Prince Incognito by Rachelle McCalla Read Free Book Online Page B

advantage.”
    “But we’re already outnumbered.”
    “True. But you said earlier they need the knowledge that’s in my head. They’re not going to risk killing me.”
    Lily swallowed. “What about me?”
    “I thought that David fellow was your uncle.”
    “Yes, but you saw how he tied me up and shoved me back here. I don’t have any critical information in my head.” As she spoke, they shifted with a hollow thump. The helicopter’s skids settled to the ground. They’d landed. And though the soldier had worked the zip tie back a few more notches, Lillian was still securely restrained. She wasn’teven sure she could stand up without help.
    “He’s not going to hurt you.”
    “How do you know that?”
    “I won’t let him.”

FOUR
    O ne of the armed men grabbed Lillian roughly by the shoulder, hauling her to her feet, shoving her in the direction of the door. She couldn’t imagine climbing down a ladder with her hands still bound, but as she blinked into the courtyard outside, she saw in the illumination of fluorescent yard lights that a set of wheeled steps had been pushed into place.
    Wherever theywere, these folks were obviously used to receiving helicopters if they had a set of steps handy.
    “Go down,” her uncle instructed her from just beyond the armed man’s shoulder.
    Lily hesitated. She didn’t want to go anywhere alone. She and the soldier hadn’t had time to discuss any specifics of their plan. He’d said he needed to see what he was dealing with before he would know how toact. Perhaps the best thing she could do was disembark so he could get a good look at what was going on outside.
    Her legs, tired from pedaling the rickshaw up and down the hills of Sardis all day, and cramped from the ride in the helicopter, trembled as she tried to descend without the free use of her arms for balance. When she nearly keeled sideways on the second step, the armed man clenchedher shoulder with one hand, jerking her backward.
    She decided that if it came to a fight, she’d feel no compunction hitting him.
    As she made her way down the steps, she looked around, trying to spot some means of escape. High stone walls encircled the enclosure, with a gated door at one end guarded by more armed men, and a fortresslike building along the other side. The heavy woodendoors looked impenetrable. The sound of crashing surf carried through the still night air. They must be near the ocean.
    Her damp sneakers squeaked against the cobblestone floor of the courtyard, and she braced herself, ready for the soldier to make his move. She half expected him to leap from the helicopter doorway and take out the soldiers in one mighty pounce, but instead he kept his handsbehind his back and his head down submissively.
    The armed men shoved them toward the building. Lily went, though inside her heart was screaming. If they entered the building, they might never come out. They needed to do something. They needed to fight!
    Two guards held a door open, and Lily stepped through to a marble hallway. She could hear the soldier’s footsteps behind her, and sheperked up her ears for any change in rhythm that might indicate he was about to make his move.
    He plodded on, so she did, too. They passed several closed doors, then changed direction as the hallway bent ninety degrees. If she had her guess, they’d entered the back way and now were headed toward the front of the imposing structure. As she moved, she tugged her arms against the nylon strapsthat bound her. The soldier had managed to loosen the zip ties considerably. In fact, if she thought she could do it without being seen, she just might be able to squeeze her wrists free.
    Ahead she saw two multipaned French doors opening to a large, gracious parlor, its high arched windows showcasing only darkness outside. She caught a glimpse of a few twinkling stars, and the longing tobe outside distracted her for a moment.
    The soldier’s sudden movement caught her unaware. If she hadn’t