He gestures unceremoniously to one of the men who proceeds to push my blouse up. The humiliation deepens as another yanks down my pants, exposing me further to their prying eyes. My skin crawls under their gaze.
The worst comes when they peer into my bra and panties. It’s a degradation that cuts deep. This is the most dehumanizing, most demeaning experience of my life. I struggle to maintain my composure and not give them the satisfaction of seeing me break. It takes all my willpower not to wail with helpless rage.
When they’re finally done, they let me put my clothes back on while the smart aleck who seems to be the bossman texts someone. They cuff my hands again and then shove me into a chair. I’m tied to it firmly with added ropes that cut into my wrists and ankles.
For twenty or so minutes, I sit in a suffocating silence, bound and gagged and mind racing. Time stretches on. No questions come from the men guarding me, no threats or demands either. Are they waiting for Kurt’s orders?
Where the hell he? Show yourself, you monster!
Suddenly, it hits me. He’s supervising Henri’s torture. Cold dread settles in my stomach.
Poor Henri!
What are they doing to him? My imagination conjures up horrific scenarios of beatings, torture, and unimaginable pain—each darker than the last. I can’t bear it.I should’ve never told him to give them nothing!
How far will Kurt go to get what he wants?
Extremely far, I’m afraid. Kurt had my father poisoned with some cutting-edge pharmaceutical product, making it look like an inexplicable and incurable illness. His cruelty knows no bounds.
What if his men… kill Henri?
Cold sweat runs down my forehead at that thought. I shut my eyes and pray for Henri’s safety. I pray that he doesn’t try to play the hero. The key and the kingdom—none of it matters if it costs me the life of the man that I love.
The door opens. Kurt strides in, his presence filling the space. My heart lurches. He orders his men to remove my gag.
“What have you done to Henri?” I demand.
Kurt’s eyes hold a cold gleam. “He’s alive. Barely conscious, but still alive.”
Tears spring to my eyes, run down my cheeks, unstoppable.
“And Audrey?” I choke out, dreading the answer. “Have your men… killed her?”
Kurt shrugs, his nonchalance chilling. “Maybe.”
“What do you mean bymaybe!” I scream.
“It means, I haven’t asked them about her yet, dear Eugénie. I’ve been busy.” He turns to the smart aleck. “Is lady bodyguard alive?”
“She’s no lady, she’s a fighter, that one!” The man replies with something bordering on respect in his tone. “We sedated her again, Sir.”
Kurt releases a weary sigh. “Properly, this time, I hope?”
“Yes, Sir. She’s also gagged, tied up, and locked up in a broom closet like the housekeepers.”
“You see,” Kurt says to me, “We’re no monsters. Your lover boy and your bodyguard are alive, and it’s entirely up to you if they stay alive.”
“Why are you doing this?” I ask, my voice rough with emotion.
“You know why,” Kurt responds with a sneer. “I need that key.”
I narrow my eyes. “Why are youreallydoing this? What’s your endgame?”
“Again, you know it,” he retorts. “What will it change to hear me say it?”
“You’re pissed off because Uncle Richard won’t have any part in your nefarious dealings. But my family is no threat to you. Why go to such lengths to harm us?”
“The pretty princess wants to understand the big picture, is that it?” He crosses his arms. “Then listen up. The historic royal houses are at a crossroads today. They can either go with the times by joining the new masters of the world or disappear.”
