Royal Rescue. Tammy Johnson
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wasn’t sure exactly what job title that would be. It really didn’t matter. Given her true identity and the circumstances under which they’d met, she assumed it would be safe to say he was a bodyguard in some shape or form. If he’d been anything less, she imagined the brick would have sent him running.
“You’re going to have quite the bruise yourself.” He nodded toward her chin.
“That was my own doing, though. I’m a bit clumsy when it comes to balancing on wobbly toilet tanks.”
“Are you hurt anywhere else?”
“Everything seems to be in working order.” Thea stretched her legs and wiggled her arms around as proof. She felt a twinge of pain, but bruising was expected after the ordeal they’d been through.
“Still, as soon as I’m sure we’re not being followed, we’ll find a spot to pull over and stretch our legs just to be sure. Maybe pick up some food, too.”
Her stomach turned again. It had been days since she’d eaten.
“I’d like that.” She glanced over at him. He knew her name, but how much more did he know? “I have no money,” she added. When the safe house where she’d lived for the past year had been overrun, she’d barely had time to grab her bag. Her guards had told her to run and she’d run. Just like a good little princess.
“I know,” he replied in a gentle tone. “You must be starving.”
“I am hungry.”
The few dollars she had saved from her part-time job at the local diner had lasted only a couple days. She’d slept where she could find a safe spot and survived on vending-machine snacks, just getting by, waiting for today, when she was supposed to meet Leo.
Leo would have known what to do.
She had complete trust in her brother, and he’d sent this man to her. She sneaked a glance at his strong profile again. For the time being she would have to trust him, too. There was something about him that still raised warning flags in her mind. He had secrets, things he hadn’t shared completely with her. But she’d see this through. Despite her reservations about going home, she needed her brother. If this man could take her to him, then she’d go along with him for now. But that didn’t mean she’d trust him blindly.
Something about him and this situation didn’t sit quite right, but she would find a way to turn it around, even if it meant letting him be her protector for a few days. It would be worth it to see her brother. If there was even a remote chance she could be reunited with Leo, she would take it. For so many years she’d only dreamed of having a normal life once again. It wasn’t easy to trust him, but what choice did she have?
She didn’t like needing someone else to fight her battles for her, and she didn’t want to endanger any other lives. But she was smart enough to know she’d never find the answers without help. He was her best chance at finally finding out who had killed her father and wanted her dead. Once that person was caught and punished, she’d at least have a chance at a normal family once again.
* * *
She attacked the plate of french fries as if she hadn’t eaten in weeks. As soon as the waitress had placed the meal in front of her, Thea had bowed her head and given a quiet prayer of thanks, then dug into the food with her full attention.
A twinge of guilt shot through him. He’d driven longer than he probably needed to, but he couldn’t take the chance they were being followed. Even now they were taking a chance. But she had to eat.
There was a very real possibility this was the first meal she’d had in days. Her most recent safe house had been compromised last week. Ronin hated to think of how she’d been surviving since. Or how she’d even managed to make it out safely. He smiled to himself. She probably went out through a window. Not that it was a laughing matter. She was in very real danger. He’d do well to not let himself get too comfortable with her. He needed to keep reminding himself of that.
Her safety had to come first.
He checked his watch. They’d driven for several hours. It would be midnight soon. With the weather it had been slow going. It didn’t help that he’d stuck to using mostly back roads. There had been no sign of any other vehicles in miles, besides those whose drivers had lost control and ended up in ditches along the highway. Like he’d promised, when he was sure they were safe, he’d pulled over for a much needed break and food.
They sat at a table near the back of the truck stop. Only a few people—all truckers from what he could tell—were out at this time of night and in these conditions. From his position he had a good view of the entrance over Thea’s shoulder. Ronin took a bite of his fries, hoping she wouldn’t notice how intently he’d been watching her and the doorway behind her. She’d been on edge since they’d left the town behind them. Not that he could blame her. The fact that she hadn’t fainted dead away or lapsed into a fit of hysteria spoke a great deal for her inner strength.
He’d studied every written fact about the princess for months knowing that she was probably the best, if not only, hope he had of clearing his father’s name. But all of the studying he’d done hadn’t begun to prepare him for the truth of who she really was. All of the words written on paper couldn’t really capture the essence of her.
Although after all this time and all she’d been through he hadn’t expected a pampered, tiara-wearing princess. He watched her take a very large, unladylike bite of her cheeseburger. He hadn’t really anticipated her being able to blend into her surroundings so well, either. He should have known better. “Expect the unexpected” was a good motto to live by.
Despite the fact she had learned her fair share of survival techniques, he could still see a softness around the edges. She would be offended to know he noticed.
By all appearances she was paying him little attention while she ate her meal. But he’d caught her watching him, even though she’d kept her eyes lowered. She was guarded and wary. Both were good qualities to have when you weren’t sure where danger might be lurking. She’d be wise to not trust every stranger they might come across.
She was wise to not trust him.
“You have some ketchup...” He made a motion at the corner of his own mouth, hoping she’d find the spot. “Right there.”
The tip of her tongue flicked around the corner of her mouth, licking her pink lips clean.
“It’s not polite to stare.”
“I’m sorry, Princess Dorthea.” When she shot him a glare, he corrected himself. “Thea.”
“You must think I’ve turned into a barbarian.” A juicy hamburger grease mixture with mayo and tomato ran down her fingers. She set the remainder on her plate and used her napkin to wipe her hands clean.
“If I were going to think you barbaric, it would have been when you hit me with that brick.”
“I might do it again if I felt threatened.” She smiled but he knew how serious she was. He could already tell she was very stubborn. That was just another characteristic about her that surprised him.
“No matter how sorry it made you, of course,” he teased, tossing back her earlier statement.
“Of course,” she agreed with a nervous laugh.
“While I admire that you are capable of taking care of yourself, your brick-wielding days are over. I’m here to protect you now.”
He heard her sharp intake of breath and noticed the flash of daring in her eyes but was spared the reply as the waitress walked up to their table.
“Can I get you guys a refill?”
“Yes, please.” Thea pushed her nearly empty glass of water to the edge of the table, where the waitress could pour from the pitcher she held in her hand.
Ronin nodded and did the same.
“I hope you’re