Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 95609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
I put the phone back to my ear. “What is going on?”
“I don’t know, sweetie,” Harper replies, “but I don’t think he’s trying to shut you up. If I’m right, this might be a grand gesture fit for a king.”
“It better be groveling fit for a king,” Ivy grouses. “I mean it. I better believe that man or he’s going to get the full-on hacker treatment, and I might sic Lady Buttercup on him. I know she’s small, but that little bitch can bite.”
I force myself to relax because it’s obvious I’m not going anywhere, and Hans seems to be moving this train along now. “Why would he come back? He didn’t finish the show. The show was the most important thing in the world to him.”
“I tell you why he does what he does.” Hans’s voice is clear and unmistakable even though I’m stuck in the trunk and there’s a whole stretch limo between us. I hear him say something in German I don’t understand. “Why are you so surprised?”
“Because you told me he was going to sacrifice me.”
“No, I tell you that sometimes to win the game the king must sacrifice the queen,” he replies.
He is so rewriting history. “That is not what you said, and even if you did, I got the message. I didn’t understand it at the time because you’re so cryptic. If you’re going to warn a girl she’s about to get her heart stomped on, you should say it plainly.”
“I see you.” Ivy sounds excited. “At least I see a limo and it’s got flags on it. Like the ones heads of state use. The police are waving it in. What is even happening right now?”
“I say this as plainly as I can. Any Ralavian would have known exactly what was going to happen,” Hans says without a hint of sympathy in his voice.
“Well, I’m not Ralavian,” I shoot back but my heart is starting to thud in my chest because the limo slows, and I can hear the crowd all around us.
The limo stops, and I feel the door open.
It’s a mere moment before the trunk swings up and I blink in the sunlight. Hans stares down at me. “I hope when you are, you will learn to be more logical. This is my king’s gift to you. Alles Gute zur Verlobung.”
He helps me climb out of the trunk, and I don’t need the phone anymore because I see Harper and Ivy behind the police lines. I look to Hans. “I don’t know what that means.”
For the first time I can remember he smiles at me, a look of pure amusement. His eyes light with mirth, and he bows before me. “You will, meine Königin. Watch the boards. I think you will find them illuminating.”
“Ani, tell them to let us through!” Harper yells.
I look and the policeman is waiting for me to say yay or nay. Like I have some power here. I nod and he allows my friends through as the big board changes and a network news anchor comes on.
“This is crazy.” Harper holds my hand.
Ivy’s lips turn up. “I think this is going to be one hell of a grovel.”
“Big news from the set of the Pinnacle production of the reality dating show The King Takes a Bride,” the well-manicured news anchor says. “Hollywood will surely be up in arms over the revelation that acclaimed director Joe Helms has been caught admitting to sexual misconduct.”
My jaw drops. What has Luca done?
“We have exclusive outtakes of the hour-long conversation between Helms and Reginald Lucannon St. Marten, the king of the tiny country known as Ralavia. It’s apparent to this reporter that Helms didn’t know he was being recorded. The king was involved in a sting operation to hold the director to account after an incident on the set led to one contestant leaving and a production assistant being fired.”
My eyes are wide as the scene changes and there’s Joe sitting in a luxurious seat, a glass of Scotch in his hand. Which is funny since he recently left rehab. It’s obvious they’re on a private jet and the camera is set up behind Luca, but I recognize his voice.
“But, why, Joe? You could find a willing partner. Why would you force that young man?”
Joe’s eyes roll. “He wanted it. Yeah, I know he said all the right things, but what you have to remember about men like Patrick is they are always playing games. So I play with them. I wouldn’t touch a woman in his position. Way too dangerous, but you know how it is.”
“I think I know what it means to be placed in a situation I don’t want to be in,” Luca says.
“I assure you he wanted it no matter what that little bitch says. Now he’ll be paid handsomely to keep his mouth shut, and she will, too.” Joe takes another drink.