Royal Rescue. Tammy Johnson

the other way around. Not that he minded sharing with her. He held a close bond with his brothers. They had come to the United States even before he had, when the country they had called home for all of their lives had shunned them.

      “They are all here in the States, actually. My older brother, Jarrod, started up his own security company in Colorado. My other brother, Declan, and I have both been working for him.”

      Ronin debated telling her more. His father had gotten them both out alive and a plan had been set in motion before he was imprisoned. It was Jarrod’s company that had provided the security for the prince and princess for the past several years. Before that, a few close friends of their father’s had helped move Thea and Leo from place to place. It had become his family’s mission to keep the royal heirs safe and hidden from those who were currently in power and were likely responsible for the king’s death.

      “Are you not from Portase, then?” Her voice sounded tired. She turned toward him and he noticed her stifled yawn. She was doing her best to stay awake, but she looked drained. After all that she’d been through today, she was probably exhausted both mentally and physically.

      “Originally, yes.” Any other truths he needed to share or questions he needed to ask could wait. “But that is a long story and you need to rest.” It would be selfish to keep her awake when she so obviously needed sleep. “I’m going to drive as long as I can through the night. If you’d like to relax, there’s a pillow and a blanket in the backseat.”

      “I might take you up on that,” she said as she twisted in the seat, reaching behind her and feeling around for the items. Finding them, she turned and arranged the pillow against the window and her shoulder. She spread the heavy military blanket over her lap and snuggled into the seat as best she could. “Normally, I can’t sleep in a moving car, but this snow is hypnotizing. Besides, I feel pretty safe with you at the wheel.”

      She would be safe. He’d see to that. Earlier he had not been paying as close attention to their surroundings as he should have been, and he’d nearly failed his self-imposed assignment before it even began. He honestly hadn’t expected an attack so soon. He should have known better. But in those few minutes when she’d turned to face him, her eyes filled with trust, and he’d taken his mind off protecting her and thought about the many reasons she’d have for not trusting him when all of the truth came out.

      Thea relaxed her head against the pillow and fidgeted some more, trying to find a comfortable position in near impossible circumstances. She would be asleep within minutes.

      Ronin glanced in the rearview mirror to see if any vehicles were following. The men would need a new car, and they could have been injured and possibly arrested. The roads were nearly vacant with the ice storm picking up force in the area. Travel would be slow, but he and Thea had a good head start, and if they stuck to back roads, the odds were in their favor they would not be found.

      “Is anyone back there?” she whispered.

      “I thought you were asleep.” He smiled and shook his head. He would have to be careful with her. She paid a lot more attention to things than he’d thought. “Nothing but ice and snow.” He glanced back again, just to be sure. “Go to sleep. I’ll wake you when we get there.”

      “Where’s there?” she mumbled.

      “We’re headed to a safe house in Denver. Then, after your identity has been verified, it’s on to the royal estate outside Denver.”

      “I’ve always wanted to see the mountains.” She breathed the words on a sigh. Ronin wasn’t sure if she was even awake.

      When she didn’t say anything else after a few minutes, Ronin realized she must have truly fallen asleep this time. It was going to be a long night. At these speeds and with these road conditions, they probably wouldn’t arrive until late tomorrow. If his brothers were on task, they would be preparing a safe haven for the princess. But he couldn’t be certain what they’d find when they arrived. There had been one leak already; there could be more. She’d need her rest for the possible receptions they could receive.

      As he drove, Ronin thought of checking in with his older brother. Jarrod had worked hard behind the scenes to make sure everything was prepared for their arrival. He was just as dedicated to finding the truth as Ronin. It would be nice to know what preparations were being made, but he dismissed the idea. Cell service was limited and he wasn’t supposed to make any sort of contact.

      They were on their own.

      He’d known that before he’d come for her. There would be no formal move against the current king until the prince and princess could be brought forth and validated as the true heirs of the throne. There were many out there who would go to any extremes to keep that from happening. The king was still the king, and if he had a hand in the murder of her father, he would have the support of their country. At least until the truth was revealed.

      Ronin drove for several hours, running different scenarios through his mind as they moved out of Missouri and into Kansas. It all passed by in a blur of white. None of the ways Thea’s homecoming might play out were within acceptable limits. Until their country actually saw them and accepted them, she and Leo were still as good as dead. He had no doubt attempts could be made on their lives even once they’d reached the estate where they were to meet. Until the real killer was found and imprisoned, they would never be safe.

      He’d just made the decision to switch to a different county road that would be less traveled when he noticed the headlights coming up behind him. The only vehicles he’d seen in the past few hours were two truckers moving even slower than himself and a car that was being pulled out of a ditch by a tow truck.

      The headlights came up fast behind him. Too fast.

      Within moments the interior of the car was flooded with bright light.

      Ronin watched in disbelief as the car grew closer. Only a desperate fool would try what he knew was about to happen.

      “Thea.” He spoke calmly but loudly. He didn’t dare take his hands off the steering wheel to nudge her. “Thea, wake up.”

      Thea awoke with a start at the first lurch of the car when bumper tapped against bumper.

      “What’s happened?” she questioned, bolting upright in her seat and glancing quickly behind them.

      “Hold on tight.” Ronin gripped the steering wheel, preparing for the worst that was sure to come. “They’ve found us.”