Randle's Princess (26 page)

“But why?  Why would you do that Thomas?” she asked with tears now knowing Randle was telling the truth.  He only pushed the gun harder into her temple.

“Because he wanted to scare
me
,” Randle went on.  “He was threatening to kill you if I didn’t sign over your trust fund to
him
instead of you. And I refused.”

“It was the perfect plan too,” Thomas finally declared.  “But Randle just wouldn’t budge.  But now, he’s gonna lose you anyway,” Thomas then stated but Lia could feel him shake and knew he was far too jittery. 

“And your death?” she finally got the nerve to ask.

“I faked that too,” he seemed to brag now.  “Randle had a hit put out on me so I faked it so I could hide out until I could figure out how to get you back just so I could hurt
him
when he lost you again.”

And now she knew her beloved Thomas was a man not to be trusted but a man who probably never loved her at all instead.  And now she remembered telling him all about her trust fund that night in Vegas when they were having dinner together and she realized it was Randle who was telling the truth.  It was always Randle that protected her and did nothing from day one but try his best to have her love him back and keep her from harm.

Now she thought hard as she looked down the barrel of Randle’s gun but knew it was aimed at Thomas and if only she could get out of the way Randle would surely take him out.  But how she wondered as she turned her eyes to stare at the ceiling and then it came to her. 

Slowly she let her eyes keep rolling back in her head and her body fell completely limp.  Thomas lost his hold and she fell to the concrete floor and heard the loud bang immediately and then the thump as Thomas’s body fell to the ground just behind her.

She screeched out and felt Randle’s powerful hand grab her arm and drag her to her feet. 

“Don’t look,” he ordered gently as he held her head to his chest.

But she couldn’t stop herself.  She turned for a brief moment and saw blood gushing from his head and her eyes swelled again.

“I said don’t look,” Randle repeated louder as he held her firmly.  “I know how much you loved him Princess.  I know it hurts.”

“Oh Randle!  We’ve got to get outta here,” she then panicked.  “I can’t let them take
you
from me too.”

“Calm down Princess,” he stated calmly.  “We’re not going anywhere.”

“But the cops,” she started as she heard sirens coming from all around.

Randle pulled her back to stare her in the eye as he placed his gun back under his jacket.  “It was self defense Princess.  No one’s taking me anywhere,” he assured her firmly but smiled knowing now she truly does love him.  She was so sincere and worried for his safety as well.

As Lia was asleep later that night Randle knocked then made his way into her room.  Again he lay next to her and stared deeply into her eyes. 

“Feeling better?” he asked softly.

She finally smiled back.  “Yes, much,” she replied honestly. 

Randle kissed her forehead then got back up.  “Good night Princess,” he said so gently.

“Randle?” she then began.  He stopped and looked back.  “What the hell else is gonna happen to me?” she then asked with a laugh.

Randle chuckled at her now.  “I don’t know Princess.  But trust me.  I’ll be there to save you,” he then promised.  And she knew he meant it.  Randle had loved her since the day they met.

She watched now as he closed the door and was gone and she felt so alone again.  Feeling now as if she had never left this place and decided she wouldn’t think about all the good times she had with Thomas now.  For some reason it was all tainted in her mind now just knowing it was all a sham.  He never loved her and only used her hoping to get his hands on her money.

But Randle was so different.  His life had always scared her before but now she couldn’t possibly fear anything about him.  He was the only person in the world that ever truly loved her.

She found herself pulling back the blanket and slipping on her short thigh length robe and walking toward her door.  She stopped for a moment as if lost in thought then pulled it open and made her way across the balcony and was now standing just outside of Randle’s bedroom door.

Finally she got the nerve and knocked.  It only took a moment and Randle opened it and looked surprised at her being here.  “What’s wrong Princess?” he asked right away.

“Nothing really,” she stated.  “I just need to talk to you.”

“C’mon,” he insisted as he pulled her inside and closed the door.  He knew she had been an emotional mess since she came home and he would always be there to comfort her.

He held her in front of him now and stared down on her with such concern and she knew he meant it.  He always had.  His hands were resting gently around her waist and hers resting on his shoulders.

“Randle…I don’t know how to begin,” she hesitated.

“You know you can tell me anything,” he assured her again.

“Yes I know that.  That’s what I mean.  I’ve always been able to trust you.  I’ve always been able to count on you,” she then stated.

His eyes looked confused now.  “Well of course you can.  I’ve always told you that.”

“You haven’t always just told me…you’ve showed me.  You’ve proved yourself true more than once and I’ve been nothing but stupid all these years,” she finally confessed.

His eyes seemed to brighten now.  “What are you trying to tell me Princess?” he then asked with such anticipation.

“I love you Randle Malcolm.  And I think I’ve always loved you,” she finally stated feeling a great relief bestow her at last.

Randle squeezed her tightly against him now not sure of what she just said.  “Oh Princess, you know I’ve waited for years to hear you speak those words.   And you already know how much I have always loved you.  But I also know you’ve been through so much.”  He sounded as if he weren’t too sure.  As if she was confused herself.

“It’s because of what I’ve been through that has made me realize that you and I were always meant to be.  You are the only man for me Randle,” she then claimed with all sincerity.

Randle kissed her hard and passionately and for the first time ever he felt her kiss him back.  And he knew it was finally happening.  She would be his completely.  They stood now just next to his bed and he pulled back to face her.

“Are you sure Princess, I have to know.”

Lia reached to her robe and pulled it off of her.  Randle’s eyes watched as it hit the floor and scanned every inch of her naked flesh before him then their lips again met.

“Yes Randle…I am sure.”

She fell back on his bed with the weight of his body on top of her and never before had she felt more powerful as she felt his hand firmly grasp her buttocks then slide down the bottom of her thigh.  She never could explain why but Randle could always do this to her.  Give her a feeling of total security and power as if she felt there was nothing in the world she couldn’t conquer.

The next morning Lia awoke in Randle’s bed and smiled as she sat up holding the sheet over her breasts and stared at his handsome powerful face as he slept.  For the first time in her life she felt totally complete and that she had finally found where she belonged.

“Good morning Princess,” Randle stated finally opening his eyes and was clearly elated at seeing her sit before him.  “Sleep well?” he asked with a smile as he reached out and stroked her hair.

“The best ever,” she admitted. 

He sat up and kissed her.  Then he reached over to the night stand and opened the top drawer.  He pulled out a small box she surely recognized as a ring box and her eyes widened.

Finally he sat and faced her.  “Princess I bought this for you on your twenty-first birthday but couldn’t give it to you until I knew for sure you were ready,” he then explained. 

Her eyes widened more watching him flip it open exposing the most beautiful engagement ring ever.  A huge princess cut diamond in the center so large she didn’t even dare to guess how many carats.  He took her left hand and slid it on her finger.

She held her hand out flat.  “Oh Randle.  That’s the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen,” she exclaimed.  And knowing how long ago he had bought it made it mean that much more to her.

He grabbed her up and pulled her on top of him as he laid back down on the bed and kissed her. 

“Tell me again,” he demanded.  “I’ve waited so many years to hear it.”

“I do love you Randle.  And think I always have,” she admitted.

“I have always loved you Princess,” he stated and sealed it with another kiss.  “Now…tell me you’ll finally become my wife.”

Lia smiled widely.  “Nothing would make me prouder than to become your evil queen,” she exclaimed with a giggle.

Randle laughed out loud too as he rolled her body beneath his and again they shared their affection.  Then to Randle’s despair there was a knock at the door.

“Damn it!” he exclaimed.  “Who is it?” he yelled out.

The door opened and it was Marc that walked through.  Upon seeing them both bare and covered only with the sheets he immediately blushed.  “I’m terribly sorry sir,” he began apologizing.  “I didn’t mean to disturb you, but we have a problem I need to discuss with you right away,” he then went on with his back turned.

Lia wasn’t embarrassed at all.  For some strange reason she found herself feeling happy about him walking in on them, as if she wanted to declare to the entire world that she and Randle Malcolm were together at last and she soon would become his wife.  The thought itself was a domineering one to her.

“I’ll be down soon,” Randle then answered and Marc quickly left them alone again.

“As soon as I’m done here,” he then teased as he made his way back to Lia.

“You’re awful,” she joked back.  “You’d better not keep that man waiting.”

“Why not?  You kept me waiting for how many years now?”

“Ha ha,” she chuckled at him now never quite remembering if she had ever seen Randle quite this happy before.

They finally dressed and Randle went downstairs to see what Marc needed him for.  Lia went back to her room to shower and change then just as she walked into Randle’s office she saw Marc still sitting in a chair in front of his desk.

“Oh I’m sorry, I’ll come back later,” she stated.

“No Princess, come one in.  I was just fixing to come up and get you,” Randle then informed her.

She looked a bit confused.  “What for?”

“There’s something that only
you
can help me pull off,” he then stated.   “Close the door.”

Now he had her attention.  This sounded intriguing to her and she couldn’t wait to hear all the details.

Later that evening Lia was again coming down the staircase with Randle and Marc at the bottom watching as she made her descent.  She was wearing a very skimpy but formal royal blue mini dress that showed off almost all but the nipples of her finely rounded and firm breasts accented with a gorgeous diamond choker with matching bracelet and earrings and she was carrying a small handbag to match.  But her engagement ring was missing.

“Oh baby…just name your price,” Randle stated proudly as he scanned her up and down then bent and kissed her on the lips.