Page 33 of A Fierce Princess

Just as he says that, Christian waves us over to him and Logan.

We stand and walk over, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t dragging my feet just a little. I now know how kids getting called to the principal or school director’s offices must feel.

“You told them,” Logan says to me when I’m close enough for him not to yell.

I freeze and look at him, unsure of what to say.

“Christian has offered me a business venture, but I had a sneaking suspicion that was offered after you divulged some interesting news,” he says.

I nod. He holds out his hand to me, and I take it as he pulls me into an embrace.

“That was very brave of you. To spill your deepest, darkest secret in an effort to save my life,” he whispers in my ear.

I pull back and fight the tears that threaten to spill down my cheeks. “I don’t want you to die,” I manage as I swallow a sob.

He places his hand under my chin and caresses my jaw. “I don’t want to die either, Anna,” he says with a bitter chuckle.

I close my eyes, and he kisses my forehead and pulls me back into a hug. I hear Chris clear his throat, and I suddenly realize we might have been a little too intimate in front of my brothers.

I pull back and step away, looking up at the sky so that I can get my emotions in check.

“I’ve accepted his offer, of course. It’s a great one. I can’t pass it up,” he says.

Relief floods every inch of my body, and I feel as though a ten-ton weight I didn’t know was there, was just lifted off my chest. I breathe freely for the first time in days.

“You’re lucky that this trip was the last one of the season before I turn the boat over to my partner, Chrissy. She runs shorter trips while I take time off each year,” he explains.

“I didn’t know you had a partner,” I say trying to keep a frown off my face.

“Yep, she’s been my business partner since she moved down here about three years ago. She’s one of the best sailors I’ve ever met. She and her teenage son needed a clean start, and I offered them one,” he says.

I feel my frown turn into a smile. “That’s nice of you,” I reply.

He smirks. “I suppose it was, but having been a teenager on this island with my single mom, I sort of felt it was appropriate to return the kindness,” he says with a wink.

“I’m going to arrange everything with our security. We had planned on leaving early tomorrow morning, but I’m going to see if we can leave tonight,” Chris says as he heads below deck where Pete has just gone.

“Chris…” I start.

He holds up his hand. “Don’t worry, this is staying between the four of us…for now. Although, I’m not sure going back to Nassau is the best idea,” he says.

“It’s the closest airport, and we need to get out of here,” I point out to him.

He nods, and he disappears below.

“I guess I should go pack,” I say as I look at the shoreline which seems to be sneaking up faster than I expected.

“I’ll get Thomas to take us in. I need to pack too, apparently,” he says to me with another wink.

“I assume you’ll need to go to your apartment before we leave?” I ask.

He raises an eyebrow. “How do you know I live in an apartment?” he asks. I know that he knows that I know where he lives, but he’s making me say it. Fine.

“I went there,” I mutter.

“Excuse me, I didn’t catch that,” he says.

I let my shoulders droop. “I went there,” I say loudly.

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