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Instantly her mouth curves up, and it’s just in time.
We look normal.
I keep my eyes on hers as we drive over the border, and Cillian lets out a relieved breath when we’re not stopped. I pull my hand away from Winter’s and scan our surroundings as we drive into Germany.
One obstacle down. Many to go.
Chapter 14
WINTER
After passing the border between Switzerland and Germany, we stop to fill the tank and retrieve the weapons.
When I start walking toward the restroom, Damien snaps, “You go nowhere without me.”
Glancing back at him, I say, “Fine. Hurry up. I need to use the restroom.”
Things have been weird between us since he became my custodian. I actually miss the friction that kept me on my toes. It’s gone because there’s nothing to fight him on. Everything he does is to keep me alive, and I’m not about to jeopardize it by being difficult.
Damien stalks toward me and grabs hold of my arm. I yank back against him, a scowl forming on my forehead. “You don’t have to drag me, Vetrov. I’m not stupid.”
Much to my surprise, the corner of his mouth lifts, and he lets go of my arm, only to place his hand on my lower back.
Was he trying to get a rise out of me?
As we walk toward the restroom, I become highly aware of Damien’s hand on my back. It makes the familiar tingles I always feel in his presence come back, and for the first time, I welcome it. It chases some of the suffocating grief.
How did we get to this moment? I have a merciless killer on my side. Yesterday morning he was still an enemy, and now he’s all that stands between my enemies and me.
Which means, once more, I’m in his debt.
“I owe you too much,” the words slip from me before I can stop them.
“Your father paid for my protection,” he mutters.
Dad.
God, how will I survive without my father? I know nothing about the business. Sean was the one being trained to take over.
The new panic robs me of my breath. I don’t even know what the family’s finances look like. Dad paid twenty-five million for Damien. I owe Alexei five million.
“What’s wrong?” Damien asks as we reach the restroom.
“Nothing,” I whisper. Walking inside, I find a stall and shut the door behind me. I stand still and take a couple of deep breaths.
We just need to get back to the island. I’ll be able to look at the finances then. Cillian will know what to do with the business. He can show me how to run it.
The thoughts calm the panic, and I quickly relieve myself. Washing my hands, I look at my reflection in the mirror.
I look awful.
I look like an orphan.
I look weak.
Lifting my chin, I take a deep breath.
Once I’m home, I can grieve. Until then, I have to be the Blood Princess, the last living Hemsley.
When I step out of the building, Damien’s right by the entrance. Again he places his hand on my lower back as we walk to the SUV.
Reaching the vehicle, Damien removes the knives from the back, and it gives me a moment alone with Cillian.
“Do you know anything about running the business?” I ask.
Cillian nods. “I’ll show you the ropes as soon as we’re home. Don’t worry, poppet.”
“And the finances?” I ask.
Cillian shakes his head. “I know who the accountant is. We’ll check with him.”
“Let’s go,” Damien mutters, and we all climb back into the car.
Cillian starts the engine, and as he steers us back onto the road, Damien curses, “Fuck, that’s a scout. Ninety meters behind us.”
I start to turn, but Damien places his hand on my arm. “Don’t. Let them think they have the upper hand of a surprise attack.”
He pulls his phone out, and after dialing a number, he says, “We’re going to come in hot. We just picked up a tail.”
He listens for a moment, then murmurs, “Yes. Da! We’re two hours out.”
When Damien ends the call, his gaze snaps to Cillian. “If they catch up to us, we just need to make it to the airfield.”
“Won’t they be able to shoot the private jet down before we even take off?” I voice my worry.
“There’s a hanger. We need to park in it. Demitri and Alexei will wait there to help take out the threat before our plane takes off.”
My body tenses, knowing we’re in for a rough morning.
Damien reaches out to me, and for a moment, I think he’s going to take my hand, but instead, he places the Heckler and Koch on my lap. I instantly grab hold of the gun and check the clip.
Damien opens his bag and hands me two more clips.
Lifting my butt off the seat, I tuck them into the pocket of my pants.
I watch as he checks his own weapons and Cillian’s gun before handing it back to him.
