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Quentin Sault hauled the door shut, and the helicopter whined as the blades accelerated.

Sault handed out hearing protection earmuffs. Maxence began to settle his over his head when he caught Dree’s eye.

She put her mouth right up against his ear, where he could feel the brush of her lips. “Are you sure this isn’t a trap?”

Maxence turned and said to her,“No.No, I’m not sure of thatat all.This might very well be a trap. Sault could be lying about Pierre being dead to get me to go somewhere so they can shoot me in the head in a ditch, or he might already be working for Prince Jules and do exactly the same thing. I don’t know if we’re even going to make it to Kathmandu. Let me put you on a plane for Paris where you’ll be safe.”

“No.” Dree’s mouth was a hard line. “I said I’d go to Monaco with you, and I will. You’re going to need back-up.”

Maxence clapped the earmuffs on his head.

The helicopter noise diminished in his ears.

The sun was just rising over the immense peaks of the Himalayan mountain range, shining rays through the sky to the ground around them.

The helicopter tilted up and lifted off the ground, flying through the cold winter sunlight.