Page 31 of Her Royal Cowboy Billionaire

An hour away from Batrovia and the captain came back to the cabin. “I need to speak to you again, in private.”

“You can say what you need in front of Michele. She is aware of the situation back home.”

The captain nodded. “Your mother has married, my king.” He bowed.

Alex, honored but embarrassed, touched the captain’s shoulder. “Do not bow to me, Joran. I’m only your king in public. You are still my friend in private.”

“Very well.” Joran sat on the sofa across from Alex and Michele. “I’ve requested your personal palace guard to be at the airport with the limo. The limousine is bulletproof, though I hope you don’t need to test it.”

Alex’s stomach was full of acid and he was nauseous, but tamped it down. “Thank you. I want to do everything possible to keep Michele and Erin safe.”

Michele reached over with a hand and clasped one of his. Then she squeezed.

He did not need words to know she appreciated the extra care for Erin, if not for herself. Or that she would be by his side if he wanted her there.

* * *

Reina sawto it Nicolai released Catherine in time to attend the wedding in the chapel. She wanted to make sure all of her daughters were safe, though none were happy about the ceremony. Not because he had killed their father. They did not know that fact yet, but just that he was obviously forcing her to marry him. But Reina would not let them interfere.

Now, the deed was done, but she did not allow him to touch her except to put the ring on her finger. The ring she took off as soon as she reached her quarters upstairs.

He followed her.

She turned on him as soon as he closed the door. “Here is your damned ring.” She threw it at him. “I won’t wear it. You got your ceremony. You got me as your wife, but that is all you’ll get from me.”

He’d started to unbutton his shirt.

“If you so much as try to touch me again, you’ll feel the tip of my sword in your throat.”

Nicolai was a terrible swordsman. He never had the coordination for it.

He backed off. “I will have you, Reina, in body and mind.”

“Don’t count on it, Nicolai.”

His eyes narrowed, and his hands fisted. “Oh, but I do count on it. Your children are still within my reach.” He lifted a hand and rubbed his index finger with his thumb.

“If you go anywhere near my children again, I will kill you without a second thought. Do you understand? If your cohorts know this, they will abandon you, and you will be alone. You are not king, but I am still the queen. I will make sure they know I will not prosecute them for their association with you…as long as they come forward.”

He lifted his chin. “My men are loyal to me and they will make sure you stay in line.”

Reina threw back her head and laughed. “Your men are loyal to the money you pay them. Nothing else. I can see the sweat bead on your forehead. If you had not kidnapped Catherine, we would not have had the ceremony today.” Then a thought struck her. “You wanted it done before Alex arrived home. You want him angry. You want him to come after you, so you can ambush him like you did his father. But Alex has no liking for you, as Gregor did. Yes, you knew that, too, did you not? Gregor still loved his baby brother.”

“Even if you are right, it matters not. You are my wife and I will have you, Reina. I did not wait all these years for nothing.”

“But that is all you’ll get from me. Nothing. You might look like Gregor, but you aren’t him and will never come close to the man he was. You are slime, Nicolai. Slime.” She reached for her sword.

He rushed forward before she could get her sword out.

Reina thought she was far enough away. She was wrong. Nicolai was on her before she could stop him.

He wrapped his arms around her and attempted to kiss her.

She avoided his lips, turning her head back and forth. Her stomach churned at the thought of his kiss.

Finally, he released her arms and used both hands to hold her head still. His lips clamped down on hers and he forced his tongue inside.

She bit him.