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

won't like that you've come here, not at all, young lady.”
    “Why not? This is his childhood home, isn't it? He was raised here, played here, grew into the man that he is here, didn't he? We share many things, I don't see why he wouldn't want to share this, too.”
    Nathaniel smiled a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. “Those are not my secrets to tell.”
    “I don't understand. Why can't you just tell me what's going on? He's my fiance. Surely you have to realize how distraught I am.” Wynn pressed her fingers against the base of her throat while she talked, a gesture of pleading and desperation.
    “It's a bad situation, young lady--”
    “Wynn. My name, is Wynn.”
    “It's a bad situation, young lady, and as I've already said, it's not my place to divulge his secrets.” Nathaniel stepped into the living room, toward the closed front door. “I'll see you out now.”
    “But you can't just kick me out!” Appalled, Wynn didn't move. Not one step. Not so much as a flinch toward the doorway. “It's useless for me to try and go all the way back to Latvala, just to track Leander down where ever he is. That will eat up all the time. I'd rather wait here if you'll allow it.”
    Nathaniel opened the door. A hinge squeaked in protest. Then he repeated, “He won't like that you've come here, and he especially won't like arriving to find you still on the property. Believe me when I say that you won't want to be here when he comes.”
    Tonguing the inside of her teeth, trying to find the right words, or the right sentiment to get Nathaniel to let her stay, Wynn finally realized it was no use. She didn't want to antagonize the man to the point he called the police or ruin any kind of future relationship they might have.
    Stepping away from the bar, she crossed the room, stepped onto the porch, and trotted down the stairs.
    Neither said goodbye as Wynn made her way back to the rental car.
     
    . . .
     
    Eleven miles down Redwood Highway, Wynn's cell phone went off. Veering to the side of the road, she put the rental car in park and snatched the phone off the seat. She'd been driving the main thoroughfare, glancing at her phone often to see when she reached a spot that gave her a signal. Someone else got through first, and Wynn didn't bother looking at the caller ID when she answered.
    “Chey?”
    “It's me. What's going on? I just got your message.”
    “You have to find them. Find Leander. Tell him that he has to come home immediately.” Turning off the engine, Wynn got out of the car. She was over far enough not to impede traffic. Walking toward one of the tree trunks, she slouched her shoulder against it to contain her need to pace. A veritable cathedral of immense Redwoods surrounded her on every side, throwing shade down from leaves hundreds of feet above.
    “What happened? I'm in Ankara, on the way to the hotel.”
    “It's too long of a story to tell right now. But Leander's life depends on him getting back here within three days. I don't have to tell you that time is running really short.” Wynn tried to quell the shake in her voice. “It won't do me any good to get on a commercial flight right now. You're my best shot at finding him, Chey. Please. Do whatever you have to.”
    A long minute passed in silence. Then Chey said, “I will. I'll find him and send him home. Let me go and take care of this.”
    “All right. Be careful. Love you.”
    “Love you, too.”
    Wynn ended the call and stared balefully at the beautiful forest. The serenity failed to calm her pounding heart. There was no way she was leaving before Leander got here. No way she was flying back to Latvala to wait and see if he lived or died. Nathaniel might not want her at the house, and perhaps he was right in thinking Leander wouldn't want her there, either, but she refused to be anywhere else until she knew Leander's fate.
    Striding back to the car, she got on the road heading north. Now that she had a signal, she decided to find the