Page 23 of Kings & Queen

“Sebastian, brother. I can’t wait to see you. It’s been too long. I promise, the minute we land, you’re free to take off for a week or two.”

“I plan to take you up on that offer. I may push it until after the opening, but we’ll work out the details when you get home. I’m glad you guys are on the way. Can you get Ivan and Nik and put me on speaker? We need to discuss something important.”

“Okay, does it need to be a private conversation?”

“Yes, that would be best. I’ve got Marcel here too. Best FaceTime us.”

“Give me a second. I’ll call you right back.”

The tension in his voice was palpable, and I prayed there wasn’t a problem with the opening. I needed something to go right at this juncture of my life. Iexchanged a quick look with Nik, who was sitting close by. He straightened up, sensing something about the call was important.

Our eyes locked, and my heart squeezed as I thought about how Kinsley would say they weren’t dancing anymore. I hadn’t seen them dance in weeks. I trailed my gaze farther down the jet to Ivan, who was slouched in his seat, staring blankly out the window.

His usual energy had been replaced by a heavy, oppressive silence that he seemed to revel in, making him miserable to be around. The thought of dragging him into one of the rooms for this conversation filled me with a sense of dread, knowing how grouchy he’d become.

But there was no avoiding it. This was important. I nodded at Nik, who rose from his seat and moved toward Ivan. I followed, steeling myself for the confrontation. Everything was a fight these days, and I hated seeing the weariness etched into his features. The toll of bringing Kinsley into his life ate at me once more.

“Hey,” I breathed, resting a hand on his shoulder. “The guys need to have a conversation with us. It’s important.”

He looked up, his eyes clouded with a mix of fatigue and anxiety. He grumbled under his breath but got up, and we entered one of the private rooms on the jet before I dialed Sebastian.

“We’re here.” An unsettling feeling permeated the room.

“First and foremost, I need the three of you to keep your cool,” Marcel stated.

His words notched my nerves higher. It didn’t bode well.So much for things going right.

“You know the pact we made all those years ago to not keep things from one another? I want to remind you that there have been several times in the last few months that the four of you have disregarded that pact.”

“Marcel, could you get on with it?” Ivan asked.

His shortness with Marcel surprised us all. I had hoped that going home would make a difference, but now I had a sinking feeling nothing would make it better. Nik and I had tried everything we could, but nothing worked. It was like Vanya all over again, except now he was an adult and a lot harder to manage.

Kinsley could make it better. If she were here and he’d open up to us about what happened. Lost in my thoughts, I barely registered Marcel’s next words—it was like I was dreaming.

“Kinsley’s here, at our house. She’s been here for the last two weeks.” Marcel’s voice was calm, like he didn’t just drop a bomb on us.

My heart beat out of my chest. “Excuse the fuck out of me? What the hell did you say?” I barked.

“She didn’t run away. She was kidnapped. I found her by chance when visiting one of my patients who had relapsed,” Marcel added.

“Wait, what? Kinsley’s there? Is she okay? Goddamn, how could you keep this from us?” Nik’s voice broke as his hand tore through his hair.

His gaze held mine, and every worry he’d been holding on to since she disappeared evaporated. Each of us had been dealing with her leaving in a variety of ways. While Ivan was perpetually angry, Nik had become emotional. He was normally the levelheaded one, the one who analyzed everything. He swore she never would have left on her own. Looked like he was right.

I had compartmentalized it in order to function. I couldn’t stand the thought of her being hurt, so I’d convinced myself that she left. That she had her reasons. Marcel’s news changed everything.

“As I was saying, I was at Bethlem Royal Hospital visiting a patient and heard her singing. She had been admitted a week and a half earlier. It was within forty-eight hours of her being taken.”

“Taken? By who?” I demanded, as Ivan got up to leave. I grabbed his arm to stop him. He needed to be here for this.

He shoved me. “It doesn’t change anything for me. I want nothing to do with her.” Walking out, he slammed the door behind him. How could he just walk away?

“Shit, you weren’t kidding. He’s pissed,” Sebastian said.

“Tell us everything.”

I tried to push the thought of holding Kinsley, nuzzling her sweet neck again, out of my head. But my mind raced. I could almost feel her in my arms. One look at Nik, and he was lost in similar thoughts as well. They filled us in on the events leading up to her being found and how she had fought off her attacker and escaped.