I don’t think I want to know what that deal entailed, but in it I’d gotten my freedom too. I’d reached out to Karin after I’d learned about her. She felt like my last resort. My father had too many cops in his pocket, and there was no other way for me to get them all help. I have to give it to the old man, he was smart when it came to covering some of his tracks. He made sure his underhanded dealings with the cops were the one thing I didn't have records of. He never did trust anyone.
It wasn't more than twenty-four hours after I’d reached out to Karin that our house and all of our businesses were flooded with police. I can’t tell you the relief I felt when I realized she had kept her word to me. I wish I could say I felt bad for what happened to my family, but they brought it on themselves. I could overlook a lot of things, but when I realized what was going on, I knew I had to do something about it and get out of the situation myself. My brother got pinned with everything. My detailed recordkeeping helped with that. I tracked everything. He’s rotting away in a cell. He should be rotting away in a grave for the crimes he committed with the rest of my family.
But my father and my other brother had disappeared. Karin must have gotten something from them before they did because when I was pulled in under her protection, there had been girls at her warehouse I thought were past the point of recovering.
Karin might be lethal, but she has a soft spot for women. The only thing she asks for in return is loyalty. That’s why we all have a bond with her. Don’t get me wrong, there have been a few that have turned against her, but she still didn’t toss them to the wolves. She handled it herself.
“But you sold me?” I get the words out past my throat.
“I have never done such a thing.” She gives me a pointed look. She’s right. Sov had made me think differently. I don’t think he lied. It would be beneath him. He’d feel no need to do so.
“But…”
“There is no but. Men are stupid. I’ve taught you this. They read what they want in a situation.”
“You’re testing him. Testing us.”
“Always. I want what’s best for you. If you’re going to leave me, I suppose it does come with a cost. The cost of me knowing it's the right decision.” She stands from her chair. “For what it’s worth, he’s different with you than anyone. It’s interesting. Plus it’s always fun to toy with a prince. A soon-to-be king.” She smirks before heading for the door.
“He doesn't know who I am,” I say under my breath.
“If he doesn't know by now, then he’s not worth it.”
I nod in agreement. “You’re right.”
“My favorite words.” She teases me with a wink. “You should tell him. We don’t need him digging. When people dig, they often find things they shouldn’t. That we’ve buried away.” I haven't buried anything, but I’m sure she did for my sake.
“You don’t think they’ll come back for me, do you?”
“Anyone that knows better would never come after one of my girls.” She skirts around revealing if they’re alive or not. “But he is a prince, and as I said, soon to be king when he marries.”
Her parting words twist and turn inside my head. As mad as I am at how he was so high handed, it doesn’t make me love him any less. My love for him runs deep, enough to let him go if I thought it was best for him, but I don’t think he’s going to let me simply slip away. Maybe I won’t have to if I let him believe the worst.
Chapter Twenty-One Sov
“She’s on the move. There are two women with her—Paulina and Jewels. They’re friends, I believe.”
“I’ll be there in five. Don’t hurt them,” I order Zero.
“Yessir. I have everything under control.”
“We need to be at Zero’s location immediately, and by immediately, I mean, five minutes ago.”
My driver nods and speeds up. We break a few laws but none that matter. When I arrive at Zero’s geo-location, he’s surrounded by the three women. I step out of the back of the vehicle and approach with my hands up to show that I come peacefully.
“You definitely are under control,” I joke.
Zero scowls. “You said not to hurt them.”
“I did.”
Paulina and Jewels have tasers drawn while Mackenzie is looking adorable with her handbag raised. I grab Mackenzie, and Zero gets tasered by the two women, who have happy trigger fingers. I stuff Mackenzie into the back of the car and order the driver to go. Someone at the end of the motorcade will take care of Zero.
“You left your man lying on the ground,” Mackenzie squawks, twisting in her seat to look out the back window. “I knew someone was going to get hurt, but I didn’t think it would be Zero.”
She looks upset about this. “He’ll be fine.” I pull her down to the seat and buckle her in. “He’s suffered far worse.”
“That’s not very encouraging.”
“It was either Zero or the girls, and I thought you would be annoyed if your friends got hurt.”
“Annoyed? Yeah, I guess that’s one way of putting it. Wait, where are you taking me?” She notices for the first time that we are moving out of Vieth territory.
“It’s been forty-eight hours, and I told you before I’m not good at waiting. We’re leaving for home.” I pat her knee. “It’s a cross-country flight, but I have superior service on my private jet. You should be able
