you out of here.”
“Right, to some safe house.”
“Not exactly. We’re going to make it seem like that’s where you’re going, but I’m
actually going to take you someplace else.”
“I don’t think you and I should be going anywhere together.”
They should absolutely not be together, because she was already feeling twinges and ticks in her heart.
“I’m sorry you feel that way, because I’m on the detail. I was asked by your father to take the lead.”
“He asked for you?”
“Yes. So this is what we’re going to do…”
“My father asked you to protect me? You specifically.”
“Yes.” Ian’s reply was terse. Special Agent Stuart obviously wasn’t used to being
questioned. “I’m known to your family. They trust me, and there are precious few people you can trust right now.” He paused, examining her eyes, waiting for another argument. “So, are you ready to hear the plan?”
Having been put in her place, Sofie nodded.
“Good. We’re going to hide you in plain sight. You and I are going to my family’s
cottage on Shelter Island. That will give all the different agencies a chance to coordinate and find out who’s responsible for the crash in Aubonne.”
“Shelter Island? That’s a place?”
“It’s east. Situated between the north and south forks of Long Island, and it can only be reached by ferry. You’ll be safe there.”
“With you.”
“Yes, with me.”
“Shouldn’t we be going to some isolated mountain safe house? With gun turrets and
barricades and secret passages?”
He grinned at her--a soul-stealing, heart-stopping grin that was all for her. “As interesting as that sounds, no. Your seclusion will be much more mundane. You’ll blend in. You won’t have to worry about your safety.”
Sofie prided herself on her self-control—she’d been reining herself in all day. Naturally emotional, more so than the rest of her family, for her to keep her emotions in check was a considerable accomplishment. However, today tested her. She tried everything. Going through a list of rhyming words. Counting backwards by sevens. None of it worked. Ian being there hadn’t helped. She felt her lips tremble. Her eyes started to burn and the first big tear, rolled down her cheek. Then another, and another. Burying her face in her hands, she let the tears go.
Tears for herself, but more than that, tears for her family. For her sister. ”Why is this happening?
Why are these people after us? We didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I don’t have an answer,” Ian replied “I wish I did.”
“I wish I knew something. Anything. I feel so lost.”
“We’ll find out about your family as soon as possible. We’re keeping things on a need-to-know basis until we have you in a safe place.”
Sofie nodded, rubbing her forearm across her eyes. Ian reached around her, his big body coming way too close. He grabbed the box of tissue behind her and she clutched a handful when he offered it to her. “We’re going to tell everyone I’m taking you to a safe house. We’ll send several black SUV’s out at the same time from the VIP entrance, and a later on, you and I will take off for points east in my car. We’re going to pretend to be a couple. Change your hairstyle, your makeup.”
“What should I bring?” She sniffed and mopped at her eyes.
“Keep it casual. Low key. No gowns or tiaras.”
Bastard, she thought. He was so damn sure about her. “Thank goodness,” she said curtly.
“I left my tiara at home, along with my scepter and royal robes. It would have been a disaster if the ferry boat required such finery.”
“Good to know you still have a sense of humor in there.” He smirked and she was