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It occurred to him that he likely had no idea about Eve. Few people in the country even knew what she looked like anymore. After the very public abduction and rescue, all press about her had been shut down. Everyone had been told she had gone into seclusion. Mylan likely had heard stories about the damaged princess but would not have been privy to the truth.
The kid was about to get an education.
She traveled down the hallway in a wheelchair, screaming, “Gideon! Gideon!”
“Down here,” he answered.
His mouth agape, Mylan stood still and watched as she appeared.
Damn, she looked good. Of course, she had bruises and was still too pale, but compared to how she’d looked the last time he’d seen her, it was a definite improvement.
Lovely face full of color, blue eyes dancing like a crackling fire, she glared at Mylan and snapped, “Open the door and let him out.”
Doing what humans had done since the beginning of time, Mylan did something stupid—he pulled out his weapon. “This prisoner is under my charge and cannot be released until I’m notified by my superior.”
Gideon had to hand it to Mylan. There’d been only the slightest shake in his voice.
“You dare draw a weapon on me?” Eve growled.
Mylan glanced quickly at Gideon. “Do you know this femme folle?”
Gideon winced. Calling Eve a crazy lady was not going to earn him any points.
“She’s—”
“You dare call a member of the royal family crazy?”
Horror on his face, Mylan said, “Royal family?”
Eve Wells might have broken bones and be in a wheelchair, but she was still more dangerous than most people on two good legs. Taking advantage of Mylan’s distraction, she shot forward one hand and knocked his gun loose. She caught it quickly and pointed it at the astonished guard. “Open the door. Now!”
Mylan stood there, his indecision painful to watch as his gaze traveled back and forth between Gideon and Eve.
“Don’t make it worse on yourself, lad,” Gideon urged. “Open the door.”
“But I’ll be fired.”
“No, you won’t,” Eve said. “Not if you do what I say. If you don’t release him within the next five seconds, losing your job will be the least of your worries.”
Finally realizing he had no choice, Mylan pulled a keycard from his pocket and slipped it into a slot. The cell door swung open.
Gideon sauntered out. “About time you got here, Wells.”
“I just found out you were here. I’ve been calling you.”
“Is that right?”
“What the hell happened? Why are you here? And why do you have bruises?” The instant she said the last part, her eyes shot back to Mylan.
“Wasn’t the kid’s doing. Clement decided to get a little payback.”
“You know Clement?”
Inwardly wincing, Gideon nodded. Just one more thing he was going to have to explain.
“Looks like we need to talk.”
Gideon sighed. “Yeah, we do. I need a shower, though.”