Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Room Mate 165

Chapter 165

Chapter 165

The new people arriving or returning hadn’t come in to see them. Keira turned to Alexei, realizing now they didn’t have their phones The kidnappers must have taken them. Pretty stupid if they hadn’t.

“What time do you think it is?” she asked.

Alexei looked out the window where the sky was starting to lighten. “I would say almost 7 am.”

“I hate to think what my sisters are going through right now.” Keira stood looking up at the window.

“You are the one being held hostage and you’re worried about your sisters.” There was no mockery in his tone, just a quiet observation.

Keira gave him a look that spoke volumes. “My sister Blair is pregnant.”

Alexei’s expression softened. He patted the floor beside him. “Tell me about your family.”

“What, now?”

“What, you have somewhere else to be?” His attempt at humor fell flat, but Keira appreciated the effort.

She walked over to him, then sat down, putting her shoulder against his, seeking warmth as much as comfort. “Blair’s my middle sister. She’s married to Roman Kingston—”

“The billionaire?” Alexei’s eyebrows raised. “I’ve met him at several charity functions.”

“That’s the one. She’s expecting their first child.” Keira’s voice caught. “She worries too much under normal circumstances. This will be driving her insane.”

“And your other sister?”

“Sutton. She’s the oldest, the responsible one.” Keira managed a small smile. “She has a little boy, Miles. She was a model once, but she’s actually freakishly smart with computers. So I really hope she is involved right now. Her husband, Luca, owns Cyber10.”

“De Santis? Another billionaire?” Alexei whistled softly. “Your family doesn’t do things by halves.”

“It wasn’t always like that.” Keira leaned her head back against the wall. “Well, it was early on, things changed after our parents died. We got part–time jobs while at school. I think it was good for us. Not losing our parents but working to get by.”

Alexei stayed quiet, giving her space to continue or stop. The silence stretched between them, not uncomfortable but heavy with unspoken

words.

“What about you?” she asked finally. “Tell me about your family. Not the royal biographies. The real stuff.”

“Not much to tell.” He shrugged, wincing slightly from the movement. “My father is… well, a king first and a father second. My mother died

when I was young. My brother, Niko, is the perfect heir, dutiful, serious and married to the perfect princess. They haven’t had children yet and

that has put pressure on me.”

“And you’re the spare,” Keira supplied.

“The problematic spare.” His mouth twisted into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “The one who makes headlines for all the wrong

reasons.”

She turned to study his profile in the dim light. “The headlines,

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Chapter 165

so long she thought he

finally. “It’s easier to be the royal disappointment than to be

dealing with. This was just a man,

said softly, “I don’t think

lips. “No, you think I’m

shoulder gently. “But that’s not

silenced them both. They

door swung open, and a masked man entered, gun held casually at his side. “Good morning, Your

Keira muttered, “Five–star accommodations.”

chuckled. “Feisty. I like that.” He tossed two bottles of water and a paper

didn’t know what he was worried about; she didn’t think Alexei was in any fit state

updates on our situation?”

progressing.” The man adjusted his mask. “Your father’s people are being difficult, but we expected that. Warner’s sister, on the

stomach knotted. She hated bringing her family into this, but like Alexei had said, until they saw her value she had been expendable. Usable and of no worth. At least now she had a chance and maybe her family could

“Sit tight. We’ll

slammed shut, the lock

opening

used to,” she said, breaking the bagels into

nothing.” Alexei accepted his portion, eating slowly. “Your sisters and husbands are

“And your father?”

follows what

what happens to

ourselves out.” He finished his water, setting

hugged her knees tighter. “I

not just going to sit here waiting for rescue. We need to

Chapter 165

winced when he moved told her his head was pounding worse than he

tightness around his eyes told a different

pain radiating from your eyes.” Keira

started to protest, but she cut him off with a sharp gesture. “For once in your life, don’t argue with me. Your royal

on it. “Look for cameras first. We need to know if

bathroom was tiny, just a toilet and small sink, a shower with no curtain

reported, returning to the main room. “They

her eye in the corner of the room–a small metal cot she hadn’t noticed before. It was partially hidden behind some stacked boxes. She had been looking up

a cot over here.” She hurried over and tested it. The frame creaked, but seemed stable enough. “Come on, you need to

princely pride battling with

me drag you

a weak

She returned to his side and slipped her arm around

it with a barely suppressed groan of relief. Keira helped him stretch out, noticing how he tried to hide his

as if he had any intention