Page 43 of Her Royal Cowboy Billionaire

Her hand hurt like crazy, and she wondered for a moment if she’d broken a finger. “It’s not as satisfying if it’s not a surprise.”

“Well, that was definitely a surprise. Miss Williams, remember, things are not always as they appear.”

She rubbed her fist as the knots in her stomach grew. She needed to find Erin. “It seems pretty obvious to me. Now, where’s my daughter?”

Sergei lifted his chin, then bowed it toward Alex. “Follow me, please, Your Highness. Miss Williams.” He led them inside the house and closed the door behind them. “Duke Nicolai will see you shortly, along with the little miss.”

Nicolai came from a hall that Michele would have guessed led to the kitchen. If he was the twin of Gregor, she knew now what Alex would look like in thirty years. His hair was black with a little silver at the sides. He wore a goatee, and it was as black as his hair. He was almost as tall as Alex, but not as well built. Where Alex had muscles from working, Nicolai was just thin.

“The little witch kicked me in my privates and then ran off. She’s here somewhere. Find her. You two come with me.”

Michele’s pulse raced, and her breathing came in quick breaths. “He’s lost my daughter. The man needs to die.”

Alex had to hold Michele back.

Nicolai stopped and placed his hands on his hips. “My men will find her. She’ll have to come out, eventually.”

Michele mimicked his posture. “Seems to me she’s more likely to come to me without you here.” She suddenly bent, took the knife from her right boot, palmed it and threw it, pinning Nicolai by his jacket, to the wall he stood in front of.

“The next one is in your heart if you so much as flinch.” She pulled the knife from her left boot.

“Michele.” Alex put an arm on her shoulder. “I will take it from here.” He went to Nicolai and pulled the knife from the wall. “You are a very lucky man. She could have killed you quite easily, and I wouldn’t have said a thing if she had. You deserve it. With our country’s court system, you will only get life in prison, but that is guaranteed with the kidnapping note.” Alex took off Nicolai’s tie. “Put your hands behind your back before I let her have that second throw.”

Nicolai stared at Michele. “So you are the one he is going to marry. You are nothing but a weak-willed woman.”

“Turn around.” Alex pushed Nicolai, so he turned his back to Alex and put his hands behind him, crossed at the wrist.

Alex bound them with the tie so he could not move them.

Pulling on the tie, Nicolai complained, “You have tied it too tight.”

Suddenly, the door under the stairs burst open, and Erin ran out…straight to Sergei.

“Sergei. I kicked him just like you taught me, and then I ran. He scared me.”

He picked up Erin and held her close. “It is all right, little one. You are safe. We both are.”

Michele’s heart nearly burst with happiness at seeing her precious daughter safe and unharmed. Then her mouth fell open. “You were…pretending?”

“Yes.” He hugged Erin close as he held her. “Doing so was the only way I could assure her safety. The duke was so happy to have someone in the king’s guard, he didn’t even question it when I pledged my allegiance.”

Alex laughed. “He would not have. Nicolai was too sure of his own self-worth.”

“Do not talk about me as though I am not here,” Nicolai whined, like a child.

Michele turned to him. “I’m doing my best to pretend you’re not here; otherwise, I might not control myself.” She turned and moved toward Erin and Sergei.

No one else acknowledged him.

He resumed his silence.

Erin kissed Sergei on the cheek. “I want my mommy now.”

“Of course.” Sergei set her on the floor.

She ran to her mother.

Michele picked her up and squeezed her, crying all the while. Having her daughter in her arms felt so good. She’d been so afraid, and now she didn’t think she’d ever let her go.