Page 36 of Protecting his Secrets

“No, sir. Please. I won’t be good to anyone if I have to divide my concentration between you and whatever my instincts are trying to tell me.”

He waited for them to move back to where they had been standing while Mav was on the phone. Then he concentrated on the door, leaning closer to see if he could hear anything, but the doors were thick and almost soundproof. Not wanting to advertise he was entering before he did in case something was amiss, he gripped the handle and pulled his gun from his holster. Inhaling, he twisted the knob and entered quickly.

Immediately, his gaze took in Malachi lying on the floor, blood dripping from his head, and as much as he wanted to go to him, he needed to clear the room first. He checked every toilet cubicle and every inch where someone could hide, but there was no one.

Nick reholstered his gun and crouched beside Malachi. He didn’t move him. “Malachi? Can you hear me?” No response. “What is it with you and bathrooms?” he muttered. He checked him over, but other than a lump to his head beneath the cut that steadily dripped blood, he was fine. Had he slipped and fallen? Nick glanced around the room, checking the sinks and handles for any signs of blood. Nothing. What had happened?

“Is he okay?” Dominic asked, and Nick cursed, having not heard him enter.

“He’s out for the count, but he has a steady pulse and is breathing.”

“What happened?”

Nick shook his head. “No idea. We were waiting outside for him, but when he was in here for a while, I came to investigate because my instincts were blaring.”

“Can’t see any signs of him hitting his head on something,” Dominic said, agreeing with Nick’s quiet investigation. “The blood from his head looks like it started while lying down.” He frowned.

“What do you mean?”

Dominic rubbed his chin. “If someone had fallen to the floor, there would be more of a splatter pattern as the blood exited his wound with the impact. But there are no drips in an arc around him at all. It’s almost like he was either lying down when he started bleeding or…”

“He was positioned that way. Fuck.”

Dominic was on his phone before Nick finished his words. “Lock down Windsor. Now!” he barked.

“No one was in here when I came in, and we were outside the whole time.”

Dominic sighed and stood. He walked over to the corner of the room. The wall had a cut-out bit where Nick assumed the pipes were hidden, but Dominic pulled on the corner and the wall swung out, revealing a gap.

“It’s a secret passageway,” Dominic growled. “I’m sick and tired of these being used to hurt people. First thing tomorrow, I’m going to request every single damned one of these be permanently closed. They’re nothing but trouble.” Nick could understand his anger with what happened to Randall.

“Where does this one lead?” Nick asked as he checked Malachi’s pulse again.

“If I’m not mistaken—and I might be because I don’t know every inch of these tunnels, though I will—this one leads to the kitchen, but it also has maybe two doors off it, but I can’t think where they go right now.” He dialled again. “Felix, get the mapof the tunnels up for me.” He paused. “Yeah. This bathroom to where?” He listened and grimaced. “Thanks.” He hung up. “The kitchen, as I said, but also the receiving room and outside.”

Nick stared at Malachi’s pale face. “So whoever they are has either gone or is in hiding. Household staff member, do you think?”

Dominic shook his head. “It could be anyone.”

Nick exhaled roughly. “I don’t like this, Dom. This is the third incident to involve Malachi. Are they aiming their wrath atMalachior the royal family, and Malachi is merely convenient?”

“I don’t know. But until we know further, I think we need to keep Malachi close by.”

Nick cursed. “Jesus, Dominic. We were! We were right outside! How much closer do we need to be to stop this from happening? He deserves so much more than this shit,” he finished in a mutter.

After retrieving another gauze pad and replacing it on Malachi’s cut, he stroked his hand through Malachi’s hair with his free hand. He hated that he didn’t know what was going on. It reminded him of when the terror had reigned through the castle when the king’s sister and brother had chosen to wreak havoc. That hadn’t ended well.

His thoughts derailed when Malachi started moving and moaning. “It’s okay, Kai. It’s okay. Take it easy.”

“Nick?” he muttered, barely able to keep his eyes open, which was unsurprising given the undoubted headache he would have.

“I’m here.” He cradled Malachi’s cheek. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Tah…ruh…mmm,” Malachi murmured, his eyes closing again.

Nick panicked a second when he slumped once again, but a quick check of his pulse had him relaxing.

“What did he say?” Dominic asked.

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