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Jennifer’s throat tightened at the thought of her mum, still in danger. “Naomi has her?” she asked her dad.
“Yes.”
“Any idea where?”
“No.” Her dad moved toward her.
Tristan let her feet slide to the ground. She embraced her dad, relief that they’d both survived so strong she felt weak. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement.
“Nolan!” Aliya screamed.
The king whipped around as William lifted his arm, the gleaming metal of a gun evident in his hand, and pointed straight at the king. Nolan dropped onto William, driving his elbow into the man’s hand and his body weight onto him.
William screamed in protest as the gun clattered away.
Nolan yanked him to his feet and growled, “You’re going to finally pay for a myriad of crimes. If you’re lucky, you’ll get the death penalty.”
“No,” William whimpered. “I was only trying to help the Augustine people.”
“Save it.” Nolan’s voice was like a whip. “We’ll drag him down the mountain. I’m not leaving him here and chancing him escaping.”
“Okay.” Tristan nodded to his dad.
“If it was me, I’d lock his ugly carcass in here and set the bomb off,” Aliya piped up.
“How dare—” William cut off at the glower on each of the men’s faces. He studied the cave floor.
“Lucky for you, these fine gentlemen are much more gracious than the ‘white trash’ princess.”
“You are the furthest thing from white trash, love,” Curt said.
Aliya hugged him tightly. “Oh, I know that, lover lips. I’m just quotin’ that lame loser cowering on the ground like the scaredy-cat wuss he is.”
Nolan smiled at his daughter-in-law and then gestured to the rest of them. “You all go first. Henry and I will bring along the garbage.”
“Gladly.” Her dad grabbed William’s other arm none too gently.
Tristan escorted Jennifer down the tunnel, Aliya and Curt behind them. She could hardly believe it was over.
They pushed the growth out of the way of the opening and climbed out. The sun had risen, and it was glorious outside. They were coming out of the darkness and ugly confrontation in the cave and of their past. The new morning tasted fresh and clean and made Jennifer believe she and Tristan could start their life together.
It was also a very precarious landing. She and Tristan carefully slid to the side and made their way down to where the trail was a bit wider. The guards eased back to give them room.
The drop was still over fifty meters on her left side. She found herself leaning into the mountain and praying. Prayers of gratitude that they’d escaped and her dad was free. Prayers that they could find and rescue her mum. Prayers that they wouldn’t slide off the cliff.
“Everything all right, Prince Tristan?” one of the guards asked, looking them over.
“No.”
Aliya and Curt joined them on the trail as Henry, then William, and then the king emerged from the opening.
“Sir?” The guard’s voice was full of confusion. “The lieutenant general?”
“Gone,” Tristan said tersely.
“How can I help the king?” he asked.
“Please head down the trail so we can get everyone off the ledge.”
