AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ellery hoped somehow things would work out and everything wouldn’t implode on the royal family. Who knew if Treven being arrested would be a good thing for the August family and Steffan and Hattie, or the start of a brand-new nightmare? She didn’t understand the Rindlesbachers and was terrified of what scheming plan they might have next.
Major Chad had seen Malik hugging the beautiful chef Sophie Pederson and then chasing her out the gates. Jensen and Ray had told him to follow at a distance and see what was going on. Ellery hoped it was love for Malik, but everyone was on edge after the events of today. Tristan confided in them that Chad was interested in Sophie and had been dating her. Ellery wondered which charming, smooth-tongued man Sophie loved.
“Are you having fun?” Derek asked close to her ear.
“I’ll be having a lot more fun when the party is over and you take me up to the solarium to admire the view.”
“Is that all you want to do? Admire the view?” He turned her toward him, and she anticipated the kiss that was coming.
“The Ninja Warrior Prince and the Adorkable Boston Beauty,” a cultured female voice interrupted their kiss.
Derek held her even closer as they both turned to face Naomi Rindlesbacher and a polished gentleman Ellery assumed was her husband William. Fear and anger rushed through her. These people had used her as a pawn and Treven had even said they were going to force her to assassinate the king. She loathed them and was terrified at the same time.
“It’s incredibly bold, or maybe just incredibly stupid of you, to show your plastic face here tonight,” Ellery said.
Derek gave a surprised chuckle while Naomi and her husband’s eyes filled with anger.
“But maybe too many shots of Botox are detrimental to brain cells as well as your ability to make facial expressions. Since I can’t tell if you’re upset or just slow, I’ll spell it out. You stay away from our family, or I will make sure you regret it.” Ellery had never threatened someone before. It felt amazing and like she’d just conquered her fears.
“How dare you,” Naomi spluttered. “I can ruin you with a snap of my fingers.”
“How dare you,” Derek shot back at her. “I will ruin you with a snap of my fingers.” He lifted his hand and gestured to Ollie and Braxton, who were lingering nearby. Those two were going to have a hard time letting go of being Derek’s personal guards. “Leave quietly and we’ll finish this battle another day, or I will have my guards make a scene and humiliate you. You had no problem making a scene during my brother’s wedding dinner and letting your pathetic loser of a son kidnap and try to murder my girlfriend.”
The guards reached them. Just seeing their hulking strength and knowing their dedication to Derek reassured Ellery.
“Please escort William and Naomi off the castle grounds. If they make a fuss, I give you leave to bodily carry them. Don’t be gentle, especially with the she-demon.”
Naomi gasped, and William’s face was so tight with anger it almost mirrored his wife’s.
“This isn’t over,” William warned.
“I’m sure you’ll keep scheming, blackmailing, and manipulating,” Derek said evenly, not the least intimidated by the most evil people Ellery had ever encountered, and she’d grown up in the ‘most dangerous’ neighborhood in Boston. “But you will never hurt any of my family or get close to Ellery again.” He lifted his eyebrows and then tilted his head regally. “Ollie, Braxton, apparently the Rindlesbachers have chosen the option of being bodily carried.”
William took his wife’s arm and spun, marching quickly away with Braxton and Ollie on their heels.
Ellery saw the prime minister watching them go. He turned and caught her watching him. His face darkened and he quickly turned away.
“You were impressive, Elle,” Derek said.
She turned to him. “You were too. I loved how you put them in their place.”
“I can’t believe they’d dare show up here.” He turned a wary eye to the prime minister. “I still can’t believe Henry’s in league with them.”
“Maybe they’ve given him no choice.”
“Maybe. We’ll have to brainstorm about it later. I love that you’re on my family’s team.”
Ellery swallowed but couldn’t contain the emotion that statement brought. She loved his family, this royal team, and she was part of it. She could trust and love Derek and all of them with her whole heart and they’d never walk away or turn their backs on her. Even if she wrecked another priceless car, which she really hoped she wouldn’t do. She was going to request driving lessons in a Kia.
“Right now, we have more important things to do,” Derek said.
“Oh. What’s that?” Ellery’s heartbeat picked up at that look in his blue eyes.
“I need to dunk your head in a fountain.”
“Ah. I thought you were going to take me up to the solarium and pretend we’re looking at the view.”
“Elle.” He looked her over. “You are one brilliant lady. That may be the only way you’re getting out of a dunking in the fountain.”
