Reaching behind me, I take hold of her hand and yank her right to my side. “Stay next to me at all times. I don’t want to have to look for you when we’re attacked,” I grumble as we walk to the SUV.
Cillian opens the back door, and it has me saying, “You’re driving. I need both my hands-free.”
“Okay.” He takes the keys from me and opens the driver’s door.
I climb in next to Winter and set the bag down between us.
Only when Cillian starts the engine do I say, “Schaffhausen. We’ll go to Augsburg Airport from there.”
“Got it,” Cillian mutters as he pulls away from the pavement.
The streets are quiet, which is good. I check the passports and hand Winter hers.
She sets it down on her lap, then she glances at me, and our eyes lock.
I can see the questions in her gaze, and knowing we have to talk about the future, I murmur, “Tell me about the island. The layout. The security. Everything.”
“It’s seven hundred acres,” she begins. “A forest of birch and pine covers the land. We have security cameras and motion detectors set up all over the grounds. There are four piers, a helipad, and a landing strip with a hanger for a small jet or aircraft.”
When she swallows, my gaze drops to her throat before meeting her eyes again.
With all hell breaking loose, my attraction for her took a back seat, but as Cillian drives us out of Switzerland, it begins to sink in that Winter is under my protection. I have twelve months with her.
“There’s a swimming pool covered with camouflage netting and enough housing for a small army. We’re also equipped with our own satellite dishes.”
I nod, memorizing the information. “How many guards?”
“Twenty-three,” Cillian answers. “All trained by me.”
“Good,” I murmur while my eyes leave Winter to scan our surroundings.
Just outside Zurich, Winter asks, “Will Alexei be able to get more men?”
“Yes.”
“We’re meeting him and Demitri today?” she asks again.
“Yes.”
“Thank you,” she whispers, and the sincere tone in her voice has my eyes snapping to her.
I miss seeing the spark of fire in her gaze, but I understand she’s taken one hell of a blow with the loss of her family.
When we drive through Zurich, I say, “We need to hide the weapons. If they pull us over at the border, we’re fucked. Find an underground parking.”
A few minutes later, Cillian steers the SUV into an underground parking area. As soon as he parks the vehicle, I hold my hand out to Winter. “Gun.”
She hands it over, and I get out. Opening the passenger door, I wiggle the panel loose and let out a relieved breath when there’s space. I grab the gun from Cillian as well, and he has to help me put the panel back on.
“What about the knives?” Winter asks.
“Under the spare wheel,” Cillian says.
Nodding, we move to the back as I mutter, “Bring the KA-BARS from my bag, Princess.”
When she joins us at the back, there’s a slight smile tugging at her lips.
She likes it when I call her princess?
At first, it was a derogatory name, but it’s grown on me since.
Cillian lifts the mat, and we tuck the knives under the wheel. “Hopefully, we won’t be searched,” he mutters as we close up.
We pile back into the car, and then Cillian steers us toward Schaffhausen.
As we near the border control post, there are several cars on the road, which gives us better odds of not being pulled over and searched.
Winter clamps her hands together on her lap and pulls her bottom lip between her teeth.
“Don’t look nervous,” I murmur to her.
When I’m able to see border security, my eyes stay glued to the man. My breaths slow down, and my muscles tighten. When we’re in sight of him, I reach for Winter’s hand.
Her gaze snaps to mine and then down to my hand covering hers.
“Smile. You look like you’re about to have a panic attack,” I say as a smile forms around my own lips.
Instantly her mouth curves up, and it’s just in time.
We look normal.
I keep my eyes on hers as we drive over the border, and Cillian lets out a relieved breath when we’re not stopped. I pull my hand away from Winter’s and scan our surroundings as we drive into Germany.
One obstacle down. Many to go.
Chapter 14
WINTER
After passing the border between Switzerland and Germany, we stop to fill the tank and retrieve the weapons.
When I start walking toward the restroom, Damien snaps, “You go nowhere without me.”
Glancing back at him, I say, “Fine. Hurry up. I need to use the restroom.”
Things have been weird between us since he became my custodian. I actually miss the friction that kept me on my toes. It’s gone because there’s nothing to fight him on. Everything he does is to keep me alive, and I’m not about to jeopardize it by being difficult.
Damien stalks toward me and grabs hold of my arm. I yank back against him, a scowl forming on my forehead. “You don’t have to drag me, Vetrov. I’m not stupid.”
Much to my surprise, the corner of his mouth lifts, and he lets go of my arm, only to place his hand on my lower back.
Was he trying to get a rise out of me?
As we walk toward the restroom, I become highly aware of Damien’s hand on my back. It makes the familiar tingles I always feel in his presence come back, and for the first time, I welcome it. It chases some of the suffocating grief.
How did we get to this moment? I have a merciless killer on my side. Yesterday morning he was still an enemy, and now he’s all that stands between my enemies and me.
Which means, once more, I’m in his debt.
“I owe you too much,” the words slip from me before I can stop them.
“Your father paid for my protection,” he mutters.
Dad.
God, how will I survive without my father? I know nothing about the business. Sean was the one being trained to take over.
The new panic robs me of my breath. I don’t even know what the family’s finances look like. Dad paid twenty-five million for Damien. I owe Alexei five million.
“What’s wrong?” Damien asks as we reach the restroom.
“Nothing,” I whisper. Walking inside, I find a stall and shut the door behind me. I stand still and take a couple of deep breaths.
We just need to get back to the island. I’ll be able to look at the finances then. Cillian will know what to do with the business. He can show me how to run it.
The thoughts calm the panic, and I quickly relieve myself. Washing my hands, I look at my reflection in the mirror.
I look awful.
I look like an orphan.
I look weak.
Lifting my chin, I take a deep breath.
Once I’m home, I can grieve. Until then, I have to be the Blood Princess, the last living Hemsley.
When I step out of the building, Damien’s right by the entrance. Again he places his hand on my lower back as we walk to the SUV.
Reaching the vehicle, Damien removes the knives from the back, and it gives me a moment alone with Cillian.
“Do you know anything about running the business?” I ask.