Page 52 of Royal Salvation

“Is it okay if I call my sister to check in with her?” Lucía was running everything by the team now. It wasn’t perfect but if it kept everyone safe she’d do it.

“Sure, just don’t give her details of where you are.”

Lucía nodded and watched him walk away. With a smile, she took out her phone and called her sister’s. Not the official one everyone knew about but her personal one that only close family had the number for.

“Hey, Lucía. I’m so happy to hear your voice.”

Lucía closed her eyes and let the sound of family wash over her, easing the ache of loneliness. “Hey, sissy, how are you?”

“Don’t you give me that. You got blown up and didn’t call me! I’ve been worried sick.”

“Pardon?”

Lucía glanced to Reaper who was approaching her, a heavy look on his face, and she felt such a longing it almost took her breath away. How could she spend the rest of her life loving him and not being able to be with him?

“Lucía, don’t give me that. We know about the bomb at Mr Carson’s house. Father has lost his mind and sent a royal protection squad to pick you up and take you to a hotel before he can bring you home.”

Lucía shook her head. “That’s not necessary. Justice has this in hand.”

“Yes, well, Daddy doesn’t think so. They should be waiting for you when you land. Go with them, Lucía.”

“But….” Lucía battled with her instinct that going with the royal protection team was a bad idea, that the only person who could protect her was Justice. As she looked at his handsome face, she knew it had nothing to do with not feeling safe with the team her father had chosen, and everything to do with the fact none of them were Justice, and they never would be. It was time for her to let him go and try and move on, and this was the first step. “Okay, I’ll go.”

Lucía heard her sister sigh in relief and hated that she’d put so many people through hell because of one picture. She couldn’t think about the reason for the image or the child or she’d fall apart and right now, she needed every ounce of control and composure she had in her arsenal.

“Thank you. Call me when you get to the hotel.”

“Which is?”

“The Regent.”

Lucía knew the Regent well. It was the one her father always stayed at when he was visiting for a short stay. “I’ll call you when I get there.”

“I love you, Lucía. Be safe.”

“I love you, too.”

The sisters hung up and Lucía used all her fortitude to muster up a show of strength when what she really wanted to do was cling to the man in front of her and beg him to find a way.

“I guess you heard.”

Lucía stood, taking her bag, grateful she’d showered and changed into her formal attire before they’d landed. Her eyes moved to Justice, crinkles from smiling evident around his eyes, the mouth that had shown her so much pleasure was pursed now with displeasure. “I did and I think it’s for the best.”

“Well, I don’t. Please, Lucía, stick with the plan and go with Jack and his men.”

He reached for her, and she knew if he touched her, she’d crumble. Taking a slight step back she saw the pain the action caused him but there was no other way, they had to make this break clean. “I think it best if we end our association here. You need to find your father and I trust you to end this, Justice. The royal team have been vetted and have no connections to Santini or Playboy.”

“I know. I’d just feel happier if you went with Jack.”

God, she loved this man. Reaching out she cupped his cheek, feeling the stubble under her palm and knowing she’d never get to feel that again was a pain she’d never imagined possible. “I know, Justice. But if I’ve learned one thing this last few months, it’s that you don’t always get what you want. Be safe.”

Going on tiptoes she kissed his cheek as he placed his hand over hers on his cheek, then walked toward the exit where Bishop was waiting to escort her to her car. The royal guard consisted of a four-man team who wore dark suits and had earpieces. Lucía walked to the car, sliding inside the back of the Land Rover Discovery, and sighing when the door closed. She just needed some privacy so she could have a breakdown in peace. Out of the blacked-out window, she noticed Bishop speak with the man who’d opened her door and shake his hand.

Her eyes searched for Justice and found him standing on the top steps of the plane, watching the vehicle. As if he sensed her watching him, he smiled and her heart shattered. They’d never made promises of forever yet she wanted nothing more than to be with this man. To spend her days pottering in her garden at Whitmore, taking pictures, walking with him, laughing with him, loving him. Then her sister’s face came to mind, and she thought of the responsibilities she had at home, the charities, the support she had to provide and knew she couldn’t walk away from her family, and her father would never permit her to marry a commoner.

The car pulled away and she refused to look back. The two men in the front of the vehicle didn’t make conversation and she was glad of the protocols in place for a change. The countryside sped by, the autumn beauty giving way to the stunning desolation of winter.

It was her lack of attention that meant they made it a few miles before she figured out they weren’t on their way to the Regent. Her belly flipped over, and nerves danced in her belly, her heart beating faster in her chest. “Excuse me, I was told we were going to the Regent.”