Chapter 28

TWENTY-EIGHT

RYAN

Black bears are sometimes more wary of each other than they are of other big predators like wolves or mountain lions. Turns out, the real threat can come from the least expected places—like another bear competing for food or territory. Despite this, bears rely on their families, their mates, and their close allies, especially when facing the unknown. They know they need to trust their instincts and lean on the people they love.

—Bear Facts for Insomniacs, Episode 101

I wasn’t used to being so out of pocket, and I sure as shit wasn’t used to being cut off from Zane.

The text exchange I’d had with him before boarding the plane went a long way toward reassuring me. I couldn’t wait to see him. It had been too many days, and I was itching to hold him again.

After only ten days apart, I realized I was going to have to figure something else out for work. I couldn’t be apart from him like this. We needed to make a change so we could be together .

“You’re on edge,” the king said, crossing his legs as he turned toward me in one of the leather seats on the sleek Gulfstream. “I told Kasper not to insist on you joining us for this trip. You probably wanted a break after the tour.”

“Kasper?” I asked in surprise. “I assumed you were the one who insisted on having me be team lead.”

He shook his head and rattled ice cubes in his glass. The flight attendant jumped to attention and refilled his glass with more water without being asked. Gerhard nodded his thanks. “I already have a team lead. Kasper . He’s been with me a long time—you know that. I understand the need for hiring domestic security as well, but I certainly don’t need our security liaison to be someone who already has an assignment. The entire situation made me uncomfortable. You know I don’t like people making a fuss about me, Ryan.”

It didn’t make any sense. “Why would Kasper have told my boss that my involvement was required in order to give her the business? Do you think he was particularly worried? Is it those recent threats against you? Kasper mentioned something about it, back in Amsterdam.”

He shook his head again. “There haven’t been any threats that I’m aware of. Nothing over the usual amount of anti-royal malcontent. You know we found and tried the man who killed my father. He had mental health issues, which… I suppose anyone who shoots at another person has mental health issues, but I’m having trouble forgiving him. That’s simply a bridge too far.”

“I don’t forgive him,” I said bluntly. “Asger was a good man. No one had the right to take him from us.”

We shared a quiet moment, each of us remembering Gerhard’s father. Intrusive thoughts about Kasper broke through, though. “I’m surprised Kasper wanted to go to Majestic with the advance team,” I said. “Doesn’t he make a point of staying by you? He was superstitious to begin with, but I imagine Asger’s death made him even more so.”

“Yes.” Gerhard frowned. “It’s very unlike him. He almost never leaves my side when we’re out of the country. The only other time I can think was when he went to Los Angeles last summer to see a friend while I was visiting the shipyards in San Diego.”

His words were like pulling the plug on a bathtub, draining all the blood out of me at once. “You were in LA and San Diego last summer? When?” Those were the cities where the stampings had happened before Shaky Knees in October.

Gerhard’s frown intensified. “I never went to Los Angeles. Only San Diego. Let me see when that was.” He called over his personal assistant to ask. The older woman confirmed the dates, and my head began to spin.

Was it possible Kasper was the Stamper? No. He would have had to be in Atlanta in the fall. “Where was he in mid to late October? Did he come back to the States at all during that time?”

“Not that I can recall.” He narrowed his eyes. “Why are you asking me questions about Kasper?”

Before I could begin to explain, he added, “He might have been in London in October. I recall him taking a week of holiday around that time.”

Nerves made me restless. I had to remind myself not to jump to conclusions. Kasper, of all people, valued security. Surely he wouldn’t put my principal in jeopardy to suit his own needs.

“I need to know exactly when he was gone.”

Gerhard shifted in his seat. “First, you need to tell me what’s going on, Ryan. You look very upset. Has Kasper done something to upset you?”

It didn’t make any sense. But then again, Kasper held a strong belief in the Ventdestinian winds of fortune. “Someone has been threatening my principal,” I explained carefully. “Zee has received threats, but the way they were written, it seemed to come from someone whose main motivation was getting me off his protection detail.”

“Kasper has said many times you belong back in Ventdestine,” Gerhard said hesitantly. “And he was very upset in Amsterdam when you refused our offer. I told him to let it go.”

“Find out when he was on holiday. Please .” I pulled out my phone to text Zane.

Zane, holy shit. I think I know who the Stamper is.

Please tell me you’re at the ranch.

Stay away from Kasper! He’s on the Ventdestinian advance team and he’s in Majestic. Tell Miguel and Paul to lock you down somewhere safe, honey.

When I realized none of my texts were going through, I stood up and found the flight attendant, only to discover they were having problems with the router.

“Reset it, for fuck’s sake,” I growled. “Or tell the pilot I need to get a message to the private airport in Majestic, Wyoming.”

Once they were able to get the Wi-Fi working, a string of texts came pouring in from Zane and Violet.

Zane

Bear! Crap. You’re still not getting these messages, are you?

Zane

I think Kasper—Royal Guard Kasper!—is the Stamper.

Zane

I know it sounds weird, but I promise it makes sense.

Zane

I have to do something, Bear. Something big. Something that’ll keep you protected. And I really wish I could talk to you about it first, but I need you to trust me. I love you.

Violet

Ryan, Lou obtained credible information that the Stamper is Kasper. I’m locking Zane down now. Get in touch ASAP. We need to coordinate a response.

I stared at them in shock. It had only been two hours since I’d spoken to him. How the fuck had so much happened?

I returned to my seat next to Gerhard and updated him. His nostrils flared. “Someone get Kasper on the phone right now! If he has defied me, he will regret it.”

His assistant scrambled to initiate a call over Wi-Fi, but there was no response.

“Fuck!” I hissed. “I need to be there. I can’t believe this is happening.”

“Keep trying,” Gerhard commanded.

Gisella appeared from the back of the plane, where she’d been hanging out with the kids. “What’s going on?”

Gerhard caught her up while I texted Zane. I didn’t dare try to call him while the king’s people were using what little internet we had.

Whatever you’re planning to do, STAY SAFE. Keep your protection officers with you at all times.

Then I texted the head of law enforcement in Majestic.

Foster, BOLO: Ventdestinian foreign national named Kasper Beaulund.

I followed it with a physical description and short explanation of what was going on.

Foster

Copy that .

A call tried coming in from Zane, but I had to decline it. I texted him instead.

On plane, can’t call. Give me update pls.

“Fuck, I need to be there,” I said under my breath.

Gisella broke in. “Then we go there.”

The king looked at her in disgruntled surprise. “But our plans?—”

She reached for her husband’s hand. “Your father owed Ryan his life, my love. He would have wanted you to help ensure his happiness. He’s obviously worried about his…” She gave me a particular look, urging me to fill in the blank, even though she clearly knew.

“Partner,” I said awkwardly. “He’s my… he’s everything. He’s…” I let out a shaky breath. “Finding someone like him was the reason I left Ventdestine. And then the winds whispered fortune on me. Because three weeks after I got back to the States, I was assigned to protect him.”

Gisella beamed. The king blushed and looked everywhere but at me. I didn’t care.

“I want to go to him,” I admitted, reaching out for what I wanted, the way I always urged Zane to do. “Please.”

The king gave a nod, and Gisella grinned and turned to the flight attendant. “Tell the pilot to reroute us to Majestic, please. We need to get there as soon as possible.”

What followed was a hectic and stressful hour, but soon, we were on the ground in Majestic, waiting for the steps to be lowered. There was certain security protocol that needed to be respected when the royal family landed anywhere, so I forced myself to focus on that process until the pilot had confirmed we were clear to deboard.

Thankfully, Foster Blake and several of his fellow officers were there with a fleet of official vehicles with flashing lights. A sleek Mercedes van was parked nearby, along with several dark-colored SUVs. Surely my people wouldn’t have allowed Zane to come here until we found Kasper .

But as soon as I made my way down the jet’s stairs, I saw Zane’s familiar honey-brown hair being lifted by the cold wind coming off the mountains as he stepped out of the van. My heart lurched as I scanned the area for Kasper.

My rational brain didn’t think Kasper was capable of physically harming Zane, but my heart didn’t give a fuck what my rational brain thought.

Foster approached the jet stairs first. “We got him, Ryan. He’s in custody, and we’ve confirmed he’s your guy.”

It was too good to be true. “For real? Just like that?”

He nodded. “It’s not hard to find an outsider in Majestic, even when it’s full up for the Bells. Your man registered at a hotel under his real name and was eating a sandwich in his room when we arrived. Easy peasy.”

“That sounds too good to be true,” I admitted.

“Well, fine. If you must know, your man took a little wind out of his sails first. So the perp was feeding his feelings.”

I didn’t understand what he meant, but that wasn’t my priority at the moment.

Foster saw me staring at Zane as he approached the line of officers at the entrance to the tarmac. “Let him through,” Foster called before turning to me. “I’ll take over with the royals. You go reassure your principal.”

Part of me felt like I needed to hold back on a big public display of affection at a Ventdestinian appearance, but then I remembered several things. This wasn’t a Ventdestinian appearance, we were in the States, where I could publicly display just about anything I wanted to, and I loved Zane Hendley too much to hide my true feelings for him.

I didn’t owe the Ventdestinian royal family anything. Not anymore.

Zane approached cautiously, but I threw caution to the wind and began running. Zane’s face lit up, and he picked up the pace, too, throwing himself into my arms and hugging me tightly .

“They got him,” Zane said. “He’s in custody.”

“Foster told me, honey. I’m just glad you’re okay.”

He pulled back so he could meet my eyes. “I did something, Bear. And I’m afraid you might be mad.”

“Never,” I insisted. I was too happy to see him, too relieved he was okay, to be upset at anything he might have done.

Then I remembered the one thing I wouldn’t have forgiven him for. “Tell me you didn’t put yourself in danger, Z.”

He shook his head wildly. “No, not that. I promise.”

“Then what?”

My phone buzzed with news alerts, one after the other. Zane’s eyes flicked around, suddenly looking everywhere but at me. “Um, that’s… that’s probably part of it.”

“What do you mean?”

I pulled out my phone to look, keeping one arm locked around him. A flood of headlines ran up my screen.

Rocker Reportedly Pledges $10M to Youth Winter Sports

Zee Barlo Admits to Being in Relationship with Bodyguard! “I’m In Love,” He Says.

Rock star/Bodyguard Love Stories On the Rise… IRL and On Your Shelves!

Zee Barlo, Jude Marian, Gentry Kane, and others release single to raise money for LGBTQ youth

Rocker Zee Barlo Announces New Record Label: Fairytale Recording Studio

Zee Barlo Buys Sprawling Ranch in Wyoming

I waited for the string of headlines to end, but they simply… didn’t.

I finally met his eyes. “Someone’s been busy?”

“Don’t be mad.” Zane was suddenly white as a sheet. “Please. I felt more confident about your reaction when I did it, but now…”

I slid the phone back into my pocket and pulled him close again, leaning in to press a drugging kiss to his lips. “I love you. I’m on board with whatever our plan is. I just want to know what the hell the plan is because that… was a lot.”

“I know, but when I found out Kasper was doing this because he wanted you back in Ventdestine, I realized… there was a way to make sure he wouldn’t want you back there.”

The realization came to me. “Tell the world I’m gay.”

He nodded and swallowed. “And then I remembered your story about Secret Sauce and how the king took the teeth out of the scandal by flooding the media with lots of scandals at once.”

I reached up to cup his beautiful face. “So you made up some stuff to distract them from the bodyguard affair?” I teased.

“None of it’s made up.”

I blinked at him. The headlines scrolled through my memory. “The winter sports pledge.”

“I’m funding a winter sports program here in Majestic. And I hope my boyfriend will figure out how to run it.”

My heart rate notched up. “On your Wyoming ranch?”

He rolled his eyes. “Now, that part they got wrong. It’s not a ranch. Right now, it’s a giant parcel of land without a house on it. But soon, it’ll have a home on it, as well as a recording studio.”

“Ahh,” I said, starting to see his vision. “And that brings us to the record label.”

My sweet Zane looked defiant. “It’s time for me to do things my way, Bear.”

“Because you believe in fairy tales again?” I wrapped my arms around his waist.

He nodded. “And I really hope…” He blinked, belatedly processing the giant grin on my face. “Wait. You’re on board with it?”

I nodded and leaned in to kiss him softly. “Very on board. You’re my principal, Zane. Where you go, I go. It’s as simple as that.”