Chapter 3 – Rachel's POV
I was in the kitchen frying up some eggs when Keith walked in looking extra grumpy. I raised my eyebrow as he slowly took a seat at the table. "How are you ribs?"
"They hurt," Keith ground out.
I walked over to the cupboard and opened it grabbing the bottle of pills. I grabbed a glass and filled it with water out of the tap. I took it over to the table and put them both in front of him. The sound echoed in the room.
He looked at the bottle and then looked up at me.
"Take as many as you want just don't overdose," I shrugged and walked back to the stove.
"You'd make a bad doctor," Keith said as I heard him open the bottle.
"Thank God for small miracles that never crossed my mind for future occupations," I flashed him a smile. I piled a plate full of hash browns and eggs and took it over to him. "I ran out of bacon yesterday sorry I don't have any for you."
"This is fine," Keith said.
I raised my eyebrows expecting him to criticize the food. But he just started eating it. I looked at his shirt and wanted to laugh but I hid my smile. He looked ridiculous in that shirt. But it fit him pretty well. Even showed off his nice muscles I had seen the night before. I shook my head I didn't have time to be thinking about that.
"After we eat we'll go," I said.
He looked up at me a fork full of eggs paused halfway to his mouth. "Go where?"
"The capital," I looked at him. "See what's happening at the palace."
"And then what?" he asked.
I shrugged, "I can't exactly walk right up to the gates and say 'I found your missing prince here he is.' I'm pretty sure no matter what we do I'm going to end up in handcuffs and questioned."
He frowned, "But you're not responsible."
"Prince Keith no matter how you look at it if someone showed up with the kidnapped prince you know it looks questionable. Your security detail wouldn't be doing their job if they didn't question me," I sighed. "I just don't want to deal with that headache."
I finished eating and put my plate in the sink. "I'll be right back."
"Where are you going?" Keith looked at me with worry.
"To borrow a car," I said. I just hoped my landlord would buy my story.
"Why?" Keith frowned.
"I can't take a chance that whoever was chasing you last night got a good look at my car," I said. "I'll be back."
"Oh," Keith frowned but he continued eating. I looked back at him before opening the door and locking it behind me. I didn't know what exactly was going on or what exactly I was doing. I was just trying to get him out of my hair before I had to go to work in two days.
I went to Shane my landlord's apartment and rang the doorbell. He opened up after the second ring and looked at me as he leaned against the doorframe scratching his stomach through his white shirt that looked a little too tight and the bottom of his beer belly hung out.
I strongly resisted the urge to gag. Even more so when he looked me up and down like he usually does. "What can I do for you Rachel?"
The stench of cheap beer hit my nose and the gag reflex was getting stronger. "I was wondering if I could borrow your car for the day? I need to go to the city and my car is acting up. I need to pick up a part for it."
"What's wrong with it? Maybe I can look at it?" he moved towards me.
"No," I said. "I got it under control I just need a car. Can I borrow yours?"
I hated asking for favors. I hated it even more that I had to ask this man but I knew he wouldn't turn me down. At least not without wanting me to do something for him.
"What's in it for me?" he asked.
"I'll pay my rent on time?" I tried that.
He frowned and looked at me like I was wasting his time. "You always pay your rent on time."
"Fine I'll cook you dinner and that's it," I said.
"That lasagna you make so well?" he asked as he rubbed his stomach again.
"Yes," I nodded. "I'll make that."
"Okay," he reached over and grabbed his car keys. "Deal."
He never tried to get me to sleep with him whenever I asked for a favor. He didn't want the sexual harassment charges so he always settled for dinner. It hit me in the checkbook but right now I'd rather get Prince Keith out of my life and back into the palace so I wouldn't have to worry about my life being in danger.
"Thanks Shane," I said taking the keys from him. "I'll have it back tonight."
"Don't forget dinner," he said.
"Will do," I walked away. He may be a gross guy when it came to smell, and dressing let alone his wandering eyes but he took care of his tenants complaints and needs. When my neighbors had problems with a stalker I even remember him standing in front of the guy with a baseball bat looking like a dad who was about to beat down a guy who was annoying his daughters. He wasn't all bad but just questionable in some areas.
I got back to my apartment and unlocked it. Keith looked at me with curiosity. I wondered how he was doing without his memory. I couldn't even imagine not remembering who I was or where I was. I couldn't imagine forgetting my little sister. I glanced at the pictures on the wall. The sooner this was over with the sooner I could get back to my normal life that didn't involve the prince of my country.
I looked at Keith, "I'm going to take a shower."
We were on the road back to the city within the hour. Keith was looking at everything. He looked ridiculous that I had to stop myself from laughing. He was wearing a beanie to cover his hair and aviator sunglasses I had from when I was in high school and it was cool to own some. As far as disguises went he looked nothing like the Prince of Liberty.
"Why do you know so much about this sort of thing?" Keith asked me.
I looked over at him. "What sort of thing?"
"My situation with the mafia and kidnapping," he said.
I looked over at him. I couldn't see his eyes through his glasses. "Let's just say my childhood was a little different than yours."
"That doesn't explain anything," he said.
"And it shouldn't," I whispered. "Can you just be satisfied I'm helping you get back to people who can explain to you what's going on?"
I wasn't about to admit my dad had worked for the mafia before, probably the very same people who had kidnapped Keith. In fact he went to prison for it. Right after he tried to run while the police were chasing him. He was going too fast and the car spun out of control and hit some trees. Things might have been okay if it had just been only my dad but my mom and my sister were in the car. My sister ended up paralyzed.
I wasn't in the car. I was at school. He was running away with them and leaving me behind. I was ten.
I think Keith picked up that I didn't want to talk about it anymore because he went back to looking out the window. My dad had gone to prison because he refused to name the people he had worked for. Which might have been the best thing he ever did for my family. If he had named we would have been dead. No one betrays the mafia. At least that's what my dad always said. He served eight years. I still hadn't seen him since he got out. As soon as I was able to I moved out and got a job to help support them. I was pretty sure if I had seen my dad when he got out I might have killed him.
"Are you okay?" Keith's voice broke through my thoughts.
"Huh?" I looked over at him.
"You're knuckles are turning white are you all right?" he asked.
"Oh," I loosened my grip on the steering wheel. "Yeah sorry."
I forced a smile and hoped he didn't ask me anything else. He nodded and looked away again. He must have thought I was nervous going to the castle because he spoke shortly after. "If you're worried about getting questioned you can drop me off near the castle. I'll find my way in."
"I can't do that," I frowned. "If I do that and you end up shot before you make it there I won't be able to live with myself. I can handle being questioned Prince Keith."
"Please just call me Keith," he looked at me.
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"I don't have my memories Rachel," Keith raised an eyebrow at me. "Maybe when I remember what I'm supposed to I'll prefer the title but right now I don't feel very princely."
"Yes your highness," I said.
"You do that on purpose," he rolled his eyes.
"It lightens the mood," I admitted.
The closer we got to the castle though the more I felt like I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to waltz in the front door. I didn't know if he had someone in the castle he could trust or people he didn't trust. So I didn't want to risk calling.
"Maybe we'll get lucky and once you see the castle you'll get your memory back," I let the one percent of optimism in me out.
But it was a failed attempt of optimism because as soon as we sat in view of the castle Keith didn't regain his memory. "Nothing rings a bell?"
"No," he glared at the building behind the huge fence as if it was at fault for him not remembering. He looked at me. "What now?"
I sighed and looked around. "I don't know."
A knock on Keith's window caught us both off guard and I almost screamed.
"Keithster?" a voice said.
Keith tried hiding his face. "You have the wrong person."
I leaned across Keith and looked at the person who was staring in the closed window. The man looked at me and his eyes went wide in surprise then he smiled. "Keithster has a girlfriend?"
I looked at Keith and raised my eyebrow. Keith looked at me "I don't know him."
"Hey!" the man outside said. He was wearing a brown jacket with a scarf and casual jeans. He looked hurt. The stood up and went to the back door. Before either of us could lock the doors he was inside and sitting in the middle leaning forward looking from Keith to me. "That isn't nice we're old friends!"
I looked at Keith. Then I looked at the man. I had a feeling I had seen him before but I didn't know where. I was lucky I knew Keith was the prince.
"It's me Roberto Button! You know me," the man named Roberto said.
Keith looked at him and frowned.
I sighed. "He lost his memory."
"What?" Roberto looked from me to Keith. "Is that true?"
"Yes," Keith grumbled.
Roberto's eyes went wide and he looked like a goldfish opening and closing his mouth. "What happened?" Roberto asked me.
"From what I can tell he was kidnapped," I said. "And now we're tying to get a way to the castle."
"Oh I can help with that. Your family must be worried. I can only imagine how Luke is right now," Roberto grabbed his cell phone out of his pocket.
Before he could dial I reached over and grabbed it. "Can we trust you?"
Roberto's eyes went wide. Then he looked at Keith who looked just as skeptical. Roberto looked back at me. "Of course you can I'm the Prince of Altaria didn't you know?"
I looked at Keith. "Another prince?"
Keith shrugged as if asking me why I was asking him. "Okay then," I said.
"Don't worry Keithster is safe with me," Roberto said as he opened his phone.
I raised my eyebrow. "Now he should call me Prince Keith," Keith muttered.
