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“Yes. I’ve got her. Go.”
Ray didn’t even look at her. They closed the doors to the helicopter, and it lifted into the night air.
Macey jogged up the stairs to Kiera. The little girl released her nanny and hugged Macey so fiercely it was hard to catch a breath.
“Is T going to die? He can’t die!” she wailed.
“No, sweetie. No. They’ve got him stabilized. He’ll be okay.” She held the little girl, praying she was telling the truth. If Tristan’s airway had been burned, or if the burns covered enough of his body, he could die.
Kiera didn’t respond, just cried and cried. The princess had been so strong and brave, never showing fear and doing her crazy stunts. Faced with a second family member dying she was falling apart. Nobody could blame her.
Macey held her and looked at Lisa. Was the nanny involved? She pivoted, shielding Kiera with her body.
“I promise I didn’t know,” Lisa cried out, tears streaming down her face. “I promise.”
A couple guards were nearby.
“I love Prince Tristan. I love Kiera and this whole family,” Lisa sobbed.
Macey swallowed. The nanny’s obsession with Tristan was out of control. Could she have helped her ex-boyfriend try to kill him because Tristan was engaged to Macey?
She met one of the guard’s eyes and tilted her head to Lisa. He nodded. He must know enough of the story to have arrived at the same conclusion she had.
“Lisa,” Macey said calmly as two guards approached. “These men are going to take you with them and ask you some questions. You need to answer honestly and share everything you know about Jobe and why he would try to kill Prince Tristan. Okay?”
The guards reached them. Lisa cried harder, but she met Macey’s gaze. “I will. I promise. I’ll do anything to make this right. I broke up with Jobe weeks and weeks ago. I promise. I had no idea he would hurt Prince Tristan because he was so jealous and crazy.”
“Okay. Go with them and it will work out.” Macey hoped the girl was innocent. She liked her, and she knew Kiera complained about the homework but was very attached to her nanny.
“I’ll be back soon, Kiera,” Lisa promised. “Stay with Macey. It’ll all be okay, sweetheart.”
It warmed Macey’s heart that Lisa was worried about Kiera as the guard took her arm and led her away. She held on to Kiera as the young princess sobbed until Macey wondered how she had any tears left. It had to all be hitting her in this moment. Her mom’s death. Thinking her brother had been killed.
Macey held her until she calmed down. Then she said, “Okay, love. We’re going to get some shoes on, say a prayer, and then go see Tristan at the hospital. You can see for yourself that he’s all right.”
“He really is?” Kiera blinked up at her, her blue eyes ringed with red, her face mottled from crying.
“He really is.” Macey prayed she was telling the truth, and she prayed desperately for Tristan, for Kiera, for Ray and the entire family.
She’d fallen in love with all of them.
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
Ray paced the main waiting room of the hospital in Traverse. His dad was sitting outside the trauma bay waiting for them to move T into the ICU after the emergency physicians treated his burns, intubated and sedated him. To his knowledge, T hadn’t woken and the burns were third degree on his shoulder and upper back where his shirt had been on fire and second degree on his neck and face. Steffan was with his dad. Malik was on his way, and he’d left messages for Curtis and Derek. Curtis usually had his satellite phone on. He would find his way here soon. Derek must be training and have his phone off, but he’d respond soon too.
Ray could not believe this had happened. He’d let down his guard, given into his all-consuming desires, kissed Macey, and his brother was now burned and would be dead if he’d been any closer to that bed. He swallowed but couldn’t swallow down the guilt. This was all his fault. He’d never been out of control in his life, but he had no control where Macey was concerned.
The exterior door opened and Macey rushed in, holding Kiera’s hand. Everything seemed to settle as he looked into Macey’s dark eyes. He wanted to rush to her and hold her and his sister.
No! His mum’s words played through his mind.You would do anything to protect this family, protect this kingdom. I know we’re safe with you around.He’d failed his mum and now he’d failed T. He couldn’t forgive himself for T being hurt. Now he associated his fatal attraction to Macey with his failure to protect his twin.
“Ray!” Kiera ran to him.
He picked her up and held her. She quivered against him. “Is T dead?”
“No, sweetie. No. He’s going to have some cool scars, but he’ll be okay.”
“I’ve been praying so hard,” she whispered.
