Read Online Royal Elite: Leander by Danielle Bourdon - Free Book Online

problem. I can't get in contact with him right now. If you tell me why or how he's going to die in four days--”
    “Three.” The man stopped mid-step and twisted his torso back to look at her. “Three days.”
    Wynn stopped near a sectional. “Look. If you don't help me, I can't help him. He's off on some...thing. A mission or something. He doesn't answer his phone when he does this, but I might have access to finding him. Three days isn't a long time, or enough time, not with the flight delays and time differences and whatever else. Tell me what he needs to know to be safe, and I'll take the knowledge back with me instead of wasting more time for him to come here.”
    “I can't do that.”
    “Why not? He's your son and you bothered to write him a cryptic letter that wouldn't have answered any questions for him, either.”
    “If he wanted to live, he would know to heed my words. It's his choice to decide, not mine to chase him down.”
    A blaze of anger shot through Wynn. This was his son they were talking about. She didn't understand his unwillingness to go with her. Fear for Leander's life enhanced her irritation. “You might not love him anymore, but I do, and I want him to live,” she said, adamant that he listen.
    The man paused again just as he began to ascend the rest of the stairs, turning to meet her eyes. Something like sorrow passed across his features. For a moment, he appeared to age right before Wynn's eyes.
    “I wouldn't have gone to the trouble of hiring someone to take a message all the way to Latvala if I didn't love him. You misunderstand. Leander wouldn't take any of my calls last week, not one, so it has to be his decision to come to me for help. I'm the only one who can do it. The only one who can save him. Do you see the irony in the fact that he doesn't want my help, but without it he'll die?”
    “Did you tell him that on the phone?”
    “I couldn't. Can't. Because then he'll call back and ask why and I can't talk about it over the phone.”
    “Why? What is going to happen to him?” Wynn couldn't recall a time when she felt so frustrated and helpless.
    “Contact him, tell him to come home. Hurry, Wynn, if you really want him to live.” The man landed on the porch and walked to the back door. Before he entered, he glanced at one of the outbuildings, then toward the trees, and finally let himself inside.
    Wynn couldn't help but look in the same direction. She saw nothing particular in either place, yet the hair went up on the back of her neck and she could have sworn she was being watched. There was a sense of expectancy or anticipation in the air.
    Fishing her cell phone out of her pocket, ignoring the warning bells going off in her mind, Wynn tapped a button while the screen flared to life. No Signal.

Chapter Six
    “What did they say?” Leander, who had taken up a kneeling position near one of the windows facing the building where Kristo was being held, glanced over to Mattias at the end of the phone call.
    “Augustin is appealing. He says he doesn't have the money to pay so he's attempting to work out a trade,” Mattias said, ending the call. He slid the phone into a vest pocket.
    “And the people holding Kristo for ransom?”
    “Not good. They're getting impatient and want cash, not a stash of gas or oil or whatever other export Augustin will try to use.”
    “Think we'll have to go in before darkfall?” That was the highest point of danger, rushing the building in broad daylight. Not only for the lookouts sure to be scanning the street but for pedestrians who might get caught in any crossfire.
    “I don't know. But it's looking more and more like the situation might come to a head sooner than later.” Mattias edged to a window to scan the street. “I'm going to go down and tell Sander.”
    The king of Latvala had left fifteen minutes earlier to prowl the property and make sure no unwanted guests had paid a visit to the lower floors.
    “All right. I got this up here.”