Kade nodded to his brother. "Now, Her Highness has had a rough morning. Why don't you take her back to our rooms, brother?"
Rafe led Piper out, and Rory felt more fury spark his system.
Kade moved to stand in front of him. "You can't take anything Tori does right now too seriously."
"I have an engagement ring for her." Callum shook his head as though trying to clear it. "We were going to formally ask her tonight."
"Don't give up," Kade advised. "She's confused and overwhelmed. This kind of life can do that to a normal person. This is the first time she's been at the center of the storm, and it's a nasty one. Couple that with the fact that this being her first time to really be in love, and I think she's so overwhelmed she can't function. What she needs is to get out of the palace, go someplace quiet so she can think about this. I don't claim to truly understand what Tori's going through, but I know Piper was in shock when she first became involved with my brothers and me, as well as a target for the press."
"How did you break through?" Callum asked. He stood again as though even the thought of having something active to do restored his energy.
"Tori doesn't want us to break through," Rory pointed out.
She'd lied. She'd played them all for fools. Rory felt doubly foolish because he had instigated the very incident she'd used to get what she'd wanted. She'd danced with him, taken his hand, and agreed to everything he'd asked for. And that had included giving them a chance.
He wondered now … If Oliver had given her pleasure when he'd taken her virginity, would she have even bothered to sleep with the rest of them? Maybe she'd only wanted a night to ensure that she experienced the pleasures to be found in sex. Now that she had, she obviously no longer needed them.
"Of course she does." Callum was always the optimist. "She's scared and she needs us. Just because the palace wants us to return to London doesn't mean we have to."
"I don't know. Talib was fairly adamant. After he talked to Tori, he made the decision to ask you to leave. I think for now it would be best for you all to lay low," Kade said.
"I didn't say we wouldn't leave Bezakistan. We could return to England. We've got a country house. It's isolated and peaceful, but you're insane if you think I'll go along without Tori." Callum stared at their host. "Tell her she'd better not ever leave the palace again because I won't be pushed away. I'll do whatever it takes to make certain she doesn't forget me."
Kade smiled. "That's the resolve you'll need. And she won't stay in the palace forever. I believe I overheard her talking about Dallas."
"Excellent. I'll be waiting for her there. Tell her that if she makes me hunt her down, I won't be happy. She'll be much better off if she simply agrees to talk to me now." Callum's Dom had risen to the fore again.
Rory stared at his brother. Either that threat would prove to be the stupidest move in history … or the most brilliant strategy ever.
Kade bowed slightly and left them alone with Dane standing guard outside. Rory suspected Alea's other husband, Landon, was watching over Torrance, ensuring she didn't have to deal with the men she'd promised the world to the night before. Oh, she might not have said the words and that was his fault. He should have insisted. He should have suspected she'd run.
He should have known white lace and promises with Torrance wouldn't work.
"So we'll tell the pilot to take us to Dallas," Callum was saying. "I want to be there when she lands."
Rory couldn't fathom why Cal thought that was a good idea. "Why? So she can call the police and take out a restraining order?"
"No, so I can put her over my bloody knee, spank her, then give her the hard fucking she deserves for pulling this shit. Afterward, I'll figure out what's going on in her head and fix it."
"All you'll do is get yourself thrown in jail for attacking her."
Callum stopped. "She doesn't want to be alone. She's upset and confused, embarrassed and overwhelmed. She needs a reason to trust and embrace. We're going to give it to her."
"Are you mad?" Rory asked. "Did you forget the part where she's locked all the doors between us? She doesn't want a reason to stop because she's already got one: She doesn't want us. She's told us flatly that she's done."
Callum tensed his jaw, his face set in stubborn lines. "No. She ran because deep down she thinks we'll abandon her like her parents did."
"Her parents died."