Page 107 of Once Upon A Time

There.

When they had been together, she’d cuddled against him at every opportunity. She slept next to him like a chilly kitten drawn to warmth.

She probably needed this.

He certainly did.

He had craved Flicka’s soft touch for years, even though he’d tried to school his mind to stillness and calm.

And now he wanted more of her soft touch and her fragrant skin.

If he had thought for even a second that he could somehow chase away the memory of what must have happened to her earlier in the night, he would have tried to seduce her.

But he knew that wouldn’t happen, so he set his desires aside.

Dieter allowed himself to drift into a light sleep, rousing at the slightest puff of the air conditioner or of anyone walking down the hall on the other side of the walls.

At seven in the morning, predictably, his phone buzzed.

Three

Dieter Schwarz

The first time I betrayed my best friend, Wulfram,

was when I had an affair with his sister.

The second time was to save his life on his wedding day.

The third time was to save both their lives.

Dieter snatched up the phone jiggling on the nightstand.“Ja,Durchlaucht?”

Beside him, Flicka sat up halfway, still clutching the blankets to her shoulders.

He held up his hand, palm toward her, for silence.

Over the phone, Wulfram von Hannover told him, “Pierre can’t find Flicka.”

Dieter rubbed his face, knowing that Wulfram would hear the subtle signals of sleep. “Did she make it back to his suite last night?”

“He says she didn’t.”

Liar.

Dieter said,“Sheisse.And he waited this long to call us?”

“Quentin Sault and his team were searching.”

Yes, they had been.

And now, counter-intelligence.

He stood, knowing Wulfram would hear that, too. “Did you try tracing her phone?”

“There’s no signal. It’s off or dead.”

He’d made sure of that last night when he’d removed the battery. “Did they check the surveillance footage? Did she leave the hotel?”