David saw his father’s eyes soften, though he doubted anyone else would notice.
“From there, we contacted security here in Sargasso and San Majoria. There were prearranged signals and as soon as one of those was missed, we began looking at rescue options. With the help of the teens and an old ham radio, plans were made. Carlotta gave the order to two of her teams as soon as they were finalized.”
Carlotta stepped forward. “Fortunately, we’ve used this resort for drills in the past. We never anticipated the hostages being quite so high profile but given the nature of those who normally stay here, it seemed possible that an incident of some sort could occur.”
That explained why it happened so fast. Plans were already in place and just needed to be adjusted for the actual situation.
Edward took back over the gathering. “For now, we’ve got extra security in place. They’ve been assigned to random teams of four to prevent any rogue agents from having the opportunity to cause more trouble. We recommend everyone go to quarters in the main resort to consolidate our locations and try to get some rest. Landon will show you who’s going where. Tomorrow we’ll debrief further.”
Exhaustion defeated adrenaline on most of the faces in the room. They nodded their agreement and began to gather their children or each other before exiting the room in twos and threes.
David knew he’d be staying behind to talk to his father, but in the midst of everything, had forgotten about his little girl.
“Daddy?” Mary tugged on his hand. “Can I go with you?”
He reached down and picked her up. “You don’t want to stay with Kiara?” Who was probably staying with Jacqueline Grace rather than in the nursery.
She shook her head. It shouldn’t surprise him. None of the girls would want to be separated from their parents or parental figures.
Edward finished a short conversation with Jacqueline Grace then walked toward him. “There’s a suite reserved for the two of you, Jacqueline Grace, and Kiara. Get the girls settled, and we’ll be up to discuss a few things with you momentarily.”
David simply nodded and followed the crowd. The suite was two bedrooms connected by a sitting area. Jacqueline Grace and Kiara were already in the room with two beds. He’d have to ask her to move or...
“Mary, would you like to stay with Kiara and Jacqueline Grace in there?” He pointed to their door. “I’ll be right in that room. We can leave the doors open if you like.”
She nodded, so he walked into the room to find Jacqueline Grace praying over Kiara. She asked their Heavenly Father to send angels to guard over them, thanking Him for the protection He’d already provided, and asking for peaceful sleep for everyone.
“Amen,” David echoed quietly.
Kiara was already asleep, and he didn’t think Mary would be far behind. He laid her on the other side of the bed, whispering a prayer that was no less heartfelt, if not quite as eloquent, as the one Jacqueline Grace prayed.
As they left the room, he pulled the door mostly shut behind them.
Was she going to let him have it?
She sank into one of the seats. “I don’t have the energy to go through this with you right now. I really just want some sleep.”
“Your father said he’d be along shortly and wanted to talk with us.”
“Did he know?” Her words slowed. With the stress bleeding off, she was likely close to nodding off.
“I didn’t think he did until we were in the room yesterday, and he told me he had a message from my father.”
“That explains why he never said anything about a potential relationship being off-limits.”
“Possibly.”
The door opened, letting their fathers in.
Edward looked at them and seemed to make a snap decision. “Get some rest. You two went through more than most of us. We can talk in the morning. We’ll be going back to Cabo Juan-Eduardo about noon. The Quatremaines, Esme, and Gabriel will join us for the debriefings. We thought away from here would be better.”
David jumped on a chance to ask a question that had been bothering him. “What about Thor? How is he? He’s the only one who knew where the children were. I expected him to look much worse than he did, but they weren’t kind to him.”
A half-smile tugged at Edward’s lips. “The interrogator was one of my men. Thor knew it needed to look somewhat authentic. The bruises are real, but he’ll be fine.”
That was a relief.
Jacqueline Grace stood, nearly stumbling on her way to the room she’d share with the girls. Dave moved to help her, but Edward was closer. He supported her with an arm around the waist until they disappeared into the room.
Edward returned a moment later, stopping to grip David’s shoulder. “Thank you for taking care of my daughter. I heard what happened on the beach.”
David bowed his head slightly. “I couldn’t do otherwise, sir.”
With a slight squeeze, Edward released him and left the room.
David shoved his hands in his pockets. “I don’t want to get into this tonight, Father.” His words echoed Jacqueline Grace’s a few moments earlier.
“We won’t, but we will soon.”
David knew his father loved him deeply, as he did all his children. He also had a definitive moral code. Disappearing for eighteen months wasn’t part of it. “I know.”
“We’re also going to have to talk about this child who calls you Daddy.”
Wearier than he could recall being in a very long time, David clenched his hands into fists in his pockets. “I adore her, but I know I have to go back to New Sargasso. It’s not fair to take her from her home country. I’m going to talk to Edward and Jacqueline Grace and see if the royal family will take custody of her. Kiara is her half-sister. So is Kensington’s adopted daughter, Gracie. She should be with them.”
He hated the thought of someone else raising Mary, but he also knew it was the right decision for both of them.
If only Edward and Jacqueline Grace would agree.
Voices drifted through the cracked door.
“...see if the royal family will take custody of her. Kiara is her half-sister. So is Kensington’s...”
Jacqueline Grace tried to focus on what else Dave - no, David - was saying, but the pull of sleep was much too strong.
When she woke, it took her a minute to remember where she was and why she wasn’t in the hut where she’d spent the first several nights at the resort.
Her wrists were the first physical reminder. She hadn’t had anyone look at them, but though they ached, she still didn’t think there was anything to be concerned about.
In the other bed, the girls slept on. Jacqueline Grace had fallen asleep in the same clothes she’d been wearing. She quickly changed into lounge pants and a soft t-shirt, grateful that someone had seen to bringing her things over.
Out in the common area, she found Dave... David, staring out the picture window. He wore the same rumpled clothes he’d been wearing hours earlier.
Were those blood stains on the sleeve his tuxedo shirt?
When he turned, she realized he looked exhausted. “Good morning,” she said softly.
“Good morning. Did you get some rest? You look better.”
Jacqueline Grace nodded as she walked toward the window. “I did, but I don’t think the same applies to you. You look worse than you did last night.”
“I couldn’t sleep.”
“Your father caught you off-guard.”
“You could say that.” He sighed and walked to one of the chairs. “Technically, I’m AWOL. Not really, but legally I am.”
“AWOL? From the military?” She sat on the other chair and curled her legs underneath her.
David leaned forward and clasped his hands together. “About eighteen months ago, I was in Auverignon with our military. I was never allowed to go on missions, though I trained with my men as much as possible. We always knew I’d be watching on a screen somewhere when something went down.”
He st
ared at his hands. “We were training with Auverignon’s Walruses.” He glanced up. “Their Water-Land Rescue Teams. They’re called Walruses, and they do a lot more than rescuing.”
“I know.” She wasn’t sure how she knew. She’d never been expected to serve in San Majoria’s military, and her father never referred to them that way, but she’d heard it somewhere.
“The first day, I mostly managed to keep up. I’m not special ops. I never have been and wouldn’t want to be. The second day, as we were getting ready to begin, word came about a shipwreck on one of the rocky islands farther off the coast and people needed rescuing. My men went with the Walruses, even though there was a storm blowing in.”
Jacqueline Grace searched her memory. She’d heard about this. “They died, didn’t they?”
He went back to staring at his hands as he nodded. “There were two helicopters. One held my men and one held the Walruses. My men were going to observe and be back up. They’d been told only three people were on board and the team could handle that many, but no more, and you never know if those reports are accurate.”
She waited for him to go on.
“This time they were. My men stayed in the helicopter, hovering over the area until the rescue was complete, even though the storm was blowing in faster than anticipated. As they started for home, their bird was hit by lightning. They were low enough that the pilots were unable to recover from the jolt. They crashed on the rocks below.”
David ran a hand down his face as he leaned back in his chair. “There were no survivors.”
“I’m so sorry.” As awful as it was, it didn’t explain why he was investigating Isaiah.
“The men on the boat were found to be smuggling drugs and weapons. They had ties to Isaiah, likely working for him, though we didn’t have definitive proof at the time.”
“So you blame Isaiah for the death of your men? That’s why you’re after him?”
David looked at her, anguish and anger warring for control in his expression. “If it wasn’t for his men running illegal materials, they wouldn’t have been there in the first place. All of the Quad Countries, and New Sargasso, have laws that state if you’re involved in a crime that results in the death of another person, you can be charged with homicide, even if you weren’t directly responsible.”
“And you want him brought to justice for the death of your men?” She could understand that.
“I knew he would have crimes to answer for here, but I didn’t want them to forget he was responsible for the deaths of ten other men.”
“You thought my father wouldn’t hold him accountable?”
“I didn’t think it would be on their priority list. I wasn’t sure if he believed Isaiah was on the wrong side of things. I knew Benjamin didn’t. The man was still his special adviser or whatever his title was. I didn’t want to risk my men being forgotten. I wanted to find the evidence then bring him in.”
“But you didn’t have permission?” Otherwise he wouldn’t be AWOL.
“Kind of. Not to leave for eighteen months. I was supposed to be gone a month at most. My passport and other documents were made by my government, so they’d never be flagged as fraudulent, but the name on them isn’t mine.” He gave her a tired smile. “That takes care of one thing.”
Her mind scrambled to keep up. He might be more tired, but her brain wasn’t firing on all cylinders yet. “What does it take care of?”
“The civil contract. I might have used the name on my documents, but it’s not who I am legally. We’re not married.”
Jacqueline Grace blinked. She’d almost forgotten about the stupid thing and the need to get it resolved.
At least she didn’t have to live with the regrets from the other night. Embarrassment over throwing yourself at someone who didn’t want you was a lot easier to deal with than finding out you slept with a man who wasn’t your husband after all.
David could see the emotions crossing her face, could see the realization of what it would have meant if they hadn’t stopped a few nights earlier.
How many days ago was that? His mind couldn’t process much anymore. Telling her the story had taken it out of him.
“That’s why you want me and Papa to take Mary in.”
He blinked and watched realization come over her.
“I heard you say something about it last night before I fell asleep. You have to go back to New Sargasso for a court martial.”
Where did she get that idea from? “I won’t be court martialed.”
“You’ve been AWOL for almost a year and a half.”
“They won’t court martial me.”
She rolled her eyes. “Because you’re a prince.”
“Among other reasons. It would have to be extremely serious to hold a court martial for me. Not returning from a properly authorized investigation in time, while continuing said investigation and protecting the princess of a trading partner isn’t enough to warrant one.”
He was finally starting to drift, his mind not as filled with doomsday scenarios now that he’d seen her awake and feeling well.
“That’s why you took the job as my father’s valet.” She stood and walked to the counter near the door and poured two cups of coffee. “You wanted to add protection of a royal family to your list of accomplishments.”
She couldn’t see him as she doctored the coffee, but he shook his head anyway. “I was hoping I could find a way to get more information on Isaiah if I was working in the palace, but protection detail was never part of my plan.”
Should he be completely honest with her? He had to be. “Neither was falling in love.”
Her hand stopped mid-stir. “Falling in love? We’ve only known each other three weeks.”
It seemed so much longer.
David didn’t have the energy to do what he should, to walk across the room and wrap his arms around her. Then kiss her. “Just because it hasn’t been very long doesn’t mean it’s not true. Civil contract or not. Marriage or not. I’m falling in love with you, princess.”
She resumed her process before picking the mugs up and bringing them to the seating area before handing one to him. David took a sip as she sat down.
Just how he liked it.
He shouldn’t be surprised. Over the last few days, he’d noticed her taking care of everyone. She made sure Queen Eliana’s wrist was immobilized the best she could. She spent time with the other mothers whose children weren’t with them. As much as she could, she took care of others.
Did anyone else notice, except Thor?
Did she have anything to say back to him?
After several sips of her coffee, she looked at him. “I don’t know what I feel, David.”
The name sounded odd coming from her.
“I would have said the same thing a few days ago, but now I realize I don’t even know you at all. You’re not who I thought you were.”
Fair assessment. “I’m the same person you were getting to know. I just have titles.”
“You’re not,” she argued. “You’re not the new, single dad coming to work at the palace to make ends meet. You grew up with the kind of privilege most people only dream about. I did, too, but that shapes a person, who they are. You don’t wear off-the-rack anything. You wear handmade, custom suits that cost more than some people’s entire wardrobe. It’s all part of who you are and not the Dave I got to know.”
She wiped a tear as it began to streak down her face. “And even if we fell in love, and decided to get married for real, how would that even work?”
He shrugged. “The way it does for most people I’d imagine.”
“But it wouldn’t. What are the legalities in New Sargasso about marrying someone from another royal family? Do I have to give up my San Majorian citizenship? Do you have to give up your New Sargassian? Do you have to give up your spot in the line? Technically, right now, if I were to marry a member of the Eyjanian family, Benjamin would be required to exile him. Do you have any idea what the laws are in New
Sargasso?”
He shook his head.
“What about children? Do they give up their rights as members of your royal family? Or do they have to give up mine?”
“I have no idea,” David admitted. “I never thought about any of that.”
“It’s one thing for me to fall for a man without a title. A man who took in an abandoned little girl and loved her as his own. The PR might be an issue to an extent, no matter what the people say publicly. But those aren’t legal issues. Legal issues are a whole different matter.”
She took a deep breath. “Besides, I’m not sure the people of San Majoria have forgiven your great-grandfather for his part in the rift between our two countries. Officially, it’s mostly healed, but in reality, you’re a harder sell to the people than the single dad who works for my father.”
He leaned forward, setting his coffee on the table. “None of that matters, Jacqueline Grace. All that matters is if we’re right for each other.”
She set her own coffee to the side as she shook her head. “That’s easy to say, but hard to live. I know you’ve been away from home for a long time, but are you willing to never go back? To never see your mother again? Are you going to ask me to walk away from my home, my family, my people, and make a life with me somewhere else entirely? One without staff members, without the possibility of inheritance, without a safety net?”
David felt hit over the side of the head. His shoulders slumped in defeat. He’d never considered any of that.
Jacqueline Grace stood, straightening her clothes and looking every bit the princess she was despite their casual nature. “You might be able to turn your back on everything and everyone you grew up with, but I can’t.”
She walked to the main door and left without looking back.
28
Having so many important people around was kind of a pain. Jacqueline Grace sat in a conference room with at least a dozen of the oldest members of the royal families, plus spouses in a few cases.
“They found Isaiah’s boat,” her father told them. “The one anchored off-shore. There was one man on board. He’d been critically injured by Isaiah and didn’t live long after the WLRs team arrived. He told them he deeply regretted his part in everything that happened, and he’d seen a seriously wounded Isaiah slip overboard.”
Her Undercover Prince Page 22