Chapter 44

I did as he ordered and stared at him in shock as we took off.

Catching my stare, he asked “What?”

“What do you mean ‘what’?

“I mean - what are you looking at? Are you not proficient in the language by now?” He asked with a puzzled frown.

“I am proficient enough to know my husband just ordered a woman’s death!” I whispered. When had this happened? The calling him my husband thing and now I wanted to keep his murdering secrets! What the hell was happening to me?

“Not proficient enough, it seems.” He replied dryly, focusing on his task. He put up a finger and spoke to the tower, then switched off the headset and faced me. “What did I say, Azura?”

“Slava is going to die.”

“Did I say who will kill her?” He asked, and I shook my head. “Yet you think it will be me.” He looked hurt by that thought for a few moments the shook his head. “Trust me wife, her life won’t be one you can lay at my door.”

“Then why are we …fleeing?” I asked without coming up with a better word for what we were doing.

“Because it can be lain at my door.” He stated, and I was confused until he clarified “My argument with both her and Yuri will lead the police to me. I don’t need them looking that closely at you. Besides there another reason for this trip as well.”

“What reason?”

“We need to visit my cousin remember and with his …name as it were, no one would dare ask any questions.”

“So, we’re literally hopping from the frying pan into the fryer.”

“Well said, wife!” He praised with a smile and all I could think was – My God, I’m in love with a mad man!

******************

Azura must think him mental and maybe he was a bit. He was scheming like crazy to keep her and his latest scheme was a risk all. He was tired of having Azura’s past hanging over him. She wasn’t going to leave him, she already proven that on the beach all he needed was the words. She may never voice them aloud, but her actions gave him hope, she would stand by him when he needed her. Right now, it was all he could bank on.

Azura looked around the private airstrip in awe. Like his, it was in a no-fly zone but unlike his, it was riddled with armed guards. It was a good thing Azura and Mila couldn’t make out the snipers lying in wait, they would panic.

A classic silver Rolls Royce and a black Range Rover pulled up and a livered servant got out of the front seat. He stood then bowed deeply as he greeted them in Russian “Welcome. Your Highnesses. His Highness bids you welcome to Great Britain!” He opened the door and intoned “His Highness took the liberty to personally ensure all your needs for the journey to the estate will be a pleasant one.”

Vlad inclined his head at the man and then he led Azura with Irena in her arms to the car. Like the dutiful servant she was Mila naturally headed to the Range Rover. After taking his seat, the servant closed them in and took his seat in the front and the small convoy started off.

He was pleased the car had Russian flags, which meant his cousin had publicly accepted this trip. It however didn’t stop his worry about an ambush somewhere along the route. As a precaution, he had Gregory alert the Russian newspapers about this trip. It would be a national outcry if something were to happen to him on English soil. And since his cousin was the only one to know about his plans beforehand, he would be the first suspect and raising eyes in his direction would make it easier for Eon to scatter the breadcrumbs for the media and send the authorities digging his direction. Powerful or not, Vlad knew his death would bring down a shitstorm of trouble on his cousin’s head.

He just wished it was the same for Azura. He glanced at her observing the passing scenery, then down at Irena in her arms. Her brows furrowed with worry and she lifted Irena to her lips and kissed her. He wanted to assure her they would be safe, but he knew he’d be lying. He already told Azura the lie that Irena would be safe because of her blood tie but he knew better. Irena wasn’t a male heir. That made her as expendable as her mother in his eyes.

His mother was right to pass him over. He was dangerous enough, without the crown of England on his head and putting it there would’ve put the entire world at risk. That didn’t stop him from making use of his trigger-happy American subjects. Maybe he should just take his wife and daughter and run. He had that thought more than once but without the protection of his title they’d be dead within a week.

The private estate loomed ahead and that was another problem. His cousin receiving him at his private estate and not the publicly at the palace. Vlad pulled out his phone and send a single text to an ally. Someone else had to be aware he was here. His cousin and wife stood at the entrance at the end of a receiving line. All protocols were being observed but it was just too private for Vlad’s liking.

He guided Azura out of the car and they walked together down the receiving line to greet them. As custom his cousin began the introductions first. “Welcome my Russian cousin, you remember my wife Clarissa.” Second wife, Vlad thought but smiled at her as he bowed. He had yet to properly greet and embrace his cousin. He wanted him to accept Azura first, pushing her forward, he introduced “Allow me to present my Czarina Marita Azura Alexandrovich and my daughter, Countess Irena Deborah Alexandrovich.”

The prince smiled at them both but made no move to embrace them. He pushed his own wife forward and she made air kisses in greeting to Azura and smiled at Irena before caressing her little head. Vlad in the meantime, narrowed his eyes at his cousin, recognising his slight.

His Royal Highness Prince Charles IX gestured to the front doors and they opened wide to receive them. He led the way like a congenial host and had Clarissa see to settling Azura, Irena and Mila while he and his cousin had a chat.

As soon as the double doors to his cousin’s den closed both men dropped their false smile. Charles headed to the bar and Vlad followed suit. He poured them both drinks, a scotch for him and a straight vodka for Vlad and they clinked glasses. All normal until Vlad didn’t bring his drink to his lips.

“You are displeased.” Charles stated as a fact, taking a drink. “Well so am I.” Vlad said nothing, and he continued. “Mistress, not a suitable enough title for her. You could’ve had your little bastards running around and no one would gainsay you. But no, you had to go and fuck everything up by putting the Alexandrovich name on it!”

“Technically father fucked everything up by buying her. I wouldn’t have met her otherwise.” Vlad replied in English.

“Yes…about him, did you kill him? He was found under some …questionable circumstances. Not that I blame you, I think about doing the old bird, every God damn day.” He finished taking another drink.

Setting down his drink without touching it, Vlad replied. “No, I did not kill him. Another son did that. A bastard he had…running around.”

Charles smirked at his response and Vlad had the feeling he already knew that. He pointed to Vlad’s untouched drink and asked. “Not to your liking?”

“I’ve had too much of it recently.”

Charles nodded and sat his own drink down then pushed his hands in his pockets. “Now what should I do about the little fuck up you brought here?”

“She’s family. I want you to accept her as such.”

“We already got one like her in the family and I think that’s one too much.”

“Maybe you’re acting this way because you’re scared of them.”

Charles laughed heartily. “Me? Scared?” He shook his head and chuckled. “Someone didn’t do their homework properly.” He wagged a teasing finger at Vlad who frown at him. “Really cousin, are really that stupid or has love blinded you to the obvious?”

Vlad’s frown cleared, and his eyes widened in realization. He should have realized this before. Oh God, he put them in terrible danger! He backed slowly away from his cousin while reaching for the gun concealed in his jacket.

“Come now dear cousin, there isn’t call for all that.” Charles chided motioning to the now drawn gun in Vlad’s hand. “After all we’re all family here. Now don’t do something so crass and shoot your host!”

Ignoring him, Vlad demanded. “Have them brought here to me and we’ll leave. No one will know. Family honour.”

“I’m not worried about you talking or her for that matter. As for family honour, that’s expensive these days…”

“Bring them to me!” Vlad roared.

“Peace, cousin.” Charles said calmly. “Your little chocolate treats are safe here. No harm will come to them. Bloody hell Vlad, you were always an impatient little shite!”

“You swear on your life, that you…”

“I don’t have to do all that.” Charles put in. “I’ve done enough bloody swearing in my life as is.”

“Why are you not worried about me then?”

“For the same reason, you weren’t killed on that beach. The rules of this little club forbid it.”

“You are the leader of the…club.”

“And so are you.”