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“So, this was a setup?” Sebastian surmises.
“I’d say so.”
“Do you need an ambulance?” I ask, cutting off the conversation.
“I’m just a bit tender, sir. I’m good otherwise.”
“Okay,” I say, rubbing my jaw as I try to contain what I’m feeling. “Let’s get our men out here. They can liaise with the police, and we can get Benny in. We’ll get the doc, and he can check you all out, but if he says you need to go to the hospital, you listen.”
“Sir.” Sean gives a curt head nod, Dylan following.
“Did you see what they looked like?”
“Sorry, sir. They all wore black with balaclavas. No one said anything apart from about grabbing Natalia.”
I strategize for a moment. On one hand, I want to get back to the palace, get Natalia checked out, and keep her there. On the other, I want to rip this goddamn city apart unless someone breaks and confesses that they not only took my money but tried to take my girl.
“We’re going back to the palace.”
My decision is not taken lightly, and I’m only doing it so I can exact the first half of my plan, and then I can send out the orders to find the culprits and my money.
“Seb, you drive.”
I toss him my keys as I snake an arm around Natalia’s waist to support her and ease her slowly to her feet.
Getting to my car, I’m grateful Sebastian has the door open ready for me to help Natalia get into the back seat. I rush around to the other side, Sebastian saying he’s got it from there, and get in, immediately taking her in my arms. Her body slumps heavily against mine, almost like she’s boneless.
“Darling girl?” I murmur, bringing my other hand up to her chin to gently make her look at me. “How you doing?”
“’m okay,” she slurs, knocking my hand away.
“You sure?”
She nods but closes her eyes as it clearly sends pulses of pain through her head. She gives her best attempt to not groan but fails miserably.
“The doc is waiting for us at the palace. He’ll tell us if we need to take you to the hospital.”
“No hospital.”
“That’s not up for discussion.”
“You can’t make me,” she argues, no force to her words. “I’ll be fine after I’ve found some tablets.”
“I think you need more than that.”
“I don’t even remember hitting my head,” she admits, casting an upwards glance at me. “I blame you. You smacked my head against that wall the other day and then you put me in a car crash today. Definitely gave me a concussion that first hit.”
“I put you in a car crash? And gave you a concussion? You’re being dramatic now.”
“You gave me that stupid job,” she mutters. “Must really hate me.”
Her eyes flutter closed, and she groans again. Our knuckles brush against one another as her hand tries to find mine, the sting of human contact nothing compared to her placing blame on me that I don’t want. I’ve wanted to hurt Natalia for years, but not like this—out of sight, out of my control.
I look up to find Sebastian regarding me in the middle mirror. I shake my head, knowing what he’s thinking right now.
Natalia and I were always destined to seek one another out, regardless of the situation.
Hatred will never change that.
