Russian Enforcer's Royal Engagement (Russian Enforcers Book 7) Read Online Free PDF

larger one in the basement, to accommodate the entire family and staff if need be.”
    This had Rob thinking. “If somehow we could manage to get to one of those rooms…”
    “Too late now,” the prince whispered, and gestured to the men, who were dispersing and heading their way again.
    Apparently the impromptu meeting was over.
    The self-proclaimed leader of the outfit of bandits stepped forward, and let his eyes drift over the hostages seated on the floor.
    “At least one of you knows exactly where Diana Petrov is,” he announced in a surprisingly melodious voice. If Rob didn’t know any better, he would have thought he was a royal himself. His accent was British, which surprised him even more. Were these guys from England? The plot was definitely thickening. What would a bunch of English hoods want with his sister? His fingers itched to get a punch in, and he knew his brothers felt the same itch.
    The guy leveled his gun at the head of the king, and a gasp of shock went through the hostages. From the other side of the room wails of terror rose up.
    “Tell me where Miss Petrov is, and I won’t have to resort to more direct measures against your ruler,” the man announced softly.
    King Francois’s eyes blazed into those of the masked man. “I have no idea where she is, and even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you!” he boomed with barely controlled rage.
    “I wasn’t asking you,” the man said, then directed his gaze at the others, all huddled on the floor. “Any of you, tell me where Miss Petrov is hiding out. If you refuse to cooperate, the king will die and you will have his blood on your hands.”
    A horrified hush descended upon the small band of men. Apart from the Petrovs there were about two dozen other guests, all relatives and friends of the royal family. They could hardly sit idly by while the king was being massacred. One of them piped up, “I saw her leave the room with Prince Jacques.”
    The man nodded. “Very well. And where might he have taken her?”
    The man shrugged. “No idea.”
    The masked marauder sighed. “I will count to ten. If I don’t know the whereabouts of Miss Petrov by then, your sovereign is history. One—two—”
    “Wait!” one of the other men cried out.
    Rob and the other Petrovs darted fiery glances at the man, but to no avail. He seemed eager to spill his secret. “He must have taken her to the panic room in the King’s study. It’s the only place that makes sense.” He turned to Prince Rudolph. “Isn’t that right, Your Royal Highness?”
    The prince gave him a stone-faced stare but didn’t respond.
    It was all the attacker needed to know, and he courteously thanked the man.
    Christ, Rob thought. If only he could take down the fucker, he would end this right here, right now. He darted pleading glances at Mike and Erik, but they threw him a warning glance: don’t you dare play the hero!
    The leader of the outfit lowered his weapon and started walking toward the door. It struck Rob that these men seemed to know their way around the palace pretty well. They’d obviously prepared the attack very carefully.
    “They’re going to grab her!” he hissed to the prince.
    “No way,” the man returned. “No one can get inside that panic room. It’s built around a steel core eighteen inches thick. That thing can take a direct mortar hit. We had them built after we had a terrorist scare a couple of years back.”
    Though the prince’s confidence did much to dispel his apprehension, Rob wasn’t entirely convinced. These men were clearly very well prepared. If they knew exactly when and where to strike, they might know how to breach the safe room.
    “Relax, Rob,” the prince continued. “I’m sure by now my brother has called in GIGN. They’ll be here very soon now.”
    “GIGN?”
    “I think you would refer to them as SWAT?”
    Rob arched an eyebrow. “SWAT is on its way?”
    “Any minute now. And they don’t take kindly to hostage takers.”
    Rob