Venus sighed and rolled her eyes. “Come on. I work for the military. They have plenty the public know nothing about. It’s easy to use, easy to hide.” She snorted inelegantly. “You’re so much less than I thought, but you’ll get better. No more clinging to your family of guards. I’ve spent years building a web that stretches the length of the nation. It’ll be at our feet.” She took a slow deliberate step forward, her eyes staring at Brett with cold calculation and fanatical resolve. “Our father was small time. He was content with the drug empire. I’m going to have the entire nation in my palm.”
“That won’t happen,” Brett said.
“Won’t it?” Venus smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Soon you’ll lose everything and be glad when I show you even a small amount of care.” She glanced over her shoulder and then back again. “You’ll be my most prized weapon. Tick, tock, no more time on the clock.”
“Not a—”
Brett’s eyes widened, and he sprung towards Felix, knocking him to the ground. Silence reigned except for the thud of bodieshitting the ground and Brett’s sharp cry. Felix covered Brett as he lifted his head to study their surroundings. People stormed into the field, guns drawn, but his gaze went back to Brett.
“Are you hurt?”
Brett stared off to the side, and Felix’s gaze followed to where Venus lay crumpled on the grass, a gunshot wound to her head. Felix’s throat caught. He’d fucking done it. Shaking his head, he focused on Brett again, cupping his jaw and turning his head to him instead of his sister.
“Brett? Brett, focus on me,” Felix said.
“Is he okay?” someone shouted.
“Brett?” Finally, Brett’s eyes focused, meeting his gaze. “Are you hurt?”
Brett licked his lips. “I’m fine. Is everyone okay?”
Felix glanced around at the men surrounding them, all alive, but not without cuts and bruises. “Everyone’s alive.” But as he refocused on him, he saw the wet patch growing on his shoulder. “Fuck!” He pressed his hand to it, trying to stop the bleeding.
Brett’s gaze lifted to the sky as tears leaked from the edges. He wanted nothing more than to enfold him in his arms, but they needed to get away from that place as soon as possible and get to the hospital. As soon as he thought that, Owen approached.
“We need to leave. Police were called.”
Felix faced Brett again. “Brett, we need to get back to the car. Owen, help me. He’s been shot.”
Brett staggered initially, but then stood tall, even with Felix and Owen supporting him. Neither of them looked at his sister again.
“I’ll drive,” Owen said. “Get in the back in case I need you to get down.”
Luckily, they didn’t, and when they got to the hospital, Brett and Felix went straight through to a room that was always available for the royals and royal guards. The doctor,Dr Knightley, joined them immediately and arranged for x-rays to double check the damage before giving them the good news: nothing major hit, just a through and through, missing everything vital.
Felix’s chest eased, his heart calming from the speed that, if he’d been hooked up to a monitor, would’ve set alarms going. He reached for Brett’s hand and squeezed, trying to ignore the brackets of pain around his mouth and eyes.
“How are you holding up?”
Brett grimaced. “I’m fine.”
Felix couldn’t help the smile. “You are.”
Brett frowned and then chuckled. “I want out of here.”
“Soon. Rest while you can.”
“We can’t. She was lying about the bombs.”
Felix nodded. “I know. We’ll find them. Later.” He just hoped they had time.
Time passed, the two of them talking quietly until the doctor finally gave Brett permission to leave. Shoulder bandaged and in a sling, Owen drove them back to Windsor Castle and through the still-protesting crowds. Felix ignored them as best he could. When they stopped, Christian met them at the door and led them to an empty suite.
“Rest up for a bit before the debrief,” he said before closing the door.
Brett looked lost and then the tears stared until he went to his knees, sobbing. Felix slid his arms around him, and held him until his sobs reduced to small hiccups. Brett lifted his head, his red eyes making Felix’s chest ache—it had happened a lot recently.
“I won’t ask if you’re okay, but what do you need?” Felix asked.