Royal Secrets

by Abramson, Traci Hunter

  “His sudden departure would make it seem that he was involved and realized that we might be on to him,” Garrett offered.

  Eduard nodded, considering. “Has the CIA come up with any information on that bank account in the Caymans?”

  “Not yet. They did an initial report, but it didn’t reveal anything that Alora hadn’t already told us about,” Janessa said. “There is one thing that concerns me though.”

  “What’s that?”

  “No one seems to be able to find any links between Jacques Neuville and Luigi Ovalle. They didn’t have any common acquaintances that we can find, and there aren’t any financial links between them.”

  “Jacques definitely knew Caspar Gazsi though,” Stefano reminded her. “Maybe Gazsi is the link. Or perhaps they were all members of Liberté.”

  “Maybe,” Janessa conceded. “Jacques Neuville wasn’t identified as being part of the dissident group, but I suppose it’s possible he was able to hide his association with them.”

  “Were the police able to get anything out of Jacques or Luigi?” King Eduard asked.

  “Luigi still isn’t talking,” Garrett offered. “As for Jacques, he adamantly denies any involvement. He insists he’s being framed.”

  “Is it possible that he’s telling the truth?” Stefano asked.

  “It’s doubtful.” Garrett offered his brother a sympathetic look. “Assuming the oil rights are the motivation behind everything that’s going on, Jacques would have just as much to gain as Caspar Gazsi if the restrictions on offshore drilling were lifted.”

  “When the police questioned him about why he came to see Alora, he admitted that he was looking for a story to sell to the tabloids.” Stefano shook his head. “I don’t know why he would admit to that and deny everything else. Seems like he would deny everything if he were guilty. Also, the police said Belinda Parnelli’s body had been moved.”

  “We already suspected that,” Garrett said. “With where her body was hidden, she definitely would have been killed somewhere else first.”

  King Eduard interrupted the speculation and addressed Janessa. “Is it possible that we have identified everyone involved, or does the CIA believe a threat still exists?”

  “The Agency is skeptically optimistic,” Janessa told him. “Since the bombing already occurred, and we’ve been able to find the financial backers, it’s possible the threat is over. Of course, that is assuming their plan was to blame Prince Elam for the bombing and then release potentially damaging information on both Garrett and Stefano to try to topple the monarchy.”

  Eduard noticed her hesitation. “But?”

  “I don’t know. I just think the naval base was an odd choice for a target.” Janessa shifted forward in her chair, and her eyes met his. “Logically, they would have tried to come after you so there would be no one left to rule.”

  “Maybe they did,” Stefano suggested. “If my car accident was caused by someone running me off the road, maybe I wasn’t the one they were after. With the tinted windows, it could have been any of us inside.”

  “Yes, but the bombing occurred after that.” Janessa shook her head. “Maybe I’m being paranoid, but I’d feel a lot safer if we keep the extra security details for everyone until we’re sure this is all behind us.”

  Eduard nodded. “I’ll make sure of it.”

  Chapter 42

  Alora settled a foot on the bottom plank of the split-rail fence surrounding the riding ring. Unlike the stables at the chateau that Paolo ran practically by himself, the palace stables had an abundance of stable hands. Currently, two of them were in the ring, one instructing Giancarlo and the other working with Dante. Another was in a larger ring working one of the horses through a series of jumps.

  She glanced at the palace in front of her and could almost feel the whirl of activity and tension emanating from within. Today was the day. The legislative council session would begin within a matter of hours. Security guards buzzed everywhere as cars were prepared to transport King Eduard and Stefano to the council chambers, while the paparazzi, with their zoom lenses, crowded the front gate.

  The past several mornings, she had been surprised to find as many stories about her and Stefano in the papers as there were about Garrett’s baptism. Yesterday’s highlight had been a photograph of Stefano taking her hand when he’d walked with her out to the gardens the day before. Today a photograph of her sitting by the pool watching her children play took center stage, the caption reading simply, A new royal family in the making?

  She wished she could say she was unaffected by the headlines, but since seeing the photo of her family walking into the palace with Stefano, her confusion about her future with Stefano continued to mount. At times she found herself dreaming of a future together, of having a man in her life who was kind and caring, a man who already treated her children as though he loved them as his own. Then her doubts would creep in, always circling back to the fact that they didn’t share the same religion.

  Her prayers continued to confuse her, especially late at night when she found herself trying to figure out what she really wanted as well as what Heavenly Father wanted for her. She was already afraid that they wouldn’t be the same thing. Deep down, she already knew where her dreams were taking her, and all of them included Stefano.

  What would it be like, she wondered, if a future developed between them? How would it affect her children to have a father who was royal but not Mormon? What about any future children they might have together?

  She thought of the headlines about Garrett; after three days, the speculation about the impact of his baptism was not more political than religious. Would Stefano allow her to raise their children as Latter-day Saints, or would the politics of Meridia make those decisions for them?

  Her heart ached at the knowledge that Stefano’s first responsibility would always be to his country, that his position could very well prevent them from moving forward as a couple. When she saw him crossing the wide lawn toward the stables, she tried to push aside her doubts. For now, she needed to be a friend to him, to give him support at this stressful time. Next week she could take the time to consider what would come next.

  “Are you leaving already?”

  “In a few minutes.” Stefano lifted a hand to wave at the boys as they circled the ring. “I was hoping you might come with me.”

  “Come with you?” Alora repeated.

  He nodded. “I just thought that if you’re going to make Meridia your home, you might want to see how our government operates.”

  “I would like that.” She glanced down at the jeans and button-up shirt she was wearing. “How soon are you leaving? I need to change.”

  “You have about a half hour.” Stefano motioned to the palace. “Go ahead. Brenna will be out here in a few minutes. I’ll keep an eye on the boys until she gets here.”

  “Thanks.” Alora reached up to give him a kiss and then stopped suddenly. They were standing here in broad daylight with her children and several stable hands nearby as well as the paparazzi lingering around the corner. She dropped back on her heels, suddenly self-conscious. The casual kiss she had intended would have been too familiar, too much like the way she would have acted with Carlo.

  Before she could take a step back, Stefano put his hand on her arm and held her in place. Awareness lit his eyes, and he hesitated for only a split second before he leaned down and kissed her cheek. “I’ll meet you in the front hall in a few minutes.”

  Alora nodded, her eyes darting to where her boys were still riding. They didn’t seem to notice that Stefano had kissed her, or if they did, they didn’t seem to care. A bit flustered, Alora started across the lawn. She had taken several steps before she realized she needed to tell the boys where she was going. As though reading her mind, Stefano nodded toward the boys as she turned around. “Don’t worry. I’ll let them know what’s going on.”

  “Thanks.” Alora turned toward the palace once more, her stomach fluttering with an odd sensation tha
t she recognized as hope. For the moment and for as long as it lasted, her family felt complete again. Before her doubts could wash away that feeling, she focused on preparing for her next outing with the prince, a prince she now thought of as her own.

  * * *

  Stefano watched Alora approach, her simple blue dress falling nearly to her ankles. Her dark hair was tied back at the base of her neck and ran down her back in a sleek ponytail. Silver earrings carved in the shape of seashells were clipped onto her ears, but her wrists and neck were bare. “Are you ready to go?”

  She nodded and motioned down to her dress. “Am I dressed okay?”

  “You look perfect.” He took her hand and leaned down for a kiss. “Our car is waiting outside. My father left a few minutes ago. He said he had a few fires to put out before the session begins.”

  Alora nodded, waiting until they were settled in the backseat of a limousine before she asked, “Is everything okay?”

  He started to brush his concerns aside, but instead he pushed the button to raise the privacy window between them and their driver. “There’s talk that Bernardo Campesi, the president of the council, is going to try to enact a law today. The new law would prohibit anyone from ruling Meridia unless they are a member of the Meridian Church.”

  “That doesn’t seem right.” Alora shifted so she was facing him more fully. “If your citizens can choose their religion, surely the monarchy should have the same privilege.”

  “I don’t disagree, but there are those who are trying to strengthen the ties between the Meridian Church and the government. We believe the archbishop himself is behind this legislation.”

  “What does he hope to gain by this?” Alora asked. A touch of regret reflected in her eyes. “You still belong to the Meridian Church. It’s your son who will rule someday.”

  Stefano saw the opening she had given him to confide in her, but he wasn’t ready for the changes the truth would surely bring. “The future is never certain. Some believe my car accident was really an attempt on my life. It’s possible that somebody was trying to get rid of me and then use our secrets to oust my family from power. If the press got wind of my uncle’s activities and the fact that my cousin isn’t of royal blood, our country could find itself in turmoil.”

  “I still don’t understand how a bunch of bad press could possibly topple a monarchy that has been in power for centuries. Even if someone had managed to get to you and all of these skeletons got out at the same time, your father and his council would still be able to rule.”

  Stefano recognized the truth of her statement, considering for a moment what would happen if his family was forced from power. Laws were in place to allow the ruling council to take control of the government so the country and their military would remain intact.

  The limo pulled to a stop, and a moment later their driver opened the door for them. Guards shifted into place as they exited the vehicle and moved into the council building. Even as they headed for the conference room where he expected to find his father, Alora’s words continued to play over in Stefano’s mind.

  She was right. If something happened to his family, the ruling council would be able to step in and take over the government. A large majority of the council members had supported both his father’s decision to allow the United States to build their naval base as well as his resolution to deny offshore drilling.

  Alora tugged on his arm and nodded in the direction of a dark-haired man who was walking toward the stairwell. “Do you know that man?”

  Stefano shook his head as the man looked over at Alora. “I’ve never seen him before. Why?”

  “This is the second time I’ve seen him recently. He looks at me like he knows me, but I don’t know him.”

  Stefano started to brush it off, certain that he had probably seen her in the newspaper. Then the man glanced their way again, and something in his eyes sent a ripple of uneasiness through him. “Where else have you seen him?”

  “At the naval base.” Awareness flashed in her eyes. “Stefano, I saw him right before I came here. Right before the bombing.” The concern visible on her face heightened. “You don’t think he could . . .”

  “The council chambers.” It all became clear in that instant. “If a bomb went off during today’s legislative session, it could take out the entire government.”

  “You don’t really think someone would be able to plant a bomb here, do you?” Alora asked, her eyes wide.

  “I know someone has been sitting on damaging information about my family, and it’s never made sense why they haven’t already used it against us.” Stefano’s words came out in a rush. “The only explanation is that they were waiting for something.”

  “And you think they were waiting for today.”

  Stefano nodded. “I want you to wait here. I’m going to go see who that guy is.” He motioned to one of his guards. “Stay here with her.”

  Then Stefano headed for the stairwell with his other guard following closely behind him. Together the two men disappeared through the stairwell door.

  Chapter 43

  A knot of tension formed at the base of her neck as Alora watched Stefano leave the reception area of the council building. A familiar helplessness flooded through her as she considered what could happen if Stefano was right. This building and everyone in it could be reduced to a pile of rubble in an instant. She wasn’t prepared to let that happen.

  If the man Stefano was following really was the bomber, then they were safe as long as he was still in the building. She didn’t know if they were both being paranoid or if their instincts were right. Either way, she wasn’t going to stand by and watch from the sidelines. She took two steps toward the stairwell before the guard reached for her arm.

  “Signora, the prince asked you to wait here,” he reminded her.

  “I just want to make sure everything is okay.” Alora pulled free of his grasp and continued forward. “You’re welcome to come with me.”

  “I think it would be best if you stay here in the lobby.”

  Alora shook her head, the tension in her neck spreading. Her pace quickened as she crossed the marble floor, the guard following her. She pulled open the stairwell door to reveal two sets of stairs, a narrow set of stairs leading to the basement level and another wide staircase leading upstairs. The air was warm and stale on the landing, the faint scent of cigarette smoke and disinfectant hanging in the air.

  She took a step toward the wide staircase and hesitated. If someone really was planting a bomb, they would likely go for the basement, not the upstairs.

  She stood silently for a moment, listening for footsteps, and was surprised she didn’t hear any—nor did she hear any voices. Uneasy, she started down the stairs. She sensed movement beneath her, followed by an odd muffled popping sound.

  “Signora,” the guard began, but Alora held up a hand to silence him.

  They reached the lower landing, Alora squinting as her eyes adjusted to the dimly lit room. Then she saw a body sprawled near a doorway on the far side of the room. She rushed forward and crouched down beside the guard who had accompanied Stefano into the stairwell. Blood seeped through his shirt, and Alora quickly checked for a pulse.

  “He’s still alive. Give me your jacket.”

  Her guard stripped off his jacket and handed it to her. Alora pressed it to the wound. “Now go get some help,” Alora ordered him. She went with instinct and added, “And evacuate the building.”

  “Evacuate?”

  “Do it.” Alora’s tone was quiet but held authority.

  “Yes, signora.” He turned and rushed back up the stairs.

  The wounded man stirred. “The prince,” he said weakly. “He has the prince.”

  Alora’s breath caught, and she fought for calm. “Stay still. Help is coming.”

  As she started to stand, she glimpsed the weapon holstered at his waistband. She pulled the weapon free as the guard nodded weakly in approval. She didn’t have time to decide whether to move
forward or wait for help before she heard movement in the next room.

  * * *

  King Eduard sat at the head of the conference room table and stared down the senior members of the ruling council. Two of the seven men sitting at the table were behind the new legislation regarding a religious requirement for any future king, and at least one more appeared to be wavering.

  “This is completely unacceptable,” Eduard said, determined to win this fight. “You are saying that our citizens can have religious freedom but the king cannot. Surely you see how inequitable this is.”

  “Your Majesty, I understand how conflicted you must feel regarding Prince Garrett’s decision,” Bernardo Campesi began.

  Eduard interrupted before he could continue. “Both of my sons are perfectly capable of ruling this country—and ruling well. Your job is to make sure no one is allowed to undermine the monarchy.”

  Shouts sounded in the hallway, followed by pounding footsteps. Before Eduard could respond, the fire alarm sounded.

  “A fire?” Eduard considered the recent security concerns, immediately wondering if this was a trap, some kind of scheme to get him and Stefano out into the open.

  The door burst open, and a guard rushed in. “We must evacuate immediately.”

  “Are you sure the fire is real?”

  “It isn’t a fire, Your Majesty. We believe there is a bomb.” The guard motioned to the door and looked at the other men in the room. “This way. The side entrance has been secured for your safety.”

  Eduard let the guard lead him out of the conference room and into the hall. He glanced toward the lobby, where another guard was directing people out the front doors while keeping the hallway clear for him to make his escape safely. Guards’ barked orders echoed toward him, and he could feel the panicked energy vibrating through the air.

  Voices melded together in a dull roar, the volume increasing as he made his way to the side door.

  “Where are Stefano and Alora?” Eduard asked the guard who was currently gripping his arm. “Have they already made it out?”