Saved by the Monarch by Dana Marton Page B

in his eyes.
    “Actually, I was hoping for a ride.” She gave him a look that said pretty please. She was shivering inside. She should have grabbed a coat before she left the inn.
    His smile widened. “Are you visiting up here? Do you have any ski gear?” He glanced toward the inn. “Ican help you bring it out. There’s not much room in the back, but we can probably squeeze your gear in.”
    She could hear voices from inside the entryway. Somebody would be coming out in a second. Could be the same men who were after her and the prince.
    “I could show you some of the best slopes in a couple of hours. I’m pretty good at skiing. I could even show you some slopes that are private.”
    God help her, the driver was actually flirting.
    She stepped to the cab and opened the door. “Just meeting up with some girlfriends in town for breakfast. I’ll tell you everything along the way.”
    Miklos was so going to kill her for doing this. He was going to be mad beyond belief. Probably not many women had ever run from the prince, especially not ones he had explicit plans for. He was going to be royally angry.
    Not that they needed to ever meet again.
    He would be busy saving Valtria, and she would be at a safe distance in D.C. Why didn’t the thought of that fill her with relief?
    “Early risers, eh?”
    “Want to hit the slopes as soon as they open.” She made up the story as she got in.
    She flattened herself against the back of the seat and turned her head toward the driver’s side to hide her profile form the men who were coming from the inn. The warmth of the cab felt great.
    Go, go, go.
    She didn’t dare turn to steal a peek at whoever was leaving the inn.
    “My name is Gunther,” the young man said as he slipped into his seat and slammed the door behind him.
    Miklos would be worried about her. She would try to get a message to him somehow from the airport. He’d mentioned that he had radio contact with a man named General Rossi. Maybe through him.
    “Judi. How long does it take to get to Sacorata from here?”
    “Two hours at least.”
    “Oh dear. I’d hate to be late.” She made an apologetic face. “Do you think we could hurry?”
    Twenty minutes of Gunther’s outrageous flirting later, they’d left the village behind and were swerving over the ice-covered roads. She hung on for dear life and regretted having said anything. Gunther was using speed and reckless driving to try to impress her.
    Which turned out not to be the biggest problem she faced, even if she’d been seriously beginning to fear loss of life or limb. An hour out of the village, she spotted a roadblock up ahead, armed men waiting, at least a half-dozen ominous dark figures in the moonlit landscape, big and menacing.
    “Stop!” She grabbed Gunther’s arm.
    But Gunther didn’t understand how much trouble they were in and didn’t slow the truck until it was too late. By then, the armed men had noticed them and were moving in for the kill.

Chapter Six
    She’d been taken.
    Anger and concern about ripped him apart as Miklos paced the room, scanning it for clues, willing her to come walking back in, knowing he waited for that in vain. She wouldn’t have left without her gloves and at least a parka if she’d left on her own, willingly.
    She was out there, the captive of conscienceless bastards somewhere in the cold, barely dressed, when what she needed was warmth and rest.
    And him.
    She needed him by her side, damn it all.
    He cursed himself for leaving her. He’d thought he would be back before the doctor left. But the suspicious man in front of the inn had been gone by the time Miklos made his way down to the street, so he had to do a quick sweep of the village to find the guy. He did, a few streets down. By then the man had two other thugs with him. He followed them, then spent precious hours staking out the derelict cabin at the edge of town where they led him. Men coming and going was all he’d seen, watching and waiting all