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Was Malik going to come with them while she hid from William and figured out how to keep her daughter safe? What if they could never resurface? No matter how appealing the idea was of trapping Malik by her side, she could never ask him to live on the run.
She said a brief prayer, felt okay about the plan, and finally squeaked out, “Okay.”
“Okay.” Malik gave her a reassuring nod and then touched some buttons on his phone. She listened as he spoke to Chief Jensen, explaining that her daughter had been threatened, Chad was on his way to take Sophie and Malik to Traverse, but could he send his most trusted officers to her home and have them bring her parents and little girl to the airport?
Sophie rattled off her address as the rotors of a helicopter beat through the evening air. Malik repeated the address, thanked Chief Jensen, and then pocketed the phone. Sophie prayed she was making the right move. So many years of hiding from the Rindlesbachers and the truth and Malik as well.
Now they were all in her face. Malik was the only one she wanted there. She shouldn’t have gotten snippy about who she was dating. She should’ve told him Chad was great but she hadn’t committed to him because no one would do for her but one Prince Malik.
What did it matter right now? Sunny was in danger, and they had to escape from William.
A basket was lowered down to them. Malik helped her into it and when she was secure, he stood on the side and gestured up with his finger to the man watching them from the open door of the helicopter. They lifted off the ground and her stomach swooped—nerves or the quick elevation change, she wasn’t certain.
Malik glanced down at her and gave her a reassuring nod. His tailored suit was ripped and wet, clinging to his muscular body. He looked like an action hero from the big screen. He was handsome enough to best any actor and fit enough to best their top stunt man. When they’d dated for a year, she’d often pushed his royal title to the back of her mind, seeing the kind, determined, and loyal man he was underneath. It was impossible to ignore that fact right now. His very bearing was royal. Sophie was confident as a businesswoman and a chef, but she was a busy single mum, not the type of woman Malik dated any longer.
The basket reached the helicopter and Malik easily stepped inside, then he and one of the royal guards reached for her, lifting her into the helicopter. The man released her to bring the basket in and close the door. She was left clinging to Malik. He steadied her as the helicopter lifted into the evening sky. Sophie could’ve stood in his protective and steadying embrace the entire ride, but he escorted her to a seat and put a headset on her. Then he sat next to her and put his own headset on.
“Well, there they are,” Chad’s warm voice said over the headset. “You two look a fright. Well, truth be told, only Malik does. Sophie, you look as gorgeous and enticing as ever. I’m eternally grateful I could rescue you this fine evening.”
Chad winked back at her, then focused on rising above the towering castle and flying out across the valley, leaving the castle behind. The large military helicopter was fast. As she glanced at the castle, it hit her that she’d just abandoned the biggest catering job of her career. She’d been focused on the threat to Sunny and fuzzy-headed around Malik, not to mention she’d fallen off a cliff, taken a dunk in an icy river, and been unconscious for a spell.
“Chad.” Malik’s voice held a slight reprimand. “We need to focus on a plan. Sophie’s daughter is in danger, and I don’t want Ray thinking he has to cancel his honeymoon because all is not well in the kingdom.”
“All is never well in the kingdom lately,” Chad said. “Sophie; ah, my beautiful Sophie. I am terribly sorry that your angel Sunny has been threatened. I will do all in my power to help you.”
“I know you will.” She tried to smile, but her lip trembled.
“So will I,” Malik reassured in his strong, appealing voice. He reached over and wrapped his hand around hers. Sophie startled, but the touch was comforting. She’d ached for Malik’s touch. She used to tease him it was like a magic balm.
Would Malik and Chad both help her, asking nothing in return? Chad might ask for a date or try to tease her into another kiss. What would Malik want?
Their gazes met and held. His blue eyes stirred and increased the need she’d repressed for him.
“Have you spoken to Jensen?” Chad asked over the headset, interrupting their moment.
“Yes. He’s sending officers to Sophie’s house,” Malik confirmed.
“Will Chief Jensen check back in when they have my parents and Sunny?” she asked.
“I’m sure he will.”
“Can somebody tell Melissa from my staff that I had a family emergency? Please ask her to keep it quiet. I don’t want William to know that I disappeared.”
Malik’s gaze was hyper-focused on her. “William?”
She glanced at Chad and a copilot and the other man in the rear with them who’d helped her into the helicopter. She didn’t know them. Her fear of William’s reach was suffocating. She didn’t know if she dared say anything in here. She was afraid to start letting any of this spill to Malik as it was. All the buried truths might come out and then where would she be? With Treven in prison, some might claim he couldn’t come after and hurt or kill Malik, but she’d seen the pictures of Jonathon’s mutilated body, and William was involved now. A cold chill prickled her skin.
“I’ll text Jensen to talk to Melissa. Probably best to keep as few people as possible in the loop right now.” Malik held her gaze as he said it.
Sophie nodded slightly and really appreciated his willingness to keep things quiet and to not pry out the details until she was ready to share.
Malik released her hand and tapped into his phone.
They swooped through the mountain pass to Traverse, and Sophie held her breath. She knew Chad was an experienced pilot, but this felt like a thrill ride, and her stomach hadn’t settled from William’s threats and the tumble down the ravine’s side.
Malik reached for her hand again and smiled at her. “It’ll be all right.”
Sophie wasn’t so sure, but with him close it was hard not to trust that the hero of her late teenage years couldn’t solve every problem, keep her safe, and then kiss her at the end of the day. She wanted to roll her eyes at herself, but she was too invested in Malik’s blue eyes. She’d missed staring into those eyes.
