Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 74286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
“Fucking bastard,” Matt said.
My beautiful sister-in-law. How could a father treat his own child the way Derek had treated his only daughter? Drug her? Violate her? The cannonball in my stomach grew even heavier.
“There must be a record somewhere,” I said. “Nothing appears on the flight records, so Derek must have a connection at the FAA. We’ll need to find that person.”
“If that person exists,” Riley said.
“What do you mean?”
“People who helped my father had a way of disappearing.”
“They did?” Matt shook his head.
“Yeah.” Riley rubbed her temples. “I never thought about it at the time. I was consumed with my own issues. I’ll never forgive myself for that.”
“Honey, you were being used by your own father, and you were in the middle of a budding career. No one would have been noticing surroundings, especially if you were drugged.”
“I should have,” she said.
“Matt’s right.” I smiled weakly at Riley. “You had your own problems. When you’re trying to survive, the fate of others isn’t at the front of your mind. It isn’t for anyone.”
“I suppose.” Though she didn’t sound convinced.
“Anything else you can tell us?” I asked. “I don’t mean to badger you, but we need to find this place.”
“There were always other people there,” Riley said.
“Do you remember any of them?”
“Other businessmen in Dad’s circle. Sometimes their children.”
I shook my head. “I want to leave kids out of this.”
“Me too,” Matt agreed.
“But the other men,” I continued. “Do you remember any of them?”
“Not names. I’m not sure any of them used names. If they did they were probably fake. But I might recall faces. In fact…”
“What?”
“I saw someone on TV a few days ago—it was the morning after our wedding, Matt. I didn’t think anything of it because I knew it couldn’t possibly be true, but now, I wonder.”
“Who?” I asked bluntly. “Who was it?”
“It was Prince Christian.”
My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. “Prince Christian? Of the principality of Cordova?”
“That’s the one.”
“You think you saw him on your father’s island?”
“I think… I think I might have.”
“Okay, rack your brain, Riley. Please. Anyone else? Anyone with Prince Christian?”
“I don’t know. On TV, they announced that Christian’s wife had given birth to their third child, and they showed the family. He’s older now, gray hair and all. But when I was younger…”
“How old were you when you saw him?”
“I… I don’t know. Like I said, those times are such a blur.”
“But you weren’t an adult yet?”
“No. I was younger. Really young, actually. Like nine or ten, maybe?” She gasped in a breath of air.
“Easy, sweetie,” Matt said. “Take it easy. It’s okay.”
“Yes, it’s okay,” I said. “I know I’m rushing you. I’m sorry, it’s just—”
“No, I understand.” Riley absently pushed her slice of bacon around on her plate with a fork.
“We could talk to Prince Christian,” I said. “Though I doubt a prince would take my call.”
“He might,” Matt said. “You’re married to Derek Wolfe’s oldest son. The new CEO of Wolfe Enterprises.”
I let out a broken laugh and lifted my phone. “Afraid I don’t have his number.”
“Rock can get it. Or Reid.” Matt shoveled eggs into his mouth.
How could he eat like that?
“No.” I swallowed. “We have to go to him in person.”
“How can we,” Riley asked, “when none of us are allowed to leave the state of New York?”
“I can leave,” Matt offered.
I gave him a weak smile. He was so kind. So wonderful for Riley. But sending Matt Rossi into a foreign country to talk to a prince? Not happening.
“It has to be Rock or Reid,” I said. “No one else will be taken seriously. No offense.”
“None taken,” he said. “I get it. I just wish I could do more. I feel like I’m not really a part of the family.”
“Of course you are.” Riley linked her arm through his.
“Yes, you are,” I said. “I’m sorry if I’m being so blunt. It’s just…”
“You’re worried,” Matt said. “You’ve been arrested for a crime you didn’t commit. You don’t have to explain yourself, Lacey.”
I nodded. “We need to find the island. If the prince knows where it is, he’s our only hope so far.”
“I can’t even be sure it was him,” Riley said.
“I know, but it’s our only lead.”
“I don’t know that it is,” Matt said. “Derek Wolfe obviously had a lot to hide. He had to get all his ducks in a row before his supposed death, but then someone killed him. Maybe there’s something he didn’t get hidden in time.”
I smiled at my new brother-in-law. He might be a country boy from Montana, but he’d just uttered gold. “Matt, you’re a genius.”
Riley’s eyes shone. “I always knew he was.”
“What did I say?” Matt asked innocently.
“He must have left a stone unturned somewhere,” I replied. “You’re right. He was planning to fake his death, but someone got to him first. He must have left something undone.” My mind raced. “He got his will in order. I know all about that, since I drew it up. What else do you do to prepare for death?”