Page 39 of Expecting Royal Twins!
“Unless it was an inferno of some sort, but that might be dangerous.”
“I wouldn’t want anyone to get hurt.”
“Of course not.” He rubbed his chin. That sexy razor stubble had reappeared. “Drowning.”
“Bodies disappear at sea never to be seen again.”
Niko nodded. “Julianna is a world-class sailor. You could fall overboard.”
“I like the drowning part, but do you really want to involve your future wife in something like this? I mean it’s probably illegal.”
“No, she should not be involved.”
That meant it was just the two of them. Izzy felt like Niko was her partner in crime. “I could still fall into the sea somehow. Off a boat or a cliff.”
“You will have to be prepared to say goodbye to Isabel Poussard forever.”
Izzy thought about her life, of the people she’d come in contact with, known and loved. “You’re right. I wouldn’t be six foot under dead, but I would be dead to everyone who knew me.”
“There would be no going back.”
No going back. She would never be able to do anything racing related. But it was more than her dream she’d be losing. She thought of her friends back in Charlotte, of Rowdy and Boyd and the rest of the boys at the garage. Her chest tightened.
If she got married and had to stay in Vernonia or another nearby country, her life would be different, but at least she could visit her friends. Faking her death would mean never talking to them again. “Honestly, I don’t think I could lie to my friends about dying. Not after the hurt and grief we all went through when Uncle Frank died.”
“I would rather not have to lie or break any laws, either.”
She slumped in the chair. “We’re right back where we started.”
“We will think of something else.”
Niko sounded confident, but a strange sensation settled in the pit of her stomach, one having nothing to do with not eating dinner. She had no way out of this mess. The reality of the situation seemed…undeniable. “I’m not sure there is anything else.”
He set his fork on the plate. “Isabel—”
“Think about it.” She fought the rising panic. “We’ve both been up half the night trying to figure this out. Faking my death is the best we came up with.”
“We just need time.”
“It’s already Sunday.” A lump formed in her throat. “We don’t have much longer.”
“That means…”
Tears stung her eyes. “I know what it means.”
“You don’t want to get married.”
“No. But when I think what might happen if I don’t…” This wasn’t a debate about differences between two political parties and their views on the issues. People were willing to kill for what they wanted. Her parents had been murdered and her uncle Frank had given up his entire life because of the conflict between the Separatists and the Loyalists. Izzy had wanted to do something for her family. Maybe this was it. She blinked to keep the tears at bay. “I don’t think I have any choice.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
NIKO covered Izzy’s hand with his. The warm touch was a harsh reminder to her that another man, a stranger, would soon call himself her husband and be the one touching her. Hot tears spilled down her cheeks.
She turned away so Niko wouldn’t see her cry.
He cupped her chin and turned her face toward him. Gently he wiped the tears from her cheeks with his fingers. “I will not allow you to be forced into a marriage you do not want.”
“Thanks, but this is bigger than you and me. People have suffered too much already. My parents and Uncle Frank sacrificed their lives. I won’t be the catalyst for more violence and pain.”
“I did not believe you had what it takes to be a princess, but you do,” Niko said. “My apologies, Isabel.”
The sincerity in his voice brought another round of tears. She would miss hearing him say her name.
“Thanks.” Izzy sniffled. “I’m usually not so girly about things.”
“I’m glad you’re a girl,” he said. “Or I couldn’t do this.”
Niko gathered her into his arms.
