Chapter 22

If You Don't Know Me By Now, Then You'll Never Know Me

"Put the knife down, Carver," I said, hoping that I could dissuade him. But there was no way he would listen. He had been humiliated at the duel and now he was seeking his revenge. I wanted to do this without violence if I could. I was getting tired of trying to defend myself against men of Ethan's type; a cad with an inflated ego. He still has his pride to contend with. Except one thing was truly bothering me.

If he didn't love Danielle and he was really seeing other women; then why did he have this obsession with her? Or was it with her parents?

I was determined to find out just what Ethan Carver wanted and I was determined make sure that no one get hurt, especially Danielle and her family.

I looked over at Ethan who hadn't spoken or moved. The knife was still pressed to Danielle's throat.

"I suppose you really are looking to end up in prison, sir. You've done nothing here to help yourself. If it's me you want, I'm here. Do not involve Danielle and her parents. Please, Carver, you are only bringing attention to yourself, no one else."

Ethan stood there unmoving, the knife still in place.

"At least tell me what you want, Ethan. Tell me why you're here. Do you really want Danielle? Does she mean that much to you? I know I've heard stories, but I suppose that they're merely gossip."

Ethan Carver looked at me and for the first time that afternoon, spoke. "If I can't have her, no one can. You should know me by now, Rider. If you don't, you'll never know me at all." He took the knife from Danielle's throat and waved it at me.

I saw my chance, but I didn't take it; not yet anyway.

I moved a step closer, but Carver waved me away. "Step back, Rider and don't you dare make any funny moves either."

"I'm not going to do anything, Ethan. All I want you to do is release Danielle. That's all I'm asking you to do. Please, for your sake and my sake, let her go."

"Please, Ethan, "Danielle's father begged. "Please listen to Thomas. Let us all go and just walk out of here. I don't want any unnecessary…"

"Get back and keep quiet, all of you." Ethan said, picking up the knife and putting it against her throat. You're all putting yourselves in danger."

It was time to make my move. It was the only thing that I could do to save the King family from harm.

XXXXX

"Rapunzel?"

Eugene had searched the entire house for her. He hadn't the slightest idea where she was. He remembered that they were together last night. Both of them spoke to the police and the Stabbingtons one last time before they left. The charges against Greta Gothel had been dropped by the King family, who had left Corona for their country estate in Charon. There was nothing they could do anymore now that Gothel had completely disappeared into thin air, literally.

Rapunzel also spoke to the police about obtaining an arrest warrant for Eric Carver if he ever came near the guest house again.

They waited to see if Eric would come back, but he didn't show his face again, so they spent the night sleeping together, on the couch fully clothed. They actually fell asleep in each other arms. He thought that she would be there forever and that they would spend their lives together.

But now she was gone and he wasn't even sure what time she left or why. She hadn't even left a note. Well, she couldn't have left, she just couldn't have.

Last night, she told him that she loved him and he told her that he loved her back. There wasn't any word that she was leaving, she didn't even let on.

Except that she had tickets to board the plane going to Charon.

Eugene went out to check the main house when he saw a limo pull up. It had almost the same letters as Eugene's plate except this plate read "FLINAGN1."

He watched the limo drive up to the front door of the main house and out popped Joseph, the Fitzherbert's chauffeur. He opened the back door to the limo and out stepped Olivia Fitzherbert on the arm of another man who he did not know.

But the other man knew who he was.

"Hello, Eugene," he said, "It's been quite a long time."

Eugene frowned, and then turned to his mother. "I guess you've been discharged from the hospital."

Olivia smiled. "Yes, Eugene, Thomas here arrived looking for me this morning and was told that I had gone to the hospital. He got Joseph to drive him to the hospital and persuaded the nurses to let him take me home. "

Eugene stared at him, then back at his mother. "Who is this guy, Mother?"

The gentlemen smiled. "You must know who I am, Eugene. I have the same name as your favorite book. I'm Thomas Flynn Rider."

XXXXX

Rapunzel didn't know where she was at first. She sat up and looked around. She wasn't at the Fitzherbert's guest house anymore, she was on the plane headed for Charon. She had left Eugene lying there, told him that she loved him and had given him a kiss on the cheek before she ran out the door. He'd know that she was gone when he woke up.

She just didn't ant to break his heart, but she knew that she had.

It didn't matter anymore, what she did or didn't do, it was over. She was on her way to a new life and a new start.

And she would do it alone.

Now she pulled out her laptop and opened it up. She went into Google Chrome and typed into the search box the name of Danielle King Rider.