“I understand completely.”
“For now, what do you say we go get the boys ready for dinner?”
“You realize that we’re not going to be able to pull them away from that puppy, don’t you?”
Stefano chuckled, and some of his tension seemed to ease. “I’m thinking pizza out on the front lawn. We can have a picnic.”
“Sounds perfect.”
* * *
Incompetents. Imbeciles. He gripped the steering wheel and wondered how everything could go so wrong. For years he had been plotting and planning, always waiting patiently for the time to be right.
Years of preparation, and now he had nothing. He drew in a breath and let it out slowly.
His instructions had been specific, outlining each step down to the letter. Now, instead of the chaos that was supposed to be taking place in Meridia, both the royal family and the ruling council were safe, and life continued exactly as it had for centuries. Or so everyone thought.
Gone was the time when the royal family was only a figurehead, when the real power had been held by him and his predecessors. King Alejandro had been too power hungry to let him keep what was rightfully his, and Eduard had shared in that hunger.
A change in dominance had been within his grasp. Only last week he had held all the weapons in his hand that he could possibly need to overthrow the monarchy, but now the citizens of Meridia were proving to be much more fickle than he had ever thought possible. They actually believed the story that the explosion at the council building was the result of a gas leak. Could they really be so gullible?
And how could Meridians be so blind as to think Prince Garrett’s religion was of no consequence? That his marriage to an American wouldn’t affect them all? How could they be so enamored with the idea of Prince Stefano’s new girlfriend and the idea of him walking into an instant family?
His jaw clenched as he thought of Prince Stefano, the man who had ruined everything. He had stood by so smugly when his brother announced his betrayal to the Meridian Church, supporting a decision that would alter everything for generations to come. His sources also revealed that Stefano had been the one responsible for stopping Ambrose.
His knuckles turned white as his grip tightened on the steering wheel. He had no choice now. It was up to him to make sure the country saw the royals for who they really were. It was up to him to make them pay.
Chapter 46
“The boys are going to sleep well tonight.” Stefano leaned back on his elbow and watched the boys tumbling around on the grass with their new puppy they had named Roscoe.
Alora shifted beside him on the picnic blanket. “They’re definitely going to need baths.”
“Oh yeah.” Stefano chuckled as the puppy climbed up and licked Dante’s cheek. He turned his attention back to Alora, and he looked uncharacteristically nervous. “After we get the kids in bed, I was hoping we could spend some time together.”
“I’d like that,” she said, smiling at his assumption that he would once again share the boys’ bedtime ritual with her.
He nodded and seemed to relax a little. “I’ll make the arrangements with Brenna.”
An engine sounded, and Alora shifted her attention to the car that pulled up to the front gate. “I wonder who that is. No one has any appointments scheduled for today.”
Stefano straightened, his eyes narrowing when he saw the older man with his round glasses and owlish face. “That’s odd. It looks like Archbishop Leone.”
Alora’s tone cooled. “Isn’t he the one pushing to make sure royalty stays within the Meridian Church?”
“He is.” Stefano stood up. “Maybe he’s here looking for some reassurances that he will still be able to perform the marriage ceremony for Garrett and Janessa. By law, they’ll have to marry in the Meridian Church to make their marriage official.”
An uncomfortable feeling quivered in her stomach. “I would have thought he would have come to see them while you were all still in Calene.”
“You would think.” Stefano offered her a hand up.
The guard at the gate waved the archbishop through, and a moment later he came to a stop in the circular driveway beside them. He climbed out of the car, his customary robes flowing nearly to the ground, beads of sweat visible on his forehead. He bowed to Stefano, and an odd smile lit his face.
“Your Highness, isn’t this convenient. I had hoped to speak to you today.”
“Archbishop Leone, it’s good to see you.” Stefano reached out and shook the older man’s hand. “What brings you to Bellamo?”
“I have an appointment with Janessa about her wedding plans.” The archbishop waved vaguely toward the chateau.
Stefano’s eyes narrowed. “That’s odd. She didn’t mention it.”
“Really?” He tucked a hand into the folds of the traditional religious robe. A thick crucifix hung from his neck on a heavy gold chain. He glanced over Stefano’s shoulder and said, “I arranged it with her assistant.”
Alora’s discomfort grew. This religious leader was standing in front of the heir to the throne and lying. For what reason?
A gentle breeze stirred the scent of the sea and roses. Giancarlo giggled. The puppy barked. Alora’s heart thudded uncomfortably in her chest as she considered why the man in front of her was really here.
“Alora, why don’t you take the boys inside?” Stefano suggested mildly. Something in his tone told her he was just as suspicious of the archbishop as she. “You can let Janessa know the archbishop is here to see her.”
Alora was torn between distancing her children from this man and not wanting to leave Stefano alone. With some reservation, she nodded and called out to the boys. “Giancarlo, Dante, it’s time to go inside.”
“Do we have to?” Dante asked, rolling over on the grass to look at her.
“Yes, you do.” She fought to keep her voice calm, already thinking ahead to when they walked to the entrance. She would speak to the guards, have them make sure Stefano stayed safe.
Archbishop Leone’s eyes lingered on Alora, but he addressed Stefano. “I don’t believe I’ve been introduced to your friends.”
“I’m sorry,” Stefano said, clearly trapped by protocol. “Archbishop Leone, this is Alora DeSanto and her sons, Giancarlo and Dante.”
“Good to meet you.” Alora gave him a polite nod. She waved at her children. “Come on, boys.”
Giancarlo struggled to pick up the puppy, and both boys crossed the lawn to stand beside their mother.
The archbishop shifted slightly so he was between them and the door. “You don’t have to rush off on my account.”
“Oh, we’re not,” Alora said, her eyes lifting to where two guards stood at the front entrance. “The boys need to go inside and get their baths.”
She started to guide the boys around the archbishop to the entrance, but he shifted once more to block their path. Then he looked at Stefano and said blandly, “Perhaps we can all go for a walk together.” He shifted the folds of his robe, the evening sunlight gleaming off the pistol in his hand.
Alora gasped. A bubble of panic threatened as she noticed the slim silencer attached to the end of the gun. She grabbed both boys by the arm and pulled them behind her. The puppy slipped out of Giancarlo’s arms and dropped to the ground with a whimper.
“Mama,” Giancarlo said in protest, clearly unaware of the danger facing them.
Stefano gaped at the archbishop, incredulity in his voice when he asked, “You?”
“Now, we don’t want to cause any alarm for the guards.” He shifted closer to Alora, smiling as though they were having a friendly chat. He gave a meaningful glance at the children. “And you don’t want anyone to get hurt.”
“What do you want?” Stefano moved to Alora’s side so that together they were shielding the children.
“I want you to pay for ruining my plans.” His voice was evil, contrasting with the cheerful smile on his face. “Whether your friends pay with you is up to you.”
; “Let them go, and I’ll come with you,” Stefano said, his voice surprisingly steady. “You don’t need them.”
“Oh, but I do,” he countered. “Do you think I’m a fool? If I let them go, they’ll alert the guards. And they look like an excellent insurance policy against you trying anything stupid.”
“Stefano.” Alora breathed his name in a whisper. Helplessness flooded through her and warred with her protective instincts.
“Everything will be okay.” Stefano squeezed Alora’s arm. Then he leaned down and picked up Giancarlo.
“You keep right on thinking that.”
“What’s going on?” Giancarlo looked up at Stefano with innocence and curiosity.
“We’re just going for a little walk. Remember, just like when I took you for a walk when you got into trouble with your mama.”
Dante squirmed when Alora lifted him into her arms. He pointed at the grass. “Mama, the puppy.”
“The puppy is fine. He wants to stay outside a little while longer.” Alora fought for calm, confused when Stefano started toward the wooded side of the chateau. She thought for sure he would head toward the gardens, where they were more likely to be seen.
“Why are you doing this?” Stefano asked, his voice low and tense. “What can you possibly gain?”
“Power. Revenge.” His eyes gleamed with it, with greed and madness. “Once, your family was loyal to the church. Decisions about Meridia were shared between the king and the archbishop. This country has suffered since your family changed that.”
“Those changes were made decades ago,” Stefano said, confused.
“Yes. Your grandfather approved my appointment as the reigning archbishop, and within months, he took away my power.” Hatred seethed through his voice. “I would have been content to share the illusion that he ran the country, but he was too greedy. Little by little he made changes, always taking away from the church’s influence and adding to his own. Within a year, I was powerless.”
“Surely you can’t blame us for something we didn’t have any control over,” Stefano insisted.
“Your father had his chance to change things, but he refused.” Leone shook his head and spoke derisively. “And then your brother abandoned our faith. I can’t let this country blindly accept his decision, knowing that someday we will have a Mormon king. I won’t let that happen.” He motioned toward the trees. “Once you’re gone, our citizens will see the truth. They’ll see that it’s the church that should lead them. Not your family.”
Stefano glanced over his shoulder as he led the way down an overgrown path, and the archbishop took up position behind them. “Surely you understand the guards will know it was you if anything happens to any of us.”
“Oh no.” He shook his head. “I will be the one who runs for help, alerting the guards to that nasty man who jumped out of the bushes when we were all enjoying our walk.” He let out a hard, brittle laugh. “And to think I came here expecting only revenge. It seems the Lord wants me to prevail after all. I will have the power that is supposed to be mine.”
Alora stopped midstride. “The Lord would never want this.”
Beside her, Stefano lowered Giancarlo to the ground and turned to face the archbishop once more. “I won’t let you hurt these children. I won’t let you hurt Alora.”
“You have no choice.” He glanced back at the guards, who were still barely visible at the front gate. A few more yards and they would be out of sight. A few more yards and the archbishop could carry out his plans.
Dante whimpered and clung tighter to Alora. Giancarlo gripped the back of Stefano’s leg. Alora buried her face in the soft folds of Dante’s neck, breathing in the scents of little boy and grass. She would not let anything happen to him or Giancarlo. Even if she had to sacrifice herself, she was not going to let this man hurt her children.
As though sharing a similar resolve, Stefano turned to face Giancarlo and then squatted down in front of him. He pulled him close for a hug. “It’s going to be okay.” Then he lowered his voice, and Alora thought she heard him whisper something in his ear.
Standing back up, Stefano reached over and put a hand on Dante’s back. His eyes dark, he said simply, “Don’t be afraid.”
Dante whimpered again, and Stefano motioned to Alora. “Let Dante walk. He’s too heavy for you to carry.”
“It’s okay . . .” Alora started.
Stefano’s voice became brisk and commanding. “Let him walk.”
Shocked by his tone, Alora obeyed. Then Stefano spoke to Giancarlo. “Take your brother’s hand.”
Giancarlo swallowed hard, his eyes wide with fear. They started walking once more, the boys leading the way around a sharp bend in the path, the bend that would hide them from everyone on the chateau grounds. Stefano nudged Alora forward so he was effectively shielding her from the archbishop.
Her heart racing, Alora stopped on the edge of the guard’s view. “Stefano, we can’t let him do this. We can’t . . .”
She felt a hand on her back. Before she could finish her sentence, Stefano pushed her toward the trees and shouted, “Run!”
Chapter 47
Adrenaline surged through Stefano when the archbishop’s hand lifted and tried to take aim. Stefano was too fast for him.
Stefano grabbed for the gun, pushing the barrel downward just as a shot fired into the ground. The sound was little more than a puff in the wind, not loud enough to be heard from any distance. Dust stirred into the air from where the bullet struck the ground.
Alora screamed, guards shouted, and Stefano tightened his hand around Leone’s wrist to keep the gun pointed toward the ground. His heart raced as he listened to Giancarlo and Dante running away from them, quickly realizing that Alora was still a few feet away. “Alora, run!”
Leone turned and twisted, struggling to loosen Stefano’s grip. The older man was stronger than he looked, grappling with Stefano to maintain possession of his weapon.
“You’re going to pay,” he muttered and swung out with his left hand.
The blow connected with Stefano’s right temple, hard. Pain exploded behind his eyes, but his hold on the archbishop’s arm didn’t loosen. He fought to keep Leone’s hand pinned to his side, praying that Alora would get to safety before Leone got off another stray shot.
In the distance, he could hear the guards’ rapid footsteps coming toward them, melding with the fading footsteps he knew belonged to Dante and Giancarlo. Help was coming, but Stefano knew the guards were still more than a hundred yards away.
He heard Alora rustling in the bushes behind him, and he caught a glimpse of the weapon she now held. A branch the size of a baseball bat was cocked behind her shoulder, her hands gripping it tightly.
The guards’ shouts grew louder, but Stefano knew they wouldn’t be able to get a clear shot without the risk of hitting him. The archbishop’s struggles became more fervent, Stefano countering each move. Leone twisted, attempting to elbow Stefano as Stefano tried to maneuver for control of the weapon.
A thud sounded when Alora swung her makeshift weapon, connecting with Leone’s back. He yelped in pain, and the force of the impact sent both men stumbling forward. The gun dropped to the ground, and both men scrambled for it.
Then the guards were at the edge of the path, shouting orders.
“Hold it right there!”
“Don’t move!”
The archbishop ignored the guards, fighting with a single-mindedness that defied logic. He managed to grasp his weapon once more, swinging it toward the guards in a bold move. He squeezed the trigger, his shot forcing the guards to take cover at the entrance to the path. Then in an equally audacious gesture, he whirled back toward Stefano.
Stefano saw his intent and dove to the left. A single gunshot followed, the bullet tearing through the fleshy part of Stefano’s upper arm. He cried out in pain, the burning sensation overwhelming all of his senses.
At first he didn’t notice Alora move forward or that she was still wielding the tree bra
nch. Then he looked up at the older man, expecting him to shoot again, but he saw that the archbishop’s attention and his weapon had shifted toward Alora. A split second before the archbishop managed to take aim, Alora swung the tree branch at him again, only this time, she let go and sent the length of wood flying through the air.
The archbishop ducked, narrowly avoiding being struck in the head. Ignoring the throbbing in his arm, Stefano took advantage of the distraction, tackling him around the waist and knocking him to the ground. Again, they grappled for control of the weapon, rolling around on the dirt as Stefano held Leone’s right arm to keep him from grabbing the gun.
Footsteps sounded again, and he heard a guard shout at Alora to stand clear.
“You’ll never beat me,” the archbishop panted. “I have nothing to lose.”
They were both up now, the gun still out of reach. Stefano elbowed Leone in the gut. He kept his gaze on the weapon, all the while praying that Alora was fleeing toward safety. He stepped backward, his heel catching on a protruding tree root. His loss of balance was enough for the archbishop to once again gain an advantage.
The archbishop pushed off of Stefano and managed to keep his footing as the prince tripped and fell to the ground. His eyes were dark with pure evil when he lifted the gun, his finger on the trigger.
Stefano scrambled backward, Alora screamed, and the guards opened fire. A heartbeat later, the archbishop dropped to the ground.
* * *
Stefano stood in the doorway of Giancarlo and Dante’s room, staring at the two boys now tucked safely into their beds. Giancarlo had been beyond brave when he had followed Stefano’s instructions. He had led his brother to safety, both of them taking refuge in the old tree house in the woods.
When he and Alora had found them, they were shaken and scared, but they were safe.
Stefano and Alora had carried them down the path to the stables before circling back to the chateau. The boys had been traumatized enough without having to see the archbishop’s body lying on the edge of the woods.
Royal Secrets Page 28