Chapter 130: Moving Forward, Just the Three of Us

Dimitri POV

The palace gardens provided a cool and refreshing haven. Native plants from the mediterranean and Eastern Europe and as far away as Russia and Turkey filled the gardens. Under an olive and a fig tree, Dimitri, Ariana, and Irina sat on a circular high-backed bench together, enjoying a sweet moment of privacy after the firestorm. 

Aunt Sally and Uncle Bill had stayed away, and Elina was nowhere to be found. Most likely she thought both he and Ariana had lost their minds. She might be right on that score.

Irina shivered, sandwiched between him and Ariana. "My parents had Luc there the entire time. Probably he was listening to our phone calls."

Ariana dared to ask, "Did you want him to rescue you?"

"Of course," came the reply. "For the first day in that cell."