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He watched them go. Sophie glanced back before she reached the stairs. The look in her dark eyes was still determined. He wished he knew what she was going to reveal when she returned. He wished he could be the one walking her to her room. He wished he could be the one she loved.
Her daughter’s safety took preeminence right now.
Did smooth-tongue Major Chad Prescott realize that?
Malik unconsciously tightened his hand into a fist. He wasn’t military trained, but he’d sparred in gyms throughout the world and stood up for women in dangerous situations many times throughout his life.
If Chad bothered Sophie, he’d be happy to convince Tristan’s best friend to back off.
The bigger concern was … what if Sophie welcomed Chad’s attention?
Chapter Five
Chad found blankets in the walk-in closet of one of the eight spacious suites upstairs and helped Sophie’s mum fashion a makeshift bed on the floor next to the king bed. Sophie laid her girl down and softly kissed her forehead and then her cheek, inhaling the sweetness of her angel. She murmured a prayer of gratitude for these men who had dropped everything to protect her daughter without even knowing who was after her. She said a prayer for Sunny’s protection and then asked for help to know how to share the story with Malik and Chad.
There were so many worries currently, most of all what William Rindlesbacher planned to do with Sunny and if he could somehow find them. For some reason, though, the overriding worry of Malik’s reaction to who Sunny’s grandfather and father were had her throat tight and her palms clammy and a constant prayer for help running through her mind.
She straightened and looked at her parents. “Thank you.”
“Of course, love.” Her mum gave her a brief hug and then her dad. They were always so supportive. She couldn’t imagine many parents would be as supportive of their single daughter, assuming Jonathon was the father of her baby, though she’d never told anyone that; she had simply let them assume. They’d never nagged her to move on and give another man a chance.
If only they knew…
Would she reveal the truth to them after she told Malik and Chad, or was it still better to keep things quiet for their sake and for Sunny’s? She’d risen above the rape with lots of help from heaven above and the knowledge that Malik had always believed in her, even if she couldn’t be with him. Could she now take away the power Treven still had over her by admitting the truth to Malik and everyone else, or would she only put a terrifying target on Malik’s back?
“There are toiletries in the bathrooms, robes and slippers in the closet, but I apologize about not having any extra clothes,” Chad said. “Tomorrow I can run to the village for clothing and any supplies you need.”
“Please, don’t apologize,” her dad said. “We appreciate all you are doing for our daughter and granddaughter.”
Chad’s green eyes zeroed in on her. “I’m honored to do anything I can for the most beautiful and talented chef in all of Europe.”
Sophie smiled at the compliment. Chad complimented her so often she didn’t take it seriously. She enjoyed dating him and being around him, but he complimented and charmed every woman. Why should she be any different?
“I’ll come move Sunny to my room in a bit,” she said.
“No. Let her rest,” her dad said. “We’ll watch over her.”
She knew they would, and if she couldn’t trust her parents to put Sunny’s needs first as they had consistently done over the past six years, she was in a world of hurt. “Thank you.”
Chad waited for her to walk out of the room and then followed. “Good night,” he said to her parents, closing the door behind him.
Lieutenant Mason waited in the hallway.
“Guard this door and monitor the camera link I sent to your phone,” Chad instructed.
The lieutenant saluted. “Yes, sir.”
Chad took her hand and led her down the hallway. She should protest him casually holding her hand as if they were dating, but he spoke before she could. “Mason may look like he’s too young to shave or know how to handle a pistol, but I’d trust the lieutenant to safeguard my own mother and the king at the same time.”
It was an interesting way to phrase that, and his wording temporarily distracted her. “Are your mum and King Nolan …”
Chad’s mum was a beautiful and accomplished member of parliament. She’d raised Chad by herself. Sophie wondered if it was part of the reason Chad seemed so drawn to her and Sunny. He wanted to be the dad he’d never had.
“Oh, no.” He smirked. “Can you imagine? Mum is constantly after the king or prime minister for the most minor of issues and I’m sure the king is far from healed over losing Queen Anne.”
“I’m sure.” They descended the stairs and she said quietly, “I’m trusting you, Chad.”
He squeezed her hand and winked gallantly. “You should. I’m the most trustworthy, charming, and handsome man in all of Europe.”
