Royal Heir (Westerly Billionaire #3)(66)

“She might simply be talking with someone and ignoring her phone, but we will find her.”

Magnus began his own search, uncaring that Delinda called out for him to stop so she could join him. If she was offended by his indifference, she could voice her complaint later. Phillip was right—Rachelle might simply be distracted by a conversation with someone. They’d all laugh about this later and agree Delinda was best left out of a search that wasn’t even necessary.

The problem was, his gut was churning. He trusted his instincts, and they were screaming something wasn’t right.

Phillip found him as he was about to enter the kitchen. “Magnus.”

One look at Phillip’s face and he knew it was serious. He braced himself for the worst. “You found her?”

“No, but we have video of her being taken from the party. She didn’t go willingly.”

“What do you mean, taken?” Magnus’s hands fisted at his sides.

“We have a motion-activated clip of video from the south path. She encountered a man in a suit with the royal guard emblem, but I didn’t recognize him. I sent men, Magnus, but I doubt she’s still there. It looked planned. He had her bound by two others with what looked like duct tape.”

“Oh my God.” Magnus could have given in to the rage nipping at his heels. He could have asked Phillip how this was possible when so many were supposed to be watching her, but he didn’t. It was a conversation that could wait for later. Right now what mattered was finding her. “Notify the police. I want a close perimeter and a wide one secured now. Get helicopters up in the air. How long ago was the video taken?”

“Thirty minutes.”

“A car can travel outside the city in that time.”

“Yes.”

“Do we know what they might be driving? If they were driving? Do we fucking know anything besides what you just told me?”

“Not yet, but we will.” Phillip radioed the police while Magnus barked orders to the guards in the palace. One was for the royal household to keep all guests in the reception area—no matter what.

His father came to his side. “Magnus, is it true? Has someone taken Rachelle?”

Magnus nodded once.

“Do we know who was involved?”

“Not yet. Go back to the guests, Father. I’ll handle this.”

King Tadeas put a hand on his son’s shoulder. “I am a father first and a king second. My place is with you. This is one fight you won’t face alone.”

“How can it be faced at all when the enemy is still unknown?”

Delinda joined them. “Has something happened to Rachelle? I have to know.”

Magnus and his father exchanged a long look. Would telling her help, or would she impede the search?

To Delinda he said, “Your granddaughter is in great danger. Do you know anyone who would want to harm her?”

“No.”

“Someone took her from the property. We don’t know what they want yet. If you know anything, you need to tell us now.”

The older woman went pale. “I should have said something earlier. I hired a woman, Alethea Narcharios, to follow her. I thought she could keep her safe from anything. I haven’t heard from her in two days,” Delinda said, clutching at the king’s arm as she sagged in shock. “Alethea can be headstrong. I thought she was investigating something she wouldn’t want me to know about. But Rachelle might not have been the first they took. Oh my God, what have I done?”

The king murmured something to Delinda that Magnus was beyond caring about. Someone had to have seen something. He would grill every royal guard and their families if that’s what it took to find Rachelle.

Just then, two royal guards entered the great hall half carrying, half dragging a man. “Your Majesty. Your Royal Highness. We found this man on the property.” They deposited him at Magnus’s feet.

The man stood, brushed himself off, and said, “Before you congratulate them on nabbing me, you might want to explain to them the difference between walking toward the house to tell you something and running away.”

He reminded Magnus of a man Rachelle had once described. “Reggie?”

The man held out his hand. “Yes. Nice to meet you, Mr. Prince, or whatever people call you.”

As insane as it was to hope, Magnus shook his hand and asked, “Did you see something?”

“I saw everything. That’s why I’m here.”

“You saw Rachelle get kidnapped?” Delinda asked in a high pitch.

“Easy, lady,” Reggie said. “I was on a hike with my family, mostly minding our own business. The kids wanted to see how far we could get onto the palace property before someone caught us, but when I saw that the guards had guns, I sent my wife and kids back to the hotel.”

“While you did what?” Phillip asked.

Reggie shrugged. “Just checked things out. Eric asked me to watch over Rachelle, and I try be around if she needs me.”

“Did you see who took her?” Phillip asked.

“Yes.”

“And you did nothing to stop them?” Magnus growled.

Reggie threw both hands up. “Four guys. All armed. I could have tried to fight them myself, but then I wouldn’t be alive to tell you what happened.”

“No, but she might be. You let someone take her while you did nothing?” Magnus wanted to strangle the man.