Page 39 of Protecting his Secrets

“Come on. Are you a mind reader now? No one could’ve predicted that.”

Nick raked his fingers through his hair and stalked to the other side of the room before returning. “After what happened before, it should’ve been something that was on our radar. Even though those tunnels are not used, we still knew they were there and that some were open. We should’ve thought about thepossibility of something happening. Not necessarily to you, but to someone.”

Malachi nodded. “Maybe. But it’s done now. We can’t change what happened, only how we go forward. Do we know who it was?”

Nick shook his head. “Those tunnels don’t have cameras, and we don’t have any other cameras showing anything out of the ordinary. Either they managed to get out of Windsor completely, or they are someone who works there, and we wouldn’t think anything of them being around.” He winced.

“What’s wrong?”

Nick settled into the seat he’d been asleep in and blew out a breath. “We need to figure out if these events are focused on you or whether you’re just convenient and it’s aimed at the royal family.”

Malachi frowned, but his stomach churned faster, causing him to close his eyes and breathe through his nose for a moment. When he blinked open again, he said, “Why would it be focused on me?”

“I don’t know. Maybe someone doesn’t like your work? Have you had any hate mail or anything recently?”

Malachi chuckled and wished he hadn’t. One Nick turned into two for a short time, and his head spun, but it eased fairly quickly. A wave of lethargy washed over him.

“Sorry,” he muttered. “I’m assuming I have a concussion? I’ve had one before and it seems to be similar to this.”

“Yeah. Concussions suck.”

Wanting to chuckle, Malachi held his breath to stop it and then shook his finger at Nick. “Stop trying to make me laugh.”

“Sorry.”

Malachi muttered, “I think I need to donate blood with how often I’ve been here lately.” He sighed. “I receive hundreds of hate emails every day. I no longer read them. Any one of themcould take it further and I wouldn’t have a clue. Other than that, there’s no one…”

He frowned, winced and tried to follow his train of thought. His brain didn’t want to lock on properly. Replaying his previous words, he grasped the tip.

“What’s wrong?” Nick asked, settling beside him again.

“There was something… Oh, yeah. Tarrant Milton. He’s a fan, and he sometimes sounds a little fanatical. But not in a hateful kind of way.”

“Have you ever met him?”

“Once. We attended the same charity event. I wasn’t entirely sure how he even came to be there, because he wasn’t a reporter or anything like that. He introduced himself, and other than seeming a little flustered at meeting me, he was harmless.” He didn’t need to explain that there was something in the man’s eyes that didn’t sit right with him. That was just his personal opinions getting in the way. “I occasionally use him as a source.”

“That reminds me. Do you know anyone called Tarum?”

Malachi reached for the cup of water, and Nick took over, holding it for him to sip from. He used the time to think through his acquaintances. When he’d had his fill, he said, “Not that I can think of. Why?”

“In that bathroom, you woke briefly and said, ‘Tarum.’ At least that’s what it sounded like to me and Brett.”

“It doesn’t ring a bell.”

A knock sounded, and Nick went to the door, opening it a crack before pulling it wider. “Should you really be here, Your Highness?”

“I’m sure you and my guards are more than enough to keep me safe, Nick,” Prince Freddie said. “Plus, Damon is here, and you already have other guards outside. I think I’m okay to stop by and see how our guest is faring for a short time.”

He focused on Malachi, who fought not to squirm and make himself feel worse. As it was, there were two of the prince when he looked at him.

“How are you feeling, Malachi?”

“A little foolish that things like this are happening to me. I’m sorry for making things difficult.”

Freddie waved him away. “Don’t even bother yourself with thoughts like that. We’ve had our fair share of problems, so we know what it’s like to be the focus of someone’s ire.”

“You do think it’s someone after me, then?”

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