Catharine & Edward (18 page)

Always the protector.

Always
her
protector.

“How dare you?” Philip cried. “You have no right to manhandle me! I’ll have your job for this, just you wait.”

Eddie merely crossed his arms over his chest, and she heard the sound of running footsteps behind her. She turned to see more RPS agents joining the fray.

“Everything all right, My Lady?” one of them asked.

“Sir Philip Cortay grabbed Her Highness without her consent,” Eddie said, and suddenly the air was thick with teeming anger. “I think he should be escorted from the premises.”

As one of the agents moved towards Philip, Cat intervened. “Wait. Just one moment.” The agents paused, but stuck close to her.

“I don’t know what’s come over you, Philip, but consider this the end. Don’t contact me, don’t badger me, don’t call me multiple times a day and even more at night.” She felt Eddie stiffen in front of her. “This is harassment and I won’t stand for it.”

“You won’t stand for what? A man who loves and cares for you? Who tries to show that affection by calling you? You’re sadly mistaken if you think you can do better than me. You’re already in your thirties. No man wants an old, saggy lump for the rest of their lives, even if she is a princess.”

She gasped as an agent took hold of his arm and essentially dragged him away.

Eddie had a word with the other agents while she composed herself again.

Old, saggy lump
.

Anyone, even a glittering princess, would feel the slash those words left behind.

Even by a dick like Philip.

When they were alone again, Edward spoke quietly. “Are you all right, My Lady?”

She took a deep breath. “No, but I will be.”

“I wish I could hold you right now.”

“I wish you could, too.”

“Soon.”

“Soon,” she agreed.

“You know he was wrong, don’t you?”

“I know. That still doesn’t mean I haven’t thought it, or something similar, at some point.”

“You’re gorgeous.” He leaned as close as he dared. “Really fucking gorgeous.”

She turned and caught his eyes. “So are you.”

“Does that mean you’ll still love me when I’m an old, saggy lump?”

She huffed a laugh. “Yes, of course I will.”

“Then we’re good.”

They were. “We are.”

After two more hours of mingling, Cat was done, and so was the operation. She said her farewells – even to Alex and Rebecca, who were staying a little longer – and they made their way to the door.

Eddie led her to the limo. “We’ll regroup and try another strategy.”

Cat sighed. Would this ever be over? “All right.”

An agent whipped open the limo door and she ducked inside. It took her a moment to realize she wasn’t alone.

“Hello,
princess
,” a voice dripping in sarcasm said.

Cat gasped. “Philip? What are you doing here? How did you get here?”

“Drive,” he bit out and the limo started moving.

The passenger door was still open and she lunged for it. “Eddie!”

Philip grabbed the fabric of her skirt, keeping her inside.

She saw Eddie lunge for the car, his face twisted in fury.

But it was too late.

A pungent-smelling cloth was placed over her mouth and nose, and she disappeared into oblivion.

W
hen Cat came to
, she was cold and damp. She heard the quiet rush of the river nearby, and hoped they hadn’t gone far. With eyes closed, she listened for sounds, for Philip’s voice or the driver’s, for the sounds of movement in the room.

None came.

She took stock of her body next.

Was she still dressed? Yes.

Did she still have her jewelry on? Yes!

Hopefully, her high-tech jewelry meant Eddie was nearby.

Did she still have her garter holster? Yes!

She slowly lifted one eyelid, just in case someone was near, and took in the space around her.

She was tossed in the corner of a storage room, the cement floor beneath her bone-chillingly cold and hard. Boat ropes of different sizes, with different types of knots, hung around the room, along with discarded tarps, rolled up banners and signs, and other miscellaneous items.

There was one door on the opposite side of the room, and one small window above it. The moonlight streamed through, so the room must open directly to the outside.

At least, if she got free, she wouldn’t have to run confused through corridors.

When
she got free, she reminded herself. Not if. When.

Finally confirming she was alone, Cat sat up. Her hands had been bound, but not well, as she could wiggle them gently. If she wiggled enough, she might get free. Her feet were bound more loosely, and she managed to break those bindings easily. She stood, then leaned against the wall for support.

Her body ached; she had no idea how long she’d been unconscious, or how hard she’d been thrown on the floor.

Brushing aside the pain, she reached for her earrings first, breaking off the bottom diamonds – which was far easier than she’d expected it to be – and put them in her ears.

“Hello?” she whispered.

“Thank God! Cat, it’s me.”

Cat sagged in relief at the sound of Marcello’s voice, but really wanted to hear Edward’s. “Do you know where I am? Philip took me.”

“You’re still near the club. Bash has a team nearby. We’re just making sure there aren’t any surprises waiting for us before we come get you. Can you reach your holster?”

She started wiggling her body to get into a better position to try for it. “I think I can. My hands are bound, but I think I can reach it.”

“Get your pepper spray and keep it in your hands. If they’re bound, Philip and his accomplice won’t notice if you’re holding something small like that.”

As she shifted up her skirt as quickly as she could, she couldn’t help but ask, “Is Eddie okay?”

There was a pause before Marcello answered. “He’s pissed as hell, and ready to kill someone, but he’s not hurt.”

Realizing she wasn’t going to die immediately, she wanted to know how she’d been kidnapped in the first place. “How did they get the car? What about our agents?”

“We’ll talk later.”

“Talk now.”

“Later,” he gritted out.

“Now,” she whispered back.

“Jesus, you’re a pain in my ass.”

“No, I’m not. You love me.”

“Maybe.”

“You adore me.”

“That’s debatable.”

“I’m your favorite sister.”

He scoffed. “That’s really debatable.”

“Got it.” She pulled out the pepper spray, and pushed her skirt down again. She arranged the spray bottle in her hand with the nozzle facing out, so she wouldn’t accidentally spray herself, then settled in again. “Now, tell me what’s really going on. Why did he take me? Because I broke things off with him?”

“Partially.” He sighed, and she could just picture him running an impatient hand through his dark blond hair, a shade similar to their mother’s. “All right, look. I’m going to give it to you straight. I need you to brace yourself.”

Her spine stiffened. “Okay.”

“Philip is in serious trouble financially. When you started to cool things off with him, he felt like his chance for redemption was also cooling, and didn’t care too much for that.”

“How much financial difficulty?”

“He’s pretty much bankrupt.”

“What?” Philip’s was one of the oldest and richest Vallerian families, stretching back hundreds of years. It would have taken something huge for them to lose all their money. “I don’t understand how that happened. The Cortay family holdings are extensive; houses and estates all over Valleria and other parts of Europe. The yearly membership in the yacht club alone is seven figures.”

“None of which they have anymore. They’ve sold off everything except their main home in Valentia at this point. Even his club membership’s been withdrawn, effective next month.”

“So this was his last chance,” she murmured. “How did you find this out so quickly?”

“Bash. He started researching Philip and already knew most of this.”

Suddenly Eddie’s comment that Philip was ‘no good’ seemed to make sense.

“So Philip has been behind all this? Everything?”

“With the help of his mistress, Muffy.”

“Ugh.” Mistress. How classless. “So, they’ve been working together all this time?”

“Apparently, Muffy’s family is in the same boat as the Cortays. Her father’s been trying to marry her off to fill the family coffers. We believe she was the driver tonight.”

“What happened to our driver?” No answer. “Marcello?”

His somber voice came through crystal clear. “They shot him and another agent; both are critically injured.”

“Oh my God.”

“I want you to arrange yourself like you’re still passed out. Philip isn’t playing games and, if he comes back, I don’t want to give him a chance to hurt you. If you’re passed out, he won’t see you as a threat, and you’ll have a chance to use the spray.

“More than that, even though we’ve got evidence, I want a fucking air-tight case. I need him to talk. So, pretend you’re sleeping and let’s see if his tongue wags while you’re out.”

“Too late,” she whispered as she heard a key in the door and the doorknob turned. She pushed away from the wall, and braced herself.

Philip walked in, carrying the air of a man who thought he’d won. He’d always been a bit conceited, but now the air was thick with it. “Good, you’re awake. That will make things go faster.”

“What things? Why did you kidnap me? What’s going on?”

His eyes narrowed. “Shut your mouth. I should have gagged you. Maybe later, when we celebrate our wedding night.”

Hot, slimy fear slid through her. “Wedding night?”

“Yes, we’re going to get married. Now. Tonight. With no pre-nup. Your money will be mine and so will your body.”

She couldn’t hide the look of revulsion on her face, and he sneered in response.

“You think you’re so much better than me? Once we’re married, I’ll show you how little you’re worth. Once my good name is restored and finally linked with the royal family, you’ll be worth even less.”

“If you wanted to marry me, why are you trying to kill me? It was you, wasn’t it? In Chames?” She hoped her camera was still working, and recording all of this.

Pride shone on his face and smirking lips. “Of course it was me. You fired my man on the inside, so he had to get inventive to find out where you’d been taken.”

“Louise,” Cat whispered.

“Gori’d worked with that agent who protects you and his team, which included her. My man had fun trying to break her, but the bitch never did.”
Lou
. What had they done to her?

Philip shook his head. “He finally remembered your agent had a home nearby. What a useless excuse for a human being, wasting hours on torture. Well, at least he had fun with the girl.” Philip’s chuckles sent revulsion swimming through her. “We’ll have some fun together ourselves later.”

Cat swallowed the bile inching up her throat. “Where is she? What did you do with her?”

Philip shrugged. “Think Gori left her tied up in an abandoned house. She’s probably dead by now, anyhow. What do I care? He figured out where you were, which is all I wanted from him.”

“And what did he want? What did he get for trying to kill me?”

“Money, same as me. Besides, he wasn’t trying to kill you. Gori rigged the drone, and sent it after you.
You
, however, were supposed to come running back to my arms for safety and comfort. Did you do that? Of course not. Because you’re just as stupid and worthless as all the rest.”

“I hope you don’t include me in that description,” Muffy said as she walked in and towards Philip, dressed in an evening gown that was beautiful, but that didn’t fit quite right. Based on what Marcello said, Cat guessed her dress was a loan, since she likely couldn’t afford a dress on her own.

“Of course not, my dear Muffy.”

Cat cringed as they went at each other, mouths open, tongues wagging. Her Eddie was definitely a better kisser than Philip.

She couldn’t believe she ever thought she could marry Philip, even for duty.

Now, in the face of fear, her future was crystal clear.

She only wanted Eddie.

Now and forever.

She would make her parents see, make her family see. She would make them believe that her and Eddie belonged together.

There was no other option for her anymore.

She just had to get through this. Remind herself that Marcello was near, and so was her Eddie. They would help her. She’d never marry Philip, not now or in a hundred years.

She was safe.

Well, almost safe.

When Philip and Muffy finally stopped, she tensed as their eyes focused in on her. “Muffy has been ordained online as a minister. She will perform the ceremony.”

“You need a witness,” Cat said stalling.

“Ah. Yes. My father will state he saw us married.”

“He’d lie under oath?”

“To return the Cortay name to greatness, he’d do anything.”

“It won’t work, you know,” Cat said, stalling some more as an idea came to her.

“What won’t work?” he asked.

“The wedding. The marriage. I’m bound by law. The Marriage of Royal Heirs Act of 1702. I must wait a year after announcing my engagement before I’m wed. If I marry before then, the wedding is invalid.” Alex – and therefore Rebecca – were bound by the ancient law that required Alex to wait a year before marrying. Cat wasn’t bound by the law, but she hoped Philip didn’t realize that.

“That law is only applicable to your brother.”

“If you read it, you’d know that when twins are born, both twins are bound by the law,” she lied. “There’s no way any marriage to me tonight would be considered valid, even with a trumped up witness.”

Fury rampant on his face, Philip strode over. She debated whether or not to use the pepper spray, but debated too long.

Philip backhanded her. “Silence!” he yelled and she fell back on a cry.

He picked her up by her arms, and she knew his fingers would leave a mark. “I should have killed you when I had the chance,” he spat.

“Why did you fixate on me?” she yelled back and double-checked the position of the pepper spray in her hands. “Why didn’t you just move on to another socialite?”

“Because I’ve fucked them all. Besides, I was getting paid to marry into your bed.”

“What? By who?”

“People who hate you and your family.”

Anti-monarchists
. Damn it, more people who would never leave her family alone. “So, you were what? Going to marry me to become a royal, then murder us all because you hate royalty?”

“Of course not. I don’t sully my hands with blood. They’re the ones who do that. I do hope they killed your security, though. It was fun watching them go down.”

Cat heard a growl in her ear, and knew it was Marcello; he wouldn’t wait too much longer to save her.

She had to keep him talking, and make him talk fast.

“So someone else murders everyone. Then what? What other grand plans did you have?”

“I was going to move into the palace and feed them information about you. I tried to do that by installing cameras in the palace, but you’re all dull as dirt. It wasn’t enough and I’d earn more for fucking you.”

Her face contorted into a very un-princesslike sneer. “Are you a male prostitute then? Willing to sell your body for money? You’ve already sold any scruples or morals you may have had.”

He squeezed her arms even more painfully, the edges of his nails marking her skin. “Silence! You’ll shut your mouth and do as I say.”

“Or what?”

“Or I’ll fuck you right now until you do.”

“Philip!” Muffy cried. “What are you saying?”

“Shut it, Muffy.”

She stomped her foot like a child. “I will not be quiet! That wasn’t part of the plan. You’re not supposed to sleep with her.”

Cat spoke before she thought about it. “He’s not sleeping with me. He wants to rape me, you dumb bitch.”

“Same difference.”

“Like hell it is.”

“You can’t talk to me like that,” Muffy said indignantly. “You think just because you’re a princess, you can do anything. Well, I was supposed to be the princess!”

“What are you talking about? There is no way you ever would have become a princess.”

“I would have if I’d married one of your brothers. None of them would go out with me.”

In that moment, Cat knew she would never tease her brothers about their taste in women again.

Or, at least not for a while.

“You’re insane if you think any of my brothers would have married you.”

She turned to Philip. “And you. Just because your family’s broke, you think you can kidnap me, rape me, force me into an illegal marriage, and arrange to have my family killed?”

Philip’s eyes glittered. “You bet your big ass, I do.”

“My ass is not big!” She aimed the spray and fired, shifting her head away and closing her eyes as she did. “Take that!”

He let go and she stumbled back on her heels, then aimed the spray at Muffy who was now coming towards her.

Muffy let out a scream and covered her eyes with her hands.

Good; the bitch deserved it.

While they groaned, she ran out the door, looking wildly around for anyone else nearby.

No one.

Where was Eddie?

Marcello?

Anyone?

She looked left and right before taking off to the left. She’d barely rounded the corner of the building when a man’s arms came around her.