Player's Princess (A Royal Sports Romance)(132)

He bites his lip. On anyone else, it would almost be endearing.

I lower my voice even further.

“If you could talk to your mother, would you?”

The prince flinches, as if I’d hit him.

“My mother is dead,” he says coldly.

He snaps his fingers, and barks a rapid order in Kosztylan at the orderly who approaches, eyes downcast. The man nods and darts off, and the prince stands there, waiting. I put my fists on my hips and wait alongside him, wondering what he’s going to inflict on me now.

The orderly comes back carrying a cordless phone on a plastic tray, the kind they might use to serve dinner.

The prince takes it and hands it to me.

“I am told you will have to dial nine for an outside line. Call her parents. Then take the phone in to her. When she is done, bring it to me. Do not let them hang up until I speak to them.”

I stare at him, wide eyed, and then quickly dial. Someone shouts at me in Kosztylan on the other end. I didn’t hit nine first. I try again and listen to the phone ringing. A tired voice answers.

“Hello?”

“Mrs. Petersen? Is this Melissa’s mom?”

“I…” she yawns. “Yes, who is this?”

“My name is Penny. I’m—”

“Oh my God, are you the other girl? The one who went missing with my daughter? Where is she? Where are you?”

“I… We’re in a hospital.”

“Where? The church said you disappeared, they don’t know where you are. Why haven’t you called in?”

“They didn’t let us.”

“They who? Where are you?”

“Kosztyla.”

Silence on the other end of the phone, and then a whimper.

“My God in heaven, what are you doing there?”

“It’s a long story—”

“Did you get my daughter in some kind of trouble?”

“No. It’s a long story, I told you. We’re okay, we haven’t…”

I was going to say we haven’t been here, but that’s not quite true.

“I’ll tell you soon. Melissa is here and she wants to talk to you. She’s been through a lot but she’s not physically hurt, she’s just really shaken up. She really wants to talk to you and—”

“Put her on. Please.”

I look at the prince. He gives me one sharp nod and steps back from the door, motioning his men away as well, so Melissa can’t see them.

I walk in with the phone.

Melissa looks up, and her eyes snap to the phone.

“I talked to the prince, Melissa. We can’t leave yet, but your mom is on—”

She snatches it from me.

“Mommy,” she wails, “is that you? Is it you?”

I hear a similar cry on the other end, and for a moment all either of them do is weep, sobbing loudly.

“It’s me, I’m okay, they didn’t hurt me, there were bad men and they were going to but Penny saved me and she’s going to help me come home.”

I flinch, taken aback.

“She’s an angel, God sent her to help me. I miss you so much, I just wanted to hear your voice. No, no they haven’t hurt me, I’m in a hospital. No they won’t let me leave. I don’t want to leave, it’s too scary outside, I’m in a room. No I don’t know what number.”

“Melissa,” I touch her arm gently, “I need the phone back when you’re ready.”

“Why? I want to keep talking to them. Mom? What?” She sighs. “She says to do as they say.”

“She’s right. You’ll talk to her again soon, I promise.”

“I will? You’ll make him let me talk to her?”

“I will, no matter what. Very soon, okay? I just need the phone for a minute and I’ll be right back.”

Melissa nods. I take the phone from her outstretched hand and carry it back outside, as if it might break if I drop it.

“Stay on the line, please. The prince wants to speak to you.”

“What? Who? Wait, you mean… Holy mother of God.”

I shove the phone at him but stay close. I can hear her, hysterical on the other end.

“Please don’t hurt my daughter, I’ll do whatever you want. I’ll pay if you want us to. We have savings…”

“I am not a kidnapper,” the prince snaps, indignant. “I demand no ransom.”

“Then what do you want? Please let my daughter go. I just want her back. Please, please please.”

He stands there in silence, clutching the phone in a shaking hand.

“I cannot let her return home. It would not be safe for her.”

“Oh God, please. Whatever she’s done I’m sure it was a mistake. I’ll do anything you want, please. I’ll take her place. Let me come there and send her back. Just don’t hurt her, I’m begging you. She’s a good child, she wouldn’t do anything wrong. She didn’t mean it, whatever it was…”

“She hasn’t committed a crime. She’s being held for her own protection.”

“I need to see my little girl. Please.”

As she descends into hysterics, the prince’s eyes go distant and his hand starts to drop, the phone pulling away from his ear.