“A map will probably be easier than trying to give you directions,” Kai said. A few minutes later, he slid the paper across the desk.
“Nice.” I had to admit, I was impressed. This wasn't just some stick figure equivalent. Kai had added in enough detail that I felt confident I could get from the maid's quarters to Nami's new bedroom without much difficulty. Well, at least without getting lost. “Now, what about the guards?”
“Tanek has been keeping both princesses in their rooms, with guards posted at all times,” Tomas said. He leaned over and pointed to the room Kai had marked. “The guards are usually stationed here. What they and Tanek do not know is that there is a side entrance that the servants use.” He gave a hard smile. “Tanek does not care enough to pay attention to what the servants do, and the guards are new enough that they have not yet learned all of the palace.” He traced a line around to where Kai had made an arrow. “This is where you will want to enter.”
“Do I need a key?” I asked. “The last thing I need to happen is to get stuck outside her room because the door's locked.”
Tomas reached into his pocket and pulled out a key. “This is the servants' key. It will open all of the side doors.”
“All right,” I said. I looked down at the map. I could have this memorized by this evening, no problem. There were two other things we needed to talk about though. “Is the service entrance still available for a way out?”
Tomas shook his head. “Once Tanek figured out that you used it to escape Friday night, he ordered double the guards and a sign in sheet to be used every time the gate is opened.”
“Okay.” I sighed and ran my hand through my hair. “So how do I get on and off the grounds without being seen?” That probably should have been my first question.
“They do not search my car,” Tomas said. “I will drive us in and you will be in the trunk.”
Oh, that sounded like fun.
“Instead of meeting at the airport, you will meet us in the garage,” Tomas said. “You and Princess Nami can ride out in the trunk.”
Both he and Kai looked mortified at the thought of putting me and Nami in the trunk. I wasn't sure if it was more the idea of the princess or the two of us being together that they thought was worse. It was a good idea though. More than that, it was the only idea we had.
“All right,” I said. “I assume Nami can get us to the garage without any problem?”
Tomas nodded. “She knows more hidden doors and passageways than anyone.”
That didn't surprise me.
“One more thing,” I said. “I need to know how we're going to get rid of Tanek after the girls are safe.”
“We will need evidence,” Tomas said. “The king and queen will not merely accept the word of a foreigner, especially once Tanek presents them with the kidnapping and rape charges. The fact that you have the princesses again will support that.”
“What about you two?”
“Tanek will claim that we are angry at being moved from Princess Namisa's detail,” Kai said.
“So what we need is someone else who'll support what a horrible person Tanek is.” Another idea popped into my head. “And I think I know exactly who we can call.”
Forty minutes later, a familiar face showed up at Kai's door. She gave the bodyguards each a look and then turned her attention to me. We sat down and I quickly explained to her what I needed her to do.
“Let me see if I understand,” she said once I'd finished. “You wish for me to approach the king and queen when they return to Saja and tell them what Tanek did to me?”
“Yes.” I didn't see any point in trying to sugarcoat it.
“He will kill me and our daughter.”
“No, he will not,” Tomas said. “Kai and I will escort you to the king and queen personally and you will bring your daughter with you.”
I reached over and put my hand on Ina's. “If you do this, we will make sure Tanek can't hurt anyone ever again.” I paused, and then added, “And I will hire a lawyer to ensure that Tanek and his family pay child support for your daughter until she comes of age.”
Ina's eyes narrowed. “Do you believe I can be bought?”
“No,” I said calmly. “I think it would be a way of me showing my gratitude for your help and you getting what you deserve.”
“And we will make sure Tanek gets what he deserves,” Kai said.
We fell silent as we watched her think and consider her options. Then, finally, she nodded. “I will do this.” There was a stubborn set to her jaw that told me she wouldn't go back on her decision. “And I will bring my...how do you say this in English?” She looked at Tomas and said something in their language.
“Insurance,” he said.
“Insurance?” I asked.
Ina gave me a hard smile. “Yes, insurance. The papers that prove Tanek is my daughter's father.”
For the first time since I'd been handcuffed, I felt true hope. This could work. This could really work. I had one more call to make. I just hoped that I truly did have at least two real friends left in Philadelphia.
Chapter 13
Reed
Ina gave Kai and Tomas her address and then headed home. They would, we decided, go from the airport to Ina's house. Tanek would never think to look for them there. By the time he figured out what was happening, it would be too late. The princesses and I would be safe in Philadelphia. Kai and Tomas would protect themselves and then they would protect her as they took her to the king and queen. She would tell them the truth about what had happened between her and Tanek, and then Kai and Tomas would share the rest. Once Tanek was arrested, Kai and Tomas would tell the king and queen where we were.
I just hoped they didn't get in trouble for not giving up that information right away. We didn't need the two of them in jail. Then again, I was sure that if it happened, Nami would be able to straighten things out once we got the Tanek situation taken care of. I had to force my thoughts away from what would happen after. I needed to think only about what would be coming one step after another. If I tried to push too far ahead, I'd lose focus and that could be bad.
The sun was starting for the horizon when I climbed into the trunk of Tomas's car. It was nicer than Kai's, so I was glad it was the one we were using. Kai's car would be left a few blocks from the airport so that he and Tomas could use it to get closer to Ina's house before walking the rest of the way. Tomas's car would remain at the palace while we took one of the town cars to the airport. As I curled up in the trunk and Tomas shut the lid, I did allow myself a moment to think about what it would be like to be tucked into a trunk around this size with Nami curled up next to me.
I felt us stop at the gates and thoughts of anything other than getting onto the grounds fled. I didn't realize I'd been holding my breath until I let it out as the car started to move again.
All right. I took another breath, slow and deep despite the musty smell all around me. The guys would pull into the employee garage which was around back and then they would head to Halea's room and I'd follow the directions I'd memorized. It was going to work, I told myself. It had to.
I blinked against the bright florescent lights as the trunk opened. Kai gave me a terse nod and then they were gone. I climbed out of the trunk and looked around. The garage was small and they'd parked near the main door so I didn't have to go far. When I opened the door, I found myself about half a dozen yards from the door I needed to get to. Fortunately, we'd timed things well enough that it was that perfect time between afternoon and evening, when everything was shadowed but the night lights hadn't yet come on. It was also the time when the day time staff were leaving and the night staff arriving. I'd thought this would mean double the number of people to avoid, but Kai and Tomas had told me that it was the opposite when the king and queen were gone. Things were more lax, and that would definitely be good for us.
I took advantage of that and managed to get to the door without being seen. Walking into the maid's quarters was starting to feel far too familiar,
but I tried not to let it distract me. I went through the door using the key Tomas had given me. I managed to keep myself from looking at the bed when I passed it. I couldn't afford to be distracted by memories, either bad or good. I went through the door and down the hall, hating how slowly I had to move, staying close to the wall and checking constantly to make sure I was alone.
I didn't know how much time had passed by the time I saw the guards standing outside the doors I knew led to Nami's room. My heart was pounding so loudly that I knew the guards had to hear it and my shirt was sticking to my back, damp with sweat. I was so close.
I took a step forward, then froze as one of the guards started to turn towards me. Shit. I flattened myself against the wall as close as I could and prayed it would be enough. After several terrifying seconds, the guard turned again and I heard them talking. I heard Nami's name, but couldn't understand anything else. It didn't matter though. As long as they weren't talking about a plan to free the princesses, I didn't care. And considering they weren't getting on their radios and panicking, I felt pretty safe in assuming they didn't know I was there.
Once I was sure they weren't going to look at me, I went around the corner and down the short hallway to where the servant's door was tucked away. My hand was shaking as I took the key out of my pocket and I realized that I was scared. Not of being caught, not of being arrested again. No, I was terrified to see Nami again and have her think that I'd failed her. I couldn't bear to look her in the eyes and see that she was disappointed with me for not being able to save her before, knowing that every pain she'd endured since I'd been arrested was my fault.
I took a slow breath and my hand steadied. As I put the key in the lock, I heard a thud from inside. I frowned. Had Nami dropped something? It hadn't really sounded like that though. Not a sharp sound. More dull. Almost like...
My heart leaped into my throat and adrenaline dumped into my veins. Another thump, this one accompanied by a sound of pain.
Nami.
I didn't even think about the guards or my own safety. I shoved the door open and stepped inside.
Tanek held Nami against the wall, gripping her arm with one hand, fingers buried in her flesh. The other hand was in the air, ready to hit her again. She had a red handprint on her cheek, but I could see bruises from where I stood. She was covered with them. The thin nightgown she was wearing did nothing to cover them. Not the ones on her arms. Not the welts on her shoulders that I knew had come from a belt.
I was going to kill him.
Chapter 14
Nami
I'd thought I'd get a reprieve from Tanek tonight. With my parents gone, he could raid the best of my father's alcohol without the risk of being caught. He had done that, but had apparently decided that he preferred coming to me rather than passing out wherever he'd sat down to drink.
Evenings at the end of June were warm and I'd finally turned on the air conditioning just enough to take the edge off. I'd chosen a fairly thin cotton nightgown, believing that I would be alone. I hadn't looked in the mirror though. I'd made the mistake of doing that yesterday morning when I'd gotten out of the shower. The memory was enough to make me cringe and I'd never been so glad not to have inherited my mother's fairer skin.
Tanek had staggered into the room just a few minutes ago, his face flushed. I'd considered running since he didn't look sober enough to come after me, but I'd known that would end just as badly because the guards would catch me, even if Tanek couldn't. The thought had flickered through my mind then that this was the time to fight back. I wasn't sure if I could do it though, and I knew that if I was going to kill Tanek, I had to be sure. I couldn't go halfway or I'd be the one dead.
Despite him being drunk, Tanek was still taller than me and outweighed me by enough to make a difference. I couldn't do it now. It had to be planned, not impulsive, or it would never work.
“Surprised to see me?”
I didn't say anything. It didn't matter how I answered him, he'd take it as an insult or find some fault in it. Nothing I said would stop him if he wanted to hit me, and he always wanted to hit me. Sometimes, I was actually glad that he wasn't one of those men who acted sorry afterwards and apologized. If he continued to abuse me, I preferred he just be a bastard all the time.
“Who are you wearing that for?” Tanek sneered. He grabbed my arm and gave me a shake. “I know it can't be for Reed. He left this morning.”
I pressed my lips together to keep from asking the question I knew he wanted me to ask.
He answered anyway, still too drunk to manage English, “I offered to let him go if he confessed. Didn't even take him long to decide.”
My stomach fell. I should've been happy, I knew. Reed was free. He was on his way back to America where he would be safe. I couldn't help but feel a pang of betrayal that he'd been so easily swayed.
He smiled. “I've got the written confession right here. Handwritten and the only copy, of course. We don't need anything out there for nosy reporters to see...unless I want them to.” He patted the pocket of his pants. “Do you want me to read it to you?” He thought for a moment. “No, better that I act it out first so you can be surprised. I'll read it to you after so you can relive the whole thing.”
I glared at him but didn't say a word as he spun me around, shoving me against the wall with a dull thud. The welts on my back throbbed painfully as I hit the wall, but I kept quiet. I couldn't, however, stop the small sound of pain when he slapped me, his fingers landing on a place that had been bruised by his belt the night before.
He raised his hand to hit me again and I clenched my teeth, determined that he wouldn't get another sound out of me. He didn't get the chance to bring his hand down as the servants' door at the back of the room suddenly swung open.
For one long second Reed stood in the doorway, fury burning on his face like nothing I'd ever seen before.
He hadn't left me. He'd come back. Again. After all I'd put him through, he'd still come for me. I could see the bruising on his face, the exhaustion in every limb.
The relief rushing through my body came with something else. Anger. No, nothing so tame as anger. This was rage. Not only for what Tanek had done to me, but for what he'd done to Halea, what he'd done to Reed.
I was so done with his shit.
Remembering something I'd learned years ago in a self-defense class I'd insisted on taking before going to college, I jabbed my free hand at Tanek's throat, keeping my fingers stiff as they came in contact. Even as I did it, I brought my knee up as well. I heard the seams of my nightgown tear, but I didn't care. Shocked by the sudden blow to the throat – and not helped by the alcohol he'd consumed – Tanek couldn't think fast enough to protect his crotch. I felt a vindictive stab of satisfaction as my knee made direct contact.
Tanek dropped, his hand unable to hold my arm as he fell to his knees. He curled up, hacking and gasping, unable to make any noise loud enough to let the guards outside know that it wasn't me who was in pain.
I didn't even spare him a look as I ran straight into Reed's arms. His mouth came down on mine more gently than I wanted and I pressed myself against him, not caring that the kiss hurt my bruised lips. I buried my hands in his hair, twisting my fingers until Reed made a noise in the back of his throat and his arms finally tightened around me the way I wanted. My injuries throbbed painfully, but they were nothing compared to the joy I felt at being where I belonged. Heat flooded me, pushing aside all of the pain until all I could feel was him.
I wanted to stay there in his arms, forget everything else, but I could hear Tanek wheezing on the floor and I knew we didn't have time. I broke the kiss, allowing myself a moment to close my eyes, to feel safe for the first time since I'd fallen asleep in his arms. Then I stepped back.
“Oh, baby.” Reed's voice was soft.
I looked up into those dark eyes and my heart did a little skipping beat at the emotion I saw there. Anger. Desire. Compassion. He brushed his fingers down the side of my face, light enoug
h that it didn't hurt.
“I could say the same.” I placed a gentle hand on his injured cheek. “But I'm okay.”
He raised an eyebrow as he reached up and took my hand. “This is far from okay.”
“You're here,” I said.
“I am.” He glanced at Tanek. “And that fucking bastard will never touch you again.”
“Halea...” My heart constricted.
“Safe,” he said. He lowered his voice so that Tanek couldn't hear him. “Kai and Tomas are getting her.”
I breathed a sigh of relief.
“This has to be your choice, Nami.” He squeezed my hand. “I want you to come with me. You and Halea. Come to the States, where I can protect you.”
“Go...back?” I don't know why that came as a surprise. It made sense. Quite a bit, actually. Reed had connections that could keep us safe until we figured out what to do. Then I realized he was still waiting for an answer. “Yes. Of course, yes.”
He smiled. “Let's go.”
“Bitch.” Tanek's voice was little more than a croak.
I stopped mid-step. Reed gave me a concerned look. “I can't leave in this.” I gestured as I pulled my hand away from his. “Will you get me something to wear?”
As he moved to do as I asked, I walked back over to where Tanek was laying. He was trying to get back up, his mouth working as he was trying to get sounds out. I knew the chances of him calling the guards was about fifty-fifty at the moment. He wanted to hurt me, beat me, maybe to death. And he didn't want anyone to know that a woman had put him down. But, I knew if he thought Reed and I were going to get away, he'd risk it, probably lie to the guards and tell them that Reed had done it.
I wasn't going to risk it.
I looked down at Tanek as he started to push himself up against the wall. All of the rage I'd pushed down, the humiliation, the pain, I let it come up. My hand curled into a fist. I was done. Done being beaten.
“Fuck you!” I put all of my weight behind the swing. Pain flared up my knuckles and my arm, jarring and bright, but it was worth it to see Tanek's head spin around, hear his strangled cry.