Royal Elite: Leander by Danielle Bourdon

brow, glancing back and up at Leander.
    He cleared his throat. “We have separate phones that we use just between us. Turning off our usual ones is necessary. If they go off at the wrong time...well. I don't think I need to tell you what can happen.”
    Chey scowled but said nothing more.
    Leander knew that wouldn't be the end of it for Chey and Sander—and probably not for him and Wynn, either. The two girls shared just about everything. Except their men.
    With Ahsan too busy to interrupt for goodbyes, Leander opened the back door and swept a look along the back of the businesses. He saw no one that looked suspicious, no one that brandished weapons in the open. The driver of the transport vehicle exited his seat and scanned the alley, picking up on Leander's need for an extra pair of eyes.
    “We're going to walk fast, but not too fast. No running unless someone starts shooting.” Leander eased Chey outside with him while Mattias covered their exit, scanning the area for threats.
    “All right.” Chey didn't argue.
    Leander appreciated Chey's common sense. Now wasn't the time to discuss all the things that needed discussing and she seemed to understand that instinctually. She didn't complain as he walked her behind the row of businesses, setting a brisk pace for the same alley he'd herded her down the first time. He didn't want to get into the open, out in the front where they would be exposed, until he had to. Any moment he expected to see someone lurch around an alley corner, ready to fight.
    Cutting up between buildings, Leander hurried Chey along toward the other end. He checked their back often, ever wary of someone sneaking up from behind. Here too, Chey proved to have good instincts. She picked up the pace when he did, remaining silent and alert, and slowed when they reached the other side.
    Leander didn't pull a weapon into his hand because that was asking for trouble. Instead, he calmly strolled out of the alley with Chey at his elbow. Directly across the street was the SUV and four guards she'd arrived with.
    Gently giving Chey a push toward the back of the vehicle, anticipating her going around the other side to climb in, Leander checked the street, then set his sights on the lead guard.
    “We weren't sure what to do but wait,” the lead guard said.
    “The four of you take a route behind the buildings, use an alley like we did, and go to the whitewashed place on the end. Mattias and Sander are in there. Protect them like you would during a crisis.” Leander didn't stick around for a question and answer session. He collected the keys from the guard who'd been driving, opened the SUV door, and hopped into the driver's seat after tossing his pack into the back.
    Chey was already in the seat adjacent, fastening her seat belt. She withdrew her cell phone and put a call in to the pilots.
    Leander swerved away from the curb and pulled into traffic, the tight tension in his shoulders and neck only easing a little when no one attacked the car or took a shot from a higher vantage.
    Now all he had to do was get to the airport and get in the air.
    Time was wasting.

Chapter Nine
    The transfer from SUV to jet was seamless and terror-free. Leander breathed a deeper sigh of relief once Chey ducked into the interior and sat in one of several plush chairs positioned across from a curving sofa.
    “I'm going to let the guys know we made it, then call Wynn. All right?” Leander asked Chey.
    She turned an assessing, blue-eyed stare on Leander and dipped a single nod. “All right.”
    Leaving Chey to address the onboard stewardess, Leander walked to the back bedroom for privacy, and closed the door. Running lights along the inside of the plane above the oval shaped windows provided light in lieu of darkness setting in across the landscape. The satin covered bed and highly polished mahogany furniture was familiar—he'd flown in this plane with the king and the prince many times—and comfortable despite its austere elegance.