Chapter 1: Harper
Step one of kidnapping a king: have an asshole father that gives you no choice.
"What the hell do you mean, Dad? I'm just supposed to go off and marry this, this... Creep? What makes you think I'd ever go along with this?"
"I dunno honey, I figured you wouldn't want to be responsible for both your parents' deaths."
My cheeks flamed, hot anger and guilt bubbling in my stomach and up my throat. My mom had died from an overdose when I was four, and while I knew logically it wasn't my fault, it had been complications from my birth that eventually drove her to that point. My father had never let me forget that.
"You made the choices that brought you here. Not me. And you still expect me to pay for it?"
"It's the least you could do after everything."
I rolled my eyes and turned away. "I'm not going to do this. You're going to have to figure something else out."
His hand suddenly gripped my arm, fingers digging in tightly enough that I knew I'd be bruised. He whipped me around and brought his face close to mine, anger written all over it.
"You will do this. It's not a game, Harper. I got this job because of him and payment has come due. This option is the easiest and cleanest one, so you need to just deal with the hand life has dealt."
His words rang through my head .
"What do you mean, 'easiest and cleanest'? As in there are other options?"
He sighed, running a hand over his high and tight hair cut. "Technically, yes. But way more complicated.''
"Complicated how? It can't be worse than marrying your daughter off to Mayor McKay."
He snorted. "It was either that or kill Rowan Reigel."
My eyes widened, shock running through me. "Criminal boss, King of Crestline Bay? That Rowan Reigel?"
"Is there any other?"
Thoughts swirled in my brain, each one more depressing than the last. My father was the Chief of Police herein Crestline Bay, and he could pretty much get away with anything he wanted. Especially with having Mayor McKay on his side. Killing someone wouldn't be difficult to get away with, although taking out the main source of gang and criminal would be a bit harder, not to mention what might happen to the streets afterwards. But even with all that, had I been in my father's position, I'd kill anyone over marrying off my child to a man like the mayor.
That thought sparked something inside my mind, and after a few more seconds of the idea growing in my head I figured it was worth a shot.
"What if I did it?"
My father turned, meeting my eyes with his own confused ones. "Did what?"
"Killed Rowan."
"What the fuck do you mean?"
"I mean you wouldn't have to do any of the work and I'd get to keep my freedom. All I ask is that you make sure it doesn't come back on me."
"You really think you could kill someone? And him, of all people? You couldn't even get near him, much less near enoughto kill him."
"Let me worry about that. Do we have a deal?"
He fell silent, seeming to contemplate the idea. I had to admit I was a little shocked, thinking he'd argue and fight with me a lot harder. "Fine. You have three weeks to get it done, or you marry Mayor McKay. Agreed?"
"Agreed."
Step two of kidnapping a king: spend a week doing reconnaissance, planning every minute detail, and then wrestling yourself into a strip of cloth that called itself a dress and doing your hair and makeup to put on a performance like your life depended on it (because it kind of did).
The heels I wasn't quite used to wearing clicked on the pavement at half the pace of my thundering heartbeat, the restaurant that I found out Rowan liked to eat lunch at every Thursday looming ever closer.
You can do this Harper. You are a master planner, and you've gone over every possible outcome. You are smart, and this IS going to work.
I'd reached the corner of the building, and paused to take a deep breath and shake some of the nerves out before finishing the walk inside. I put on a calm smile as I sauntered through the doors and up to the hostess desk.
"Hi, I'm meeting someone here but I arrived a bit early. Would it be possible to sit at the bar while I wait?"
"Of course miss, follow me."
I did as she said, eyes quickly scanning the area to take in the surroundings. I knew he usually got a private room near the back, and that if I could grab just the right seat at the bar I would not only be easily visible should the door to his room open, but I would be easily spotted as he came in. I'd gotten there about an hour before he usually came in just to make sure my plan worked. Luck was on my side, as the restaurant was fairly quiet still and only two people sat at the bar and on the opposite side of where I needed.
"Feel free to pick a seat, and I'll grab you when your other party comes in. Can I get their name?"
"Certainly, his name is Peter. Thank you so much."
She tipped her head in acknowledgment and left me to go back to her station. I slipped into the chair I needed carefully, holding onto the end of my dress so that it didn't slip up too far and give a free show to the others present. I ordered a cranberry and sprite, wanting it to look like I was drinking but needing to keep my wits about me.
Of course there was no Peter coming, but if the plan was to look like I'd been stood up then I needed to make it look convincing. I spent the next hour checking my phone, ordering a few more drinks, and assuring the bartender and hostess that he said he'd "be there soon" and not to worry about me. By the time the hour had passed and Rowan was due to walk in at any second, the air of pity from the workers was so thick it was nearly choking me.
I audibly sighed, and the bartender rushed back over just as I'd wanted.
"I'll just get one more, if that's okay. And maybe add some vodka this round."
"You got it," he happily agreed.
I figured that if there was any chance Rowan got close enough to figure out my dink, I didn't want to look suspicious not having alcohol in my cup. A few moments after my last drink was in my hands, I heard the bell over the door ring, followed by a deep voice. My skin prickled, awareness coming over me as I realized this must be Rowan.
I turned and quickly looked towards the doorway, knowing it would look like I was hoping it was my missing date while it was really just me confirming that my target had finally arrived. As he came around the corner following the hostess, I quickly took in his short dark hair, light scruff of a beard, and obviously fit body hidden beneath a suit that probably cost more than my apartment. I was also able to take in the two giant men following him, unsurprised to see his bodyguards.
I let my eyes meet Rowan's for a moment, then forced disappointment to cross over my face before I turned away and sipped on my drink. I expected his party to pass behind me and into the room he had reserved, but a tiny spark of shock and excitement filled me when a body walked close to me and spoke, revealing that Rowan had come directly to me.
"I can't say I've never caused a look of disappointment to come over a beautiful woman's face, but it's never happened so quickly as it just did with you. May I ask as to what I've done to offend you so soon?"
I swiveled in my chair to face him, the intensity of his blue eyes boring into me and making it hard to speak for a second. He really was a beautiful man, although I couldn't let that affect my plans.
"I'm sorry you think that anything I do has to do with you," I quipped with a raised eyebrow. It was a risk to speak to him like this, but I was following my instincts. I heard the hostess' quick intake of breath just behind me, and Rowan's eyes widened slightly at my tone.
Before he could respond however, I let my body relax into a dejected stance, another sigh slipping out of me. "I'm sorry. That was uncalled for. I've apparently been stood up and it's made me..."
I let my words trail off like I was trying to think of a phrase, banking on him filling in the blank for me. Which he happily did.
"Testy?"
I let a breath of laugh escape me. "Yeah. Something like that. When you came in I'd thought it was him. It's a bit embarrassing to wait an hour for someone to show up that pretty obviously won't."
"An hour? You're certainly more patient than I am."
"My dad usually calls it stubbornness, so I guess patient is a kinder way to put it," I joked, letting my smile out in full force. I knew I was an attractive woman, and I was using every trick I had in my book to reel this guy in.
He chuckled at my joke, and in my head I celebrated at the small win.
"Well seeing as how you've waited so long and your date has been so rude to leave you here alone, would you care to join me?"
"Oh, no that's alright. I was just about to head out." I gulped down the rest of my drink and signaled to the bartender for the check.
A large, warm hand gently covered mine on the bar top. I turned back to Rowan, seeing a kindness in his eyes that I had never once expected to see. "Please," he said in a gentle voice. "I insist. Unless you've eaten already?"
"She hasn't," the hostess piped in quickly.
We both looked at her, and she met my eyes and shrugged a little like she was saying 'you may as well go'. I had planned on going anyway, but her little gesture was actually a big help.
"Then it's settled," Rowan decided. "You'll come join me, and I can at least make the effort you put into coming here worth it."
"Well when you put it like that, how can a girl resist?" I tried not to let my smile get out of hand, the giddiness at how well everything was going already nearly making me vibrate. Rowan had no idea he'd just invited death to dine with him, and I wasn't about to pass up the opportunity when it had nearly fallen into my lap.
I figured that if the rest of my mission went this smoothly, then I would have everything taken care of well within the three week limit that I'd been given. Rowan would be gone, and I'd get to keep living my life.
See dad, I thought to myself, staring at Rowan's back as we walked the rest of the way to his usual room. I'll have no issue finishing the job that you never should have accepted in the first place.
