The Fearless King (The Kings #2)(44)

“Sure sounds like you’ve given it at least some thought,” she gritted out. Frank’s men jumped to their feet as she strode toward them, and she jerked her chin toward the street. “You won’t get away with this, Elliott. I won’t let you.” Frank has to be okay. He has to be. I don’t know what I’ll do if Frank’s not okay.

“I would never hurt someone you care about, sweetheart. That’s something only a monster would do.” He laughed a little. “Enjoy the rest of your night.” Elliott hung up.

One of the men stepped forward. José, she thought his name was. “Problem?”

“Take me to Frank. There’s trouble.” Frank might be okay right now, but it didn’t mean he’d stay that way. Elliott didn’t bluff. Something about Frank had gotten under his skin, and he would scratch at that itch until he demolished it.

Until he demolished Frank.

Frank wouldn’t bend like Journey. It wasn’t in his nature, and Elliott had to know that. No, her father would go straight for breaking him. She could pretend Frank would see him coming a mile away, but Journey had thrown Frank off his game today. He would be distracted, and Elliott was smart enough to use that against him. To hurt him.

To kill him?

She wouldn’t put anything past her father, not once he’d fixated on an enemy.

I have to get to him. I have to get to him now.

She headed for the doors, José on her heels. He caught her arm as they hit the sidewalk. “Ethan is bringing the car around.”

She started to say they didn’t have time for that but forced herself to stop and think. Flagging down a taxi might mean action right now, but it would take time they couldn’t afford to waste. Ethan was one of Frank’s men. He had just as much interest in keeping Frank safe as she did.

On that note…

Her hands shook as she dialed Frank’s number. Please pick up, please be okay, please don’t have let him hurt you. She almost cried out with relief when he answered in a low tone. “Duchess? Is everything okay?”

“Where are you?”

Instantly, the hint of softness disappeared from his voice. “At the office.”

“Stay there.” His office had to be safe. Frank was too smart to work in anything other than what qualified as a fortified building. “I’m on my way. Just…stay there.”

“What happened?”

She couldn’t answer that without getting into Elliott’s call, and if Frank thought Journey was in danger, he would ignore her warning and come for her. Which will play right into Elliott’s hands. Maybe. The problem was that she didn’t know what her father’s plans were.

Her heart beat in time with her panicked thoughts. “Promise me you’ll stay at the office. Ethan is driving us there. We’re on our way.”

Silence for a beat. Two. “Okay, Duchess. I’ll be here waiting.”

It was as good as she was going to get. “Thank you.” She ended the call as a black SUV pulled up to the curb in front of her, Ethan at the wheel. José opened the back door for her, and Journey slid in. She stared at her phone the entire trip to Frank’s office. A live snake in her hand would have been less dangerous.

At any moment, her father could call to gloat that he’d done exactly what he threatened, that he’d drawn Frank out of his office and removed him from the equation. That he took out the trash. Frank was trash? The very idea would have been laughable if she didn’t have panic beating frantic wings inside her. Frank was the best of men. Ruthless, yes. Ambitious, without a doubt. But with a core of goodness that anyone who dealt with him for any length of time could see.

It had just taken Journey a little longer than most.

She slipped her phone into her purse and stared out the window, silently counting down the blocks to Evans Inc’s building. Journey had never been there before, but she knew where it was located—everyone knew where it was located. Including Elliott, no doubt.

As they pulled up to the sidewalk, Frank stepped out of the doors and strode to the car. Journey muttered a curse under her breath even as she drank in the sight of him. No injuries. He was there and he was safe and Elliott hadn’t gotten to him.

Yet.

Frank yanked open the door and stuck his head in. The relief on his face would have been comical under any other circumstances. “You’re okay.”

“Get in here.” She grabbed a fistful of his shirt and towed him into the backseat with her. Journey didn’t take a full breath until he shut the door behind him, and even then, she was too aware of how exposed they were sitting here on the street. They could go back to her apartment or to his…but ultimately they would be vulnerable. Frank would be vulnerable. “I need to get out of town,” she blurted.

He sat back and looked at her. Those dark eyes missed nothing. “He threatened you.”

No, he threatened you. If she told him the truth, he would brush her off. Frank had power in spades and he wasn’t stupid or complacent…but he wouldn’t expect Elliott. No one expected Elliott.

She couldn’t tell Frank the truth. Not yet.

But if he wouldn’t go to great lengths to protect himself…maybe he would to protect her.

She took an unsteady breath. “Yes.”

Frank leaned forward. “Ethan, take a roundabout route to Journey’s apartment. We’ll be inside long enough to pack and then we’re heading to the airport.”