Always - Iris Johansen [59]
Clancy lifted her into the helicopter and then jumped in himself. A moment later a turn of the ignition sent the propellers whirring, and the blue-and-white helicopter lifted off with sluggish awkwardness. Then it rose, turning and gaining speed with a certain amount of grace. It made a ninety-degree turn and set course for Marasef.
Marna stood watching with a faint smile as the helicopter sped toward the horizon. The strong sunlight glittered on the slightly unwieldy body of the craft and caused a mirror reflection on the steel fittings of the propeller. It looked terribly vulnerable and alone in the vastness of the harsh blue sky. Vulnerable. Marna’s smile vanished. Her pupils dilated as the shock hit home. The airport. Vulnerable. She turned and ran across the courtyard. She had to get to Kira. The airport. It was going to happen at the airport!
–––
Clancy opened the door of the helicopter and lifted Lisa to the tarmac. The shrill scream of a jet taking off on a nearby runway caused her to flinch. It was isolated at this private section of the airport, but still close enough to the main terminal to be subjected to the abrasive noise level. “This is coming as quite a culture shock. I never realized how quickly I could become accustomed to the desert quiet at the castle.”
“It’s only for today. By sunset I’ll have you back at the castle a stodgy married lady.” He grinned. “If I can manage to get you away from Honey and Sabrina and Billie. They can be very persuasive, and they’re not going to be satisfied with a few hours’ acquaintance. They’ll be backed up by Zilah and Pandora, and I think we’re going to have our work cut out for us getting away to our quiet retreat.”
She frowned uncertainly. “Are you sure they’ll be that eager to get to know me? You mean a great deal to them, according to Kira.”
“I’m sure. Kira was right, you won’t find anything intimidating about any of them.” He touched her lips lightly with his index finger. “They’ll love you, acushla. Trust me.”
She drew a deep, shaky breath. “I will.” Her sudden smile was rainbow bright. “Always.”
“Always,” he repeated softly. “I like the sound of that word. We’ll have to go more in depth about that later.” He took her elbow and turned away from the helicopter. “But right now I think I’d better get you to the palace and into the bonded state of matrimony. There’s one of the palace limousines parked beside the hangar.” He gestured toward a long gray Cadillac with the Sedikhan crest on the driver’s door. “That must be for us. Kira will be pleased that her arrangements are going like clockwork.”
“They wouldn’t dare do anything else,” Lisa said. “Kira and Marna are quite a combination. Together they could move mountains.”
Clancy chuckled. “For God’s sake, don’t mention that to Marna. She might try it just to test her powers. We wouldn’t want to have to reprint all the Sedikhan topographical maps. There’s no telling what she’s already done to the landscape of Tamrov—” He broke off, his body stiffening as if he’d been hit by a bullet. “Baldwin!”
Lisa’s gaze followed him to the man who had stepped out from behind the Cadillac. He was dressed in a dark blue chaffeur’s uniform with a Sedikhan emblem on the jacket pocket, the billed cap pulled down over his eyes. Oh, God, it was Martin! No, not when they were so happy. Not when everything was—
“Don’t move, Donahue. Don’t even think about it.” Martin gestured with his left hand, and she saw it contained a small, lethal-looking pistol. “We’re going to take things very easy and slow. Come over here, Lisa.”
“No!” Clancy took a step forward.
The gun was immediately trained on the center of Clancy’s chest. “Don’t think I’m not serious, Donahue,” Martin said silkily. “I’ve waited a long time for this. I’d just as soon put a bullet in you right here.”
“Don’t move, Clancy. Please.” Lisa pushed past him and ran across the tarmac. “You don’t want to hurt him, Martin. He’s a very important man here in Sedikhan. They’d never stop looking for you if you—” She