and we promised

Chapter 29

OLIVIA

"We talked with the Prime Minister and your parents", Landon begins, and from the look on his face, I have a feeling I won't like the news. "And we decided it would be best if you would stay here until the coronation."

I gasp, not having expected that.

"But I can't just run away. How much do you want me to live here? My entire life?", I ask them, my voice clearly showing them how pissed off I am.

"Not your entire life. Nine days", Brad clarifies.

Right. Cause in nine days, I'll officially be crowned queen.

"But, the coronation. The preparations. I need to be there. The gown. Who will do all that?", I continue, if only to help win them on my side.

It doesn't seem to work. For Brad counters with something that has the air running out my throat. "There won't be any coronation if someone kills you in the next nine days."
I gasp.

Landon looks surprised at his colleague.

Nathan's grip on my thigh intensifies.

Brad only goes on. "I am so sorry for this, Your Majesty, but it's for your own safety. The attack today was clearly on you. There were no victims. The hitmen came, let everybody out, focused their weapons solely on you, then as we escaped, they left. I looked it up. There were no collateral victims. You were supposed to be the victim." He takes a deep breath, one that matches the tears rolling down my face now. "We know that The Prince is behind this."

"How do you know?", I ask.

If there would be an award for someone asking dumb questions, I would probably win it.

"Apart from Thomas Alderidge being present, the other hitmen were the ones who attacked us that day", Landon clarifies.

One. Two. Ten.

"I'm already took the permission to hide your phones", Brad says, looking at me and Nathan. I try to remember when the last time was, I had my phone with me. A few hours ago. In the car. I don't remember seeing it since. I didn't actively notice that until now, but now that Brad mentioned it...

He starts speaking again before I can comment. "This safe house isn't known to any other person in the palace. Since Landon and I aren't working directly for the castle but for Atlas Enterprises, the only people knowing about this place would be our boss and you."

"Advantages of working for a private security company", Landon mutters.

Brad gives him a side-eye that makes him shut up. "We have enough food to last us nine days, two weeks even." My bodyguard then turns to look at Nathan. "Mr. West, you'll have to stay with us. Now you're in the possession of the address of this house and..."

"No, of course. I'm staying with Livie."

Landon gives me a look as if asking what the heck, since he has never actually seen Nathan and I together. Brad was my bodyguard back when Nathan and I dated, so he doesn't actually seem surprised about this.

"Alright. I'll go make some calls with the HQ. It would be good if we had a field team ready and on standby, just in case anything would happen", Brad adds, standing up and leaving outside.

I don't even know what to say first. This whole situation is so entirely messed up, that whatever I would say won't seem to put it in words. Instead, I decide to shrug once and ask: "Why does he get to have a phone?"

Nathan lets out a chuckle as Landon smirks and says: "He threw mine in the lake. After he hit it with a rock. Multiple times. Trust me, I also don't get it."

That makes me laugh for the first time since we're here.