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“A little hard since Franz is dead.” Despair filled her. What was she going to do? She’d be an international criminal now. Would all of her money be seized? She definitely couldn’t go home.
He squeezed her hand. “Franz or William will have made mistakes, bragged to somebody, a money trail, something.”
“Here’s hoping.” They walked in silence. Steffan didn’t need any more stress than what had already been heaped on him by this mess, but she had to ask, “What are you going to do with me now?” She wished it was a flirtatious line and not a desperate one.
“Ray and Macey will get ahold of Sutton Smith, who will get ahold of Wolf and Sadie. Are you all right hiding out with them until we sort this mess out?”
It was the best-case scenario and Sutton was brilliant and could help if they needed. The worst-case scenario would be William Rindlesbacher finding her. Middle ground would be facial reconstruction surgery and living her life under an assumed identity. Could she come back to Steffan then?
What if he offered to come with her now?
No, she told herself firmly.
“It will be great to be with Sadie,” she said.
They walked and philosophized about how William had planned out and executed this scheme and why. Franz must’ve gotten involved for the money.
William was deviously brilliant. Steffan explained how his family has been at odds with the royal family for years, claiming the Rindlesbachers should be on the throne. Nothing ever stuck to William. The man didn’t make mistakes, his wife was a benevolent-seeming backstabber, his son a sociopath both parents would do anything for, and if William had his tentacles into the prime minister, that would be horrific.
The whole time she thought Treven was the threat, but it was much, much bigger than that.
Exiting the trail, they climbed into a white Land Rover.
“He said he’d bring a low-key car,” Steffan joked.
“Well, if you’re used to Aston Martins …”
Hattie was exhausted and kept looking around, expecting somebody to jump out and drag her to prison—or stick a knife through her heart. She’d been angry at Franz for tricking her, but it looked like he’d been manipulated or bought off and he’d given his life for it. Tragic.
They drove through steep roads and rugged back mountain passes, finally coming out in a small town called Highwater on the southern side of Augustine, a picturesque village with two rivers running through it.
They made it to the Swiss border by late morning. A bored guard waved them through. They both had caps on and Steffan wore sunglasses. “It won’t be so easy going back,” he said, pointing to the Augustine border patrol, who appeared much more threatening and diligent.
“Will you be in trouble? What if William figures out where you went?”
“He thinks you’re burned to a crisp, remember? If anyone asks, I went on a long hike and a longer drive, mourning my lost love.”
“There you go.”
His lost love? She knew Steffan cared deeply for her but he didn’t really mean … that. Not truly.
They drove faster as the roads were paved now and wider. Italian border patrol waved them through. They reached Milan by early afternoon, got food from a drive-thru restaurant, and then drove straight to a commuter airport.
Ray had texted that Wolf and Sadie had already decided to head their direction when they found out Hattie was in such a mess two days ago and she never responded to their emails. They’d made it to Traverse last night and reached out to Macey, but she’d been asleep and had just seen the message early this morning and contacted Ray. The general instructed Wolf and Sadie to fly to Milan. They would be waiting for Hattie in a white Cessna, already cleared by customs and ready to go.
They parked in a quiet parking lot and Steffan glanced around. “I can see the plane. About fifty yards.” He looked back at her. “Will you be okay walking over there alone?”
“Of course I will. You forget that before this mess I was an independent billionaire who traveled the globe.”
He looked her over. “You’re still an independent billionaire, but your travel plans may have changed a bit.”
“Just a bit. Now I’ll be rolling in the dirt, administering shots to runny-nose cuties for Sadie.” She shuddered.
He laughed. “I’m sure you’ll be great at it.”
“I’m sure I won’t.” She had no experience around children and hated to see anyone suffering, but that was the least of her worries at the moment.
They studied each other for a beat. How strange to say goodbye like this. It was a definite let down from their previous interactions. She found herself saying an internal prayer of gratitude that Steffan was all right and she would be free, but leaving Steffan … it felt like a vicious punishment, not a freedom.
