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Chapter Eight
Malik’s heart raced as he stared at William. What did the man want him to do? Even if he accomplished whatever task the man gave him, William wouldn’t simply let Sophie, Sunny, and the others go. Malik had to be two steps ahead of this masterful criminal and he felt five steps behind.
“How did you find us?” Malik demanded. Was their police force corrupt, or could one of the people in this room have betrayed Sophie?
“Remember when I clasped your hip at the reception?” William smirked at Sophie.
She nodded uncertainly.
“I inserted a tracking device in the fold of your dress. A risk if you would’ve changed clothes before fleeing, but I guessed correctly, from the information Treven and an inside source close to the royal family revealed, that you’d run scared and fast and right into Prince Malik’s willing arms. The Charming Prince would do anything for his long-lost love. It worked out perfectly. I had to get everything in place for the next step of the plan, or we would’ve been here earlier. Thank you for making this virtually effortless for me.”
“What do you want me to do?” Malik asked. He met Chad’s gaze. His friend looked more frustrated than when they’d been squaring off about Sophie minutes ago. Lieutenant General Cordon’s men wouldn’t be here until morning, and he doubted he’d bring enough manpower or know something was wrong before he was sabotaged. The camera link had only been sent to their phones and now the cameras had been taken out.
“Kill the king, the crown prince, and the prime minister in one fell swoop.” William’s smile was as evil as anything Malik had ever seen.
Malik’s stomach churned so violently he had to swallow to keep the bile in his throat. Had William really just said …? “I would never …”
William chuckled. “You would never? It’s a simple choice, Prince Malik. I kill the woman you love, her parents, and her child. After all, Treven can produce another heir easily.” He smirked as Sophie gasped. “Or you kill your father, brother, and family friend. Only you can decide who lives and dies tonight.”
Malik’s gaze was locked on Sophie. Her lip quivered and her dark gaze was bright with unshed tears. He could see into her soul. She’d never ask this of him for herself, but for her daughter and her parents … He hoped his gaze conveyed that he’d do anything for her, even if she did choose Chad over him, but … kill his dad, T, and Henry? He swallowed again, but his throat was too thick to get a full breath in. He’d never do that.
Malik had struggled with his faith since his mum died. He’d only prayed halfheartedly before that, since the day Sophie had told him she was pregnant and he’d walked away from her. His heart had been shredded and his trust in heaven had struggled.
Would he have to walk away from her again? Leave her in this masochist’s grip and go kill his own family to have a chance of rescuing Sophie? He could never hurt his dad, brother, or Henry.
There had to be some other path. Some hope of defeating William. Malik was the youngest, and since he’d lost Sophie and turned to obtaining degrees and dating a variety of women, his family had been understanding, but they hadn’t expected much of him.
Now he was going to have to somehow save everyone.
He looked at Sophie. She was the one person, besides his mum and dad, who had always believed he was more than he displayed. She knew him and inspired him and thought he was heroic despite his flaws.
He wasn’t heroic.
He needed help.
If ever there was a time for divine intervention—if ever there was a time he needed help and inspiration from above—this was it.
Please, Heavenly Father. Please. Send all your guardian angels. Send my mum. My grandparents. Inspire me. Protect Sophie and her family. Protect my family. Strengthen me. Guide me. Give me some way to work this out.
“Why do you want Prime Minister Shule dead?” Chad asked, diverting William’s attention for a blessed second. “I thought he was your puppet.”
Malik used that second to stare into Sophie’s dark eyes, be lifted by her faith in him, and pray desperately.
“Everyone is my puppet. Everyone is my pawn. The world is my chessboard, and I masterfully win every single game,” William crowed, his eyes glittering. The man was insane. “Time is up.” He tilted his chin to the men by Malik and Sophie.
All four of them converged on Sophie, assault rifles pointed at her. Malik dodged in front of them, but all they had to do was pull the trigger and he and Sophie were dead. Sweat formed on his neck, and dread filled his gut with acid.
“What will it be, Prince Malik?” William asked. “Your family or the woman you love?”
Please, Lord, he begged. I’ve been distant. I’ve blamed You. I’ve been hurt and it’s made me act selfishly. Please forgive me and give me the path to protect all those I love. I’ll give my life for any of them, but I could never take my dad, T, or Henry’s lives.
“I will do anything to keep Sophie, her family, and my men safe,” he finally said, surprising even himself. Was he choosing Sophie over his own family? Were those words inspired by heaven, or was he not seeing things clearly because he’d been distant from inspiration for too long? He had to make William believe he’d obey him. What would happen when William found out Malik could never harm his family?
Sophie’s eyes widened.
“Malik, no,” Chad said.
Malik stood straight and tall, meeting William’s gaze and hoping he conveyed that this loser could not intimidate him, even if the man did have all the power right now. “What is your plan?” he gritted out.
