“Love, Mother?”
“If you think she doesn’t love you, then you are not as smart as I’ve always believed you to be.”
“Excuse me.” My mobile rang with a call from Grinder, and I left the room to take it.
“There’s a situation in Italy I need your help with,” he began. By the time the call ended, I knew I had no choice but to go myself. Why had I tempted fate in my conversation with Decker when I all but wished for a mission to get me out of here?
If time were not of the essence, it might have been possible to call in additional support in terms of independent operatives to assist Grinder. The only ones currently in Europe were already working ops—for me.
With Smoke and Siren on Konstantine’s detail and Angel and Casper along with the King’s entire security team on Kensington’s, it made the most sense that I be the one to go.
It wasn’t a decision easily made. However, whether it was when I was with MI6, or now, on my own, there were times when any agent had to make difficult choices. This was one of those times.
Before returning to continue my conversation with my mother, I rang Angel.
“There’s a situation I need to discuss with you and Casper. Where is Kensington?”
“She’s resting.”
“And Casper?”
“Outside her door.”
“Very well, I’ll meet with you now, and then you can brief Casper.”
“Sounds urgent.”
“I’ve no idea how long I’ll be gone,” I said when she met me in the courtyard and I briefed her on the situation in Italy. “I’ll be back as quickly as I can be. Before I leave, I’ll instruct Smoke to brief you regarding the situation with Konstantine as often as necessary.”
“If I may,” she said.
“By all means.”
“We have things covered here, Rile. As far as Kensington is concerned, there is no place more secure, other than perhaps Buckingham Palace.”
I agreed. However, that didn’t make my decision to leave her any easier, particularly since we were at odds.
“You said Kensington is resting.”
“Yes. She asked not to be disturbed.”
I brushed my lower lip with my fingertip. “Very well. Please let her know of my departure and that I hope to return within a few days at the most.”
“I’ll be leaving for Italy within the hour,” I said when I rejoined my mother in the sitting room. “One of my partners has requested my help on an investigation.”
“You forget to whom you’re speaking, Cortez.”
“Kensington is in good hands here, Duchess.”
“I agree. How long will you be gone?”
I stepped forward and kissed her cheek. “I don’t yet know, but I’ll keep you informed.” I went to the stairs to pack a bag, and she followed.
“Cortez, Kensington will be safe here.”
I had to trust that she would be.
17
Kensington
“You put me in a terrible position,” Teagon said after she told me Cortez left.
“He lied to me. He knows something about Konstantine, and he refused to tell me what it was.”
“I am certain he has a good reason, namely, your protection, Kenz.”
“He could’ve said that very thing, but he chose not to.”
“It’s the way it works. As Casper and I have explained to you, there are times when it is better if the person we are protecting is unaware of what might be happening behind the scenes.”
“I disagree with that methodology.”
Teagon laughed. “Too bloody bad, Kenz. It’s the way it has to be.”
“Why is he going to Italy?”
“There’s an investigation, and that’s as much as I know.”
“Now, you’re lying.”
“I am not. However, if you hadn’t behaved so childishly, you could’ve asked him yourself.”
I stuck my tongue out, showing her exactly how childish I could be. “I’m going for a walk.”
“I’ll go with you.”
I wanted more than anything to be on my own, which for now, appeared impossible.
“Oh, good. I was about to come looking for you,” said Cortez’s mother when Teagon and I came down the stairs. “I was hoping you and I could have a chat, Kensington.”
Why did I feel as though I was about to be scolded?
Teagon nodded and stood in the doorway when the duchess put her arm through mine and ushered me into the sitting room.
“Don’t worry, you’ve done nothing wrong,” she said as she motioned for me to take a seat. “Would you like some tea?”
“Please.”
She pressed a button on her mobile and then sat beside me and took my hands in hers.
“I owe you an apology.”
I started to shake my head and say she didn’t, but she shushed me.
“Cortez and I share a…unique bond. I sense that perhaps you may share it as well.”
“I’m not sure.”
“Yes, well, in the beginning, it can be difficult to ascertain what is highly attuned intuition and what you could not possibly know.” She took a deep breath. “Back to Cortez and I. We sometimes speak in shorthand, if that makes any sense.”
“It does.”
“It drives my husband and other son a bit bonkers, but there is little that Cort and I can do about it. What you walked in on was that very thing.”
“He lied to me.”
“Yes, he did. That is the reason for my apology.”
“You didn’t lie; he did.”
She shrugged. “It’s all a matter of how you look at it. I came to Cortez with a concern that, to anyone else, might have seemed unfounded. I had no proof of what von Habsburg was thinking or planning. What I had was a feeling.”
“He could’ve said.”
“Perhaps with you, he could’ve. But with most, he could not. It’s what he’s accustomed to. He protects me, if you will.”
“And you do the same for him.”
She squeezed my hand. “That’s right. Not everyone is accepting of our methodologies.”
I laughed and looked over my shoulder; Teagon was laughing too. “I just said something quite similar.”
“Forgive him, Kensington.”
I felt ashamed of myself for both my reaction and my treatment of him.
“And try to forgive yourself too.”
“This will take some getting used to—having someone who can so easily read my thoughts.”
She raised a brow. “I believe you know how to stop it from happening. Don’t you?”
“Wow. Seriously?”
“It was very effective, my dear.”
Two days later, as I lay awake until the early morning hours, worried about Cortez, wondering if he was safe, I continued to berate myself for my foolish and, yes, childish behavior.
“I hope you’re keeping him safe,” I said out loud in the empty room. Only silence echoed back to me.
I got out of bed, put on my joggers, and went out in the hallway, intending to get some exercise. Casper was outside my door.
“Good Lord, have you been there all night?”
She nodded.
“Is that necessary?”
“When the boss is away? Absolutely.”
“I’m off on a run.”
She motioned for me to go ahead, and stayed a maximum of ten paces behind me. I suppose it might’ve been nice for me to strike up a conversation with her, but I wasn’t in the mood. The only person I wanted to talk to was Cortez. I had only myself to blame for not being able to.
The palace grounds, much like those of my great-aunt, the Queen’s, offered fantastic trails to run. Like there, I knew security was always close by, and not just Casper. No harm would come to me while on this property, nor would I cause that of another. The security team was protecting the royal family from me as much as me from anyone else.
I was nearing the edge of the compound when I heard people s
houting behind me. I stopped to look, but Casper stood in my way.
“Keep going,” she barked.
“But—”
“Kensington, keep moving!” This time, she shouted.
I picked up my pace as did she. We were almost back to Cortez’s parents’ residence when Teagon met us.
“Get her inside,” Casper told her before taking off in the direction from which we came.
“What’s going on?” I asked once we were inside.
My lifelong best friend’s eyes scrunched. “I cannot tell you now. You must respect that.”
I felt bloody awful that she had to point that out to me. I knew better; I’d been in close proximity to royalty my entire life. “My apologies.”
“Accepted.”
I didn’t see Casper at all for the rest of the day. In fact, I saw almost no one other than Teagon and a few of the servants. I was about to drift off while reading when I heard someone come in the front door.
“Where is she?” I heard Cortez shout.
“In here,” Teagon said in a loud voice, and I stood.
Cortez rushed over and wrapped me in his arms. “Thank God, you’re safe,” he said, kissing me. He turned and looked at Teagon. “We’re returning to Mallorca tonight. Please make arrangements.”
“Cortez?” I heard his mother’s voice. “Do you think that’s wise?”
“Yes.” He put his arm around my waist. “Come, we’ll collect our things and leave.”
“I’d like to say goodbye and thank the rest of your family.”
“There isn’t time. You’ll see them again.”
There was a tremendous amount of tension surrounding us, so much so that it was frightening me. When we entered the room upstairs and Cortez closed the door behind us, I asked, “Will you tell me what happened this afternoon?”
He scrubbed his face with his hand. “I suppose I must.”
I sat on the end of the bed, and he sat beside me.
“Konstantine attempted to access the grounds today.”
“Attempted to access?”
“He contacted the King’s staff, asking for an audience. When it was refused, he tried to force his way on the property.”
“I think it’s time you tell me what is really going on with Konstantine von Habsburg.”
“I shall. As much as I know. But not until we are safely back on Mallorca.”
18
Rile
I couldn’t fault Smoke and Siren as much as I wished I could, just to give way to anger at myself. I had left Kensington, a woman under my protection, to go to Italy. In fact, I’d been anxious for the mission—any mission.
The two people I’d put on Konstantine’s detail were the ones who alerted palace security that he was attempting to meet with the King as well as of his actions once the meeting was refused.
He’d been arrested, but soon, his father would arrange for his release, given the son would have diplomatic immunity.
Kensington demanded I tell her what Konstantine’s motives were, and I’d agreed. However, I didn’t know. Not for certain, anyway. As far as getting a read on the man, it was nearly impossible, given the depths of madness to which he’d descended.
His desperation to make Kensington his wife confused me. While not rich like any of the reigning monarchs, the von Habsburgs were wealthy, and upon his parents’ deaths, Konstantine would inherit a great deal of money. So it didn’t make sense that he would be after her wealth. Yes, along with it, she was extraordinarily beautiful, smart, and had ties to the royal family in the UK. Was that enough for a madman? Could what seemed to defy logic for a sane person, not register with a mentally ill man?
Apart from Kensington, I remained convinced that Konstantine was responsible for the attack on his cousin, but was unable to prove it. Smoke’s report that Otto had come out of his coma and was ready to talk, was erroneous. As a result of his injuries, Otto had suffered a stroke and, for the time being, couldn’t speak. Reports indicated he would, eventually, but that meant we had no choice but to wait until he regained the ability.
Rather than keeping them on Konstantine’s detail, I asked both Smoke and Siren to join us on Mallorca. I’d also enlisted the services of two other operatives, Ink and Crash. I felt far more comfortable having people I trusted on my team at home. I accepted the MI6 assistance Z offered to cover von Habsburg.
Prior to our departure, my mother assembled the members of our immediate family so Kensington could say goodbye and thank her and my father as well as my brother and Maya. My nephews put their arms around her neck and begged her to come visit again. I didn’t recall seeing her with them other than at family meals; however, she’d made a lasting impression. Not just with them, but my other family members appeared similarly emotional upon my insistence that we must leave.
Angel transported us back to Mallorca via helicopter. Only her, Casper, Kensington, and I traveled together. I’d sent Smoke and Siren ahead of us shortly after Konstantine’s arrest, so when we arrived at the airfield, they’d already be there. Ink and Crash were on their way from the States.
Kensington was as subdued as I’d expected her to be. I had no intention of pressing her to be anything but. She had a lot of questions, not all that I’d have answers to, and that would leave her unsettled.
Her comfort was my main reason for returning to Mallorca. A security team could be put in place anywhere, including my uncle’s compound. However, I knew she’d be able to relax more being in my home than anywhere else.
We drove straight to the house upon our arrival at the airfield. Once there, Kensington informed me she was going for a swim. I gave her a few minutes and then joined her in the indoor pool. The pace at which she was swimming told me more about her level of stress than I could intuit. When she stopped at the end where I stood, she was out of breath. She was also angry.
I sat down on the pool’s edge and dangled my feet in the water; she removed her goggles.
“Tell me who you’re most angry with.”
“Myself,” she responded without hesitation. “If I hadn’t gone to Budapest in the first place, this would not have happened.”
“I’m not certain that is the case.”
“It was as though the minute I agreed, he decided we’d marry. He even said it.”
“When?”
“While he was trying to rape me.”
“Tell me his exact words. Or as best as you can remember.”
“He had me pinned against the wall, and I was trying to get away from him. That’s when he said, ‘By tomorrow evening, you’ll be my wife and mine to do with as I please.’”
“Remind me, you’d been in Budapest less than a week?”
“That’s right.”
“How long was it between the time you agreed and your departure?”
“A couple of hours.”
“Which meant he’d planned to marry you prior to you agreeing to go with him.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Hungarian law requires a ten-day waiting period between license issuance and marriage.”
“Why would he want to marry me? He doesn’t even know me. The only thing that makes sense is that it would be for my money.”
“That is certainly a possibility.”
“Even if we wed, he’d never get his hands on it. It’s managed by a trust, and any marriage I enter into would require an ironclad prenup.”
“Have you spoken with your mother since your abrupt departure?”
She smiled when I did. “Ironclad prenup and Kiki go hand in hand. And in answer to your question, no, I haven’t, and she’s fit to be tied. The last I heard from her, she was preparing to disown me.” Her eyes opened wide. “You want me to contact her, don’t you?”
“She seemed anxious for an alliance between him and you. I’ve wondered about her motivation.”
“Her only motivation is that she’s anxious for me to marry. I doubt she cares to whom, just that I get on with it.”
&nbs
p; “Why is that?”
Kensington shrugged. “I’ve never understood it apart from the fact that if I married, I’d be someone else’s problem. That in itself makes no sense, given I’ve never relied on her for much of anything. She certainly doesn’t support me.”
I thought back to our conversation on Christmas Eve when I told her she was the daughter of two people who cared about her very much—her grandparents. They’d obviously shown her immeasurable love in that she didn’t seem particularly sad when she spoke of her parents’ lack of involvement in her life.
I took a deep breath, troubled that I couldn’t figure out what lay behind Konstantine’s desperation. Later, I’d give Decker a call and ask him to do some digging. For now, though, I owed Kensington an apology.
I slid into the water and put my arms around her waist. “I’m sorry I didn’t answer you when you overheard my conversation with my mother.”
“She already apologized.”
“Did she?”
Kensington nodded. “She said you were protecting her.”
“Interesting,” I murmured. I suppose, to a certain extent, doing so was innate. “I don’t have to with you, do I?”
“I can’t say that I understand completely, but I’ve seen enough evidence of it to know that you and your mother do seem to have a sixth sense about certain things.”
“As do you.”
“I don’t know that I’d go that far.”
“Either way, I’m sorry.”
“You aren’t used to answering questions.” Kensington kissed my neck under my ear.
“That is true.”
“Can we stop talking about unpleasantries now?”
“Of course.” I put my hands under her bottom and lifted so her legs wrapped around my waist. “I don’t like it when we’re at odds with one another.”
“I don’t either. I missed you so much.”
Her words were like a stab to my heart. “I’m sorry for the way I left. I’m sorry that I left you at all.”
“Why did you?”
Riled (The Invincibles Book 4) Page 11