Page 105 of Wanted

I took a step forward when my father arrived, and I went into princess mode.

The cameras were rolling.

Aram put his arm around me, pulling me into the most uncomfortable hug I had ever been in. Thankfully, he didn’t put his hands on my ass. I wouldn’t put it past Alex to punch my father in front of all the media. I took in my father’s scent, and it was like déjà-vu. I smelled the familiar cedar that he showered himself in.

“They’re dead, Kamila. One word, and your men are fucking dead, you fucking cunt. You’ll pay,” he whispered so that only I could hear him. “I’ll put you back in your place. Get ready to have your womb spit out ten of my sons, cunt.”

His hand caressed my red hair before he pulled away with a phony smile on his face. It was all for the cameras. The crowd gasped in shock.

I was breaking in two inside as I stepped back to be closer to Alex. He grabbed my hand to comfort me, but I didn’t register it.

“Now that we’re all back together, let’s begin!” my father announced, his voice echoing.

♥♠♥

Finally, the palace confirmed that Aris had been in a car accident. That towered over our reunion. In a sick and twisted way, I was glad. Valentina wasn’t. I saw her shooting daggers at my father from where she sat with my brother and Mandy.

At the end of our little get-together, Aram welcomed Spencer to Katantia. He was an official guest, and he was here to celebrate his allyship with us. He was financing our military defense against greedy neighboring countries.

The Katantians in the crowd clapped for the man as if he were our hero. After what he had done to his daughter, I couldn’t share my country’s excitement.

Numbed out, I sat next to Alex, holding his hand.

Fylox was somewhere around us. I could sense him, but I couldn’t see him. I was a nervous wreck, attempting to cling to anything.

“Let’s also welcome my daughter back. She’s come to her home with her new husband, Alexander Winters! He plays basketball for Indianapolis,” Aram informed the crowd. I blanked out the crowd’s reaction. Aram’s eyes burned holes into my body. Aris wasn’t dead, but I could be. That was what his look revealed. “Kamila’s future is uncertain. Her new husband isn’t from Katantia. However, my daughter will always find it in her heart to dedicate time to her country. That’s how I raised her.”

I nodded, smiling for the cameras.

“WE DON’T CARE ABOUT ARIS! WE KNOW YOU TRIED TO HAVE HIM KILLED! CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL, YOU PRIVILEGED DICK! WE WANT MORE PROTECTIVE MEASURES IN CASE THERE’S ANOTHER NATURAL—” The disrupter was interrupted by palace guards who silenced him with electroshock down his throat. Stunned, the crowd gawked at the disrupter being dragged out.

Soon, the press was alerted to turn off their equipment. Jordan reached us with his men before anyone else could get to me. He escorted us out of the palace without even saying goodbye to Aram.

I had to hold onto Alex. I was too weak to walk on my own.

♥♠♥

“Take off your shoes, princess.”

Alex, Fylox, and I crowded the hallway. Jordan was out, having left us when we arrived at my house.

“I-I can’t…” I stuttered.

Fylox crouched down beside me, his hands caressing my calves. Alex grabbed the back of my neck, pulling me towards him. His mouth claimed mine to distract me.

I still shook as Fylox struggled to unbuckle my heels from my feet.

“Take her to the sofa. I’ll be there in a moment,” Fylox told Alex.

Alex swept me off my feet, my legs holding unto him. He walked us to the sofa, where he sat me down. My gaze wandered from the turned-off television to the framed pictures of my family back at the vacation home.

Fylox entered the living room with a gun in his hand, and I shuddered, shifting on the sofa.

“What’s that?” Alex asked in a voice that wasn’t lighthearted anymore.

“I’m reacquainting our brat with her safety,” Fylox uttered. He pushed back the coffee table, and I felt my heart flutter uncomfortably. Fylox crouched down in front of me, meeting my eyes with his cognac.

Fylox placed the gun on my half-covered thigh, and I winced at the steel touch. I didn’t like weapons at all.