Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 29423 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29423 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
“What can I do for you, Dr. St. Clare?”
“I want updates on Dani twice a day. Who she talks to, where she goes, what she fucking eats, everything. Is that clear?”
“Yes, sir.”
I ended the call and plugged my phone in on the nightstand, then flopped onto my back and stared at the ceiling. No matter how tired I was, I was so used to sleeping with Dani that I was restless without her. Then when I finally fell asleep, I dreamed of her. I woke in a hot, sweaty mess and forced myself to take an icy cold shower before giving up on sleep.
7
TRISTAN
Iwas working in the library with my dad when Loni’s ringtone blared from my phone. “I need to take this,” I told him. “I’ll be right back.”
“What’s wrong?” It wasn’t her usual check-in time.
“Um…sir…I don’t know if…it could be nothing, but I thought I’d let you know just in case.”
“What?” I barked. Dani had been harder to get ahold of the past couple of weeks, often texting me that she couldn't talk. When I did manage to get her on the phone, she seemed very distant. I was starting to get extremely worried, and now my mind was playing through all of the worst-case scenarios.
I wanted to rush home to my woman, but we were closing in on a solution. I couldn’t leave just yet, and I fucking hated it.
“Dani had a doctor’s appointment today with an OB-GYN. Now, it could have been just her routine exam, but afterward, I started thinking. She’s lost a little weight, but not…um…everywhere. And when she went to breakfast with her sister yesterday, she shoved away the plate of bacon like it was going to jump up and bite her.”
“Thank you for letting me know. Keep me informed if there continue to be any changes. I need to make another call.”
I hung up without another word and dialed the number for a friend I’d met through Marlow. Jonah Carrington had built a security empire and was the best in the business, particularly in cybersecurity. When my company began working on secret, patented projects, I’d needed cybersecurity, which was when Marlow sent me to Jonah.
We’d become friends, and I’d put him in contact with some people he hadn’t been able to get face time with in Europe. Being royalty came in handy at times, and now, it would pay off big time since I needed to collect on those favors.
“Hey, Tristan,” he greeted when he picked up.
“Jonah, I need a favor.”
“Sure.”
“I recently got engaged.”
“Congratulations. I think. You don’t sound all that happy with the situation.”
“I’m not. I mean…I love her, but it’s complicated,” I said. “She’s everything to me. She’s my Penny,” I added, referring to Jonah’s wife. He was every bit as obsessed with his woman as I was with mine, so it made him doubly perfect for this favor.
“Understood, go on.”
“It’s a long story, but Philippe is abdicating—”
“You have to be fucking kidding me,” Jonah muttered. He was well aware how I felt about being king.
“I’ll tell you about it another time. But I had to leave Dani while I sorted this shit out and I’m worried about her. I have security on her, but…”
“I get it, man. What do you need?”
I let out a relieved breath. “First, I just found out she went to an OB-GYN today. I want the records for that appointment.”
“Done.”
“I’m going crazy without eyes on her, Jonah. But I don’t know what you can do to fix that.”
Jonah scoffed. “How little faith you have in me. What’s her name and address? I’ll have a file ready for you in a few hours, but it will probably take me a couple of days to get you more access to her.”
“Her name is Danielle Kendall and—”
I heard what sounded like choking on the other end and stopped.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m sorry, did you say Dani Kendall? As in one of Justice Kendall’s oldest twins?”
“Yes. Do you know her?”
“For fuck’s sake, Tristan. Justice is one of my best friends. Dani is like a niece to me.”
“Putain de bordel de merde,” I cursed. My hope for Jonah’s help plummeted, and my heart beat painfully in my chest.
“OB-GYN,” Jonah murmured. “You think she’s pregnant?”
“More than likely. We never used protection.”
“Fucking hell, Tristan. You’re putting me in an impossible position.”
“I know. But…shit, Jonah. I know you understand because if this were you and Penny, you would move heaven and earth to make sure she was all right.”
Jonah was silent for so long that I began to think he was going to turn down my request.
“I’ll get you her medical records tonight.” He huffed and muttered, “I can’t fucking believe I’m saying this. Justice is gonna put a fucking bullet in me if he ever finds out.”
“I already gave her a ring, Jonah. She said yes.”