Forbidden Crown

by Victoria Pinder

  His mother quickly answered, "Don't be defeatist, Antonio. It's not going to happen."

  If they lost the vote, this might mean that Antonio was free to live his life with or without her. Kristin turned to him in concern. He wouldn't have to get married in two days, right? "Mother, be prepared."

  Queen Anna Camilla brushed her hand against her son’s cheek, letting the other fall to the side. "That's what I'm telling you both." She turned toward Kristin and smiled. "Pick a dress. I'll handle everything else."

  "I will at once." What else could she say? Right now she was picking the style. Then the rest of the design would follow.

  The queen hugged them and they returned to the room with the group of designers and the racks of dresses. Kristin immediately walked over to the group and called for her friends. "Renee, Greg, I have to go change but let me know if anything happens."

  "Can I watch the fashion show then while we wait to hear?" Greg sounded like he hated every word he said. If she had loved ones, other than those here already, it would be hard to be anywhere else but with them too.

  “Sure.” Renee offered a sympathetic pat on Greg’s shoulder that he turned away from as she said, "Why don’t you sit with the designers?"

  Antonio kissed her forehead, but then his phone rang. She saw it was his brother Lucio again. They spoke so fast that she had no idea what they discussed. As she walked toward the racks, Antonio grabbed her wrist to hold her. "Kristin."

  There must be news. Her heart sped up. "What?"

  He then leaned down and whispered in her ear. "Keep your phone on you at all times. I added a tracer, which was how I found you this morning."

  She sighed and hugged him. He truly knew how to protect everyone. "So you received my call? I was pressing buttons and hoping."

  “Yes.” He pushed her hair out of her face and nodded. He then kissed her cheek and kept his voice low so the group waiting for her couldn’t hear them. "I heard every word. We'll need to stay sharp and on our toes."

  "Yes." Her heart beat for him and she wished she could wrap her arms around him, hold tight and kiss him. However, there were probably rules against public displays like that. She hugged him and then let go.

  He spoke in a more normal tone. "Tonight, after the announcement my mother needs us to make, I still want time alone with you. I planned something."

  She felt her cheeks warm as she nodded. "Then I'm all yours."

  "I like that, a lot."

  He walked to the door. Being Antonio’s wife meant becoming a princess, so Kristen went toward her friends and asked, "Renee, the mermaid dress was the first style?"

  "Yes. I put them in order," her best friend said.

  Kristin saw Antonio leave, though he winked at her before closing the door. Once he was gone, she picked up the first dress and said, "Good. Help me?"

  She put it on and gasped for air as the zipper constricted her waist. Yes, it was shimmery white, satin and lace, but she couldn’t breathe! “No, thanks.”

  * * *

  “But look at your figure!” Renee said, turning Kristin toward the full-length mirror set up in the anteroom.

  Absolutely not. Renee pulled her out to show everyone, and Kristin ignored the gasps of excitement from the designers.

  So what if she had the perfect hourglass figure? This dress style was a no—she’d never make it down the aisle.

  Suddenly, Antonio dashed into the room with his hand covering the phone speaker, gaining everyone’s attention. "Greg, your mother boarded a flight to Vegas. FBI is intercepting now."

  Greg sat on one of the chairs near the long dining table, and Kristin saw the glimmer of a tear form in his eye. "Can I talk to her?"

  "It's my brother Lucio on the call," Antonio said though it was clear he was uncomfortable with a man's tears. He hit the button for speaker. "Greg wants to talk to his mother."

  Lucio, who had a deep voice similar to Antonio's, spoke to someone he was near and then told them on the phone, "We are patching things together now so you can talk to her directly."

  A few seconds later, an older woman said, "Greggie? Are you okay?"

  Greg wiped tears from his eyes. "Mom?"

  His mother sounded all choked up, too. "Greg, you're safe. I was so worried about you."

  "Me?" His voice cracked. "Mom, you were kidnapped!"

  His mother moaned. "No. They told me you were going to have to sacrifice yourself to save me. I can't let you do that. You're my only son. Be safe and live."

  Greg cried, then tugged at the scooped neck of his white tank top. "I can't, Mom. There is a bomb strapped to my body that's set to explode. I'm sorry. I love you."

  "Wait! What?" Antonio ended the call with Lucio, stepped back and shoved her and his mother behind him. He looked over his shoulder and met his mother's gaze. "Go. Get Babik."

  "I have to get your father." The queen ran out of the room.

  "It's strapped to my chest,” Greg said in tones full of misery. “Sophia and Victor Amadeus threatened to kill my mom. They had pictures of her tied up. Sophia said she was going to let herself get caught so Victor could win."

  "Victor? Marco's friend." Antonio gestured to those still in the room. "Kristin, Renee, everyone, get out—go to the front of the palace. Outside."

  Kristin grabbed his arm, unwilling to leave him. "Do you have a bomb squad?"

  Antonio covered her hand with his. "Marco is the best trained person in the country."

  His mother must have told everyone on her way to the sick room because guards rushed to help get the guests out and his brother Marco ran inside. "I'm here, Antonio."

  Kristin rubbed his tense arm muscle. "What can we do?"

  "Help my mom and my father, Kristin." Antonio stepped toward his brother and Greg.

  She held him firm to keep him one more second. "What about you?"

  Antonio kissed her fast and hard. "I'm staying to help my brother fix this, and then I'm going to find Victor Amadeus. This has to stop."

  "I love you. Come back to me," she said without a thought and hugged him.

  He massaged her back for a brief second. "Absolutely."

  Without another word he let her go and she ran after the other guests. Whatever happened, Antonio knew she loved him—now she had to help get a sick king out of the palace before the bomb exploded. Antonio had to come back to her, safe and sound.

  Chapter 16

  Antonio’s forehead beaded with sweat as he watched Greg sit on the chair—the bombs were not visible beneath Greg’s wife-beater.

  Marco spoke with Greg while Antonio ensured the room was clear of people, then gave Marco the signal that everyone was gone. Now that it was just the three of them Marco had to disarm the bomb.

  Kristin had whispered she loved him.

  “Stand up.” Marco ripped Greg's tank top so he could see the bomb.

  Antonio's jaw clenched. The device was so thin that it hadn’t been visible beneath the tight fabric.

  Greg stood still while Marco traced the belt with a small metal that looked like a pen. He stopped and pointed. "This is an IED, clearly made to let the world believe this was a suicide bomb." Marco then pointed to a plastic container. "This is the PETN, but I need to find the trigger and stop it before it detonates."

  Greg's tears rolled down his cheeks. "I'm so sorry. I just wanted to wash my car, that’s why I’m wearing these ugly clothes."

  Antonio tried to keep Greg calm while Marco worked overtime to find a way to ensure that bomb didn't go off. "We'll get you back there, Greg."

  Greg nodded and sniffed. "I don't want a life of excitement. I just want to go home and forget this ever happened."

  A loud bang echoed as the door opened with such force it hit the wall and was then followed with heavy footsteps. Now what? Antonio turned, expecting to see Babik, but Victor Amadeus walked into the room with a semi-automatic gun.

  Antonio flexed, eager to face the threat against his family and win. "Keep working, Marco. I'll handle this."
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  Victor snorted with derision. "I'm sorry, I can't let you do that."

  Antonio straightened to meet the man who wanted to steal his throne, his legacy, from him. If he died tonight, then he died knowing Kristin and his parents were safe—he’d take Victor down with him. In that second he understood Greg's tears—not for himself but for a loved one. Antonio never blinked. He crossed his arms. "Victor, put the gun down."

  Victor came closer. "You walk around all proud of yourself because you were brought back to be a future king when the truth is you don't deserve any of this."

  Antonio inched closer. If he had a chance to rush him for the gun then they all had hope. He kept his words steady and his forward movement unnoticed. "It's true. I don't deserve a crown. I never sought it out. It was offered to my father, because of our family lineage. The people believe if we’re here, then our kingdom is blessed from heaven above and that they will all prosper."

  Victor snarled and cocked the gun. "Your father bribed people to get back to Avce."

  Antonio put his hands up but took another step forward. He was closer. "Now, that's a stretch.” His dad hadn’t bribed anyone. “Either way, you’ve lost. Even if you manage to kill all of us, my brother Lucio is in the FBI—so someone in my family survives to take over the throne." One more step and he could tackle him. "You gain nothing from any of this."

  Victor pointed the gun at Antonio’s face. "I get to watch you and your brother die and know I finally stopped you."

  He had one chance. He lowered his head like he was scared and asked, "Stopped us? From what?"

  "From having what you don't deserve," Victor said. Antonio jumped forward and punched him square in the nose. Victor rocked backward, off balance. Antonio reached for the gun and struggled to get it out of Victor’s hands, peeling back Victor’s thumb to get the man to release his desperate grip.

  As Antonio threw the weapon on the floor, he hit Victor again. "That's it. This is over."

  "Not quite." Victor pulled out a small device that must trigger the bomb.

  “Don’t!” Greg yelled, his tan face paling.

  Marco called out, "It's clear."

  Antonio's heart raced. Could he trust that Marco had really fixed it? He clawed at Victor's arm in an effort to get the trigger and they both wrestled onto the ground.

  A shadow loomed behind them both and then someone else punched Victor in the back of the head. He sprawled, unconscious.

  Greg kicked Victor for good measure and stood above him. "No one gets to hurt my mother."

  He assisted Antonio up. Antonio wiped his hands on his pants and then patted Greg on the shoulder. "Thanks."

  A second later, the ricochet of the bomb exploding knocked them all on their feet. Antonio flipped over on his stomach. Where was Marco?

  The debris cleared the room and it seemed like all four walls still existed.

  Marco then called out from the patio, "Is everyone okay?"

  "What happened?" Antonio stood up again. This time he helped Greg.

  Victor was still out cold.

  Marco pointed to the balcony. "I threw it into the river, away from the village and the castle."

  “Quick thinking.” Hopefully Kristin, his mom and everyone else was safe in one of the other towers. Antonio glanced around the room for something that might be used as rope to tie Victor, but then settled on his belt. He knelt next to Victor and looked up at his baby brother. "Want to call Babik?"

  Marco nodded and took out his phone. He spoke to the guards and then hung up. He knelt next to Antonio and adjusted the tightness of the leather around Victor’s hands. "I knew Victor was jealous but I had no idea it went this deep."

  Neither had he. He thought Victor and Sophia were just hangers-on-socialites who never went home. Until recently Sophia had only ever tried to kiss him, and scare off other women. He shook his head and thought of Kristin. "He and Sophia cooked up this scheme. The vote and my wedding made them desperate, but I have no idea why Lucio suspected them for a year."

  "I'm glad you found Kristin," Marco said. “And Lucio suspects everyone and trusts no one.”

  “True.” Kristin’s smile made him ache to be with her. "I should go find Kristin now."

  The march of the guards echoed in the hall. Antonio stood and saw General Babik, who seriously needed a medal of honor. "Babik! Arrest this man." He gestured at Victor.

  Babik answered, "Yes, Sire."

  Marco spoke to Greg, who paled as Antonio approached.

  “I-”

  “I get it, you didn’t do it.” Antonio understood Greg wasn't in league with Victor and Sophia, and he’d been used against his will. He nodded at him. "Let's go find the others. They must be terrified."

  Greg asked, "Is there a phone so I can talk to my mom again? She’s probably sick, thinking I’d died already."

  "Sure." Antonio dialed Lucio while Marco walked beside them through the halls. Antonio quickly told Lucio to get Greg's mom back on the line. Once she was on the phone, he guided Greg into the library and handed him the phone. "Talk as long as you want. We'll come back here and meet you."

  "I owe you an apology, Antonio," Marco told him once they closed the library door and walked outside to meet their parents.

  "Yeah?" Antonio's eyebrows arched as the doors opened for the two of them and cheers echoed from the villagers who gathered at the gate.

  The jubilant cries were better than New Year’s celebrations.

  Antonio searched the clustered group for Kristin, and found her in a white wedding gown that had his pulse hammering—her curves, her long curls tumbling over her shoulder, her skin as delicate and pale as the satin.

  She stood next to his fierce mother and frail father, who dozed in a wheel chair with a blanket over his lap, but at least he was alive. Marco slapped his shoulder and said, "Perhaps your computer search wasn't all wrong."

  Antonio broke the spell of Kristin for one second and saw his brother stare at her friend. "You and Renee are... cozy."

  Marco’s throat turned red. "She's sweet and determined to head home. I'm going to try and see her after your wedding."

  Antonio wrapped his arms around Kristin and the rest of the world stopped mattering. He kissed her forehead and let her rose smell wash through him. "Kristin."

  She hugged him tight. "Thank God." She unwrapped one arm and placed her hand on his face as if she checked for bruises. "I was so worried."

  "We're safe." He met his mother's insistent gaze. He followed her look and tapped Kristin's shoulder.

  She turned around and her mouth opened. Marco and Renee were locked in an embrace. She said, "They're kissing."

  "Who cares?" He fixed her hair out of her eyes. Then he leaned forward and claimed exactly what he wanted.

  Kristin's kiss was worth everything.

  His entire body grew hard though they were outside and a crowd cheered. He ended the kiss, but kept her tucked under his shoulder.

  His father's raspy voice was solemn and everyone went quiet as he spoke, now awake and alert. "Son, what happened?"

  "Marco disarmed the bomb strapped to an innocent man’s chest. Victor was in league with Sophia—they are both in custody. How are you, Father?" He knew the cameras watching were on his father and mother, so he took his place as the dutiful son beside them.

  His mother announced, "King Leopoldo will make a full recovery."

  "That's good to hear," Marco added from behind him.

  His father held his head high and stared at Kristin. "I will be standing at your wedding, son."

  His mother spoke to the reporters like the pro she was. "And be there for when the votes are tallied."

  "The cheering crowd empowering you to get better, Father?" Antonio asked, pressing his hands on both arms of the wheelchair. Kristin stayed next to him.

  His father then told him, and reporters, "Your mother is a good woman. She's the best reason to keep on living."

  A loud sigh erupted from the onlookers. Antonio took Kristin
's hand and led her to stand in front. "Father, I'd like for you to formally meet Kristin Wells. This is my bride."

  His mother than came beside Kristin and tugged on the wedding dress she still wore from the interrupted fitting and said with a smirk on her face. "As I told you son, Americans under or overdress for everything. I hope your Kristin is ready for my help."

  Oh no—the last thing he needed was for Kristin to feel insulted. "Mother..."

  "I'm joking." Queen Anna Camilla smiled and stroked Kristin's arm.

  Kristin took the queen’s hand in hers. "I hope you aren't. I need all the help I can get."

  Finally he could breathe. His family was safe. Kristin was not in any danger and they had a genuine chance to be happy. But first he needed to speak to her, just the two of them. His heart beat as he remembered her words of love. He prayed those weren't an in-the-moment declaration and that she truly meant what she said.

  If she did, he'd have everything in the world. And he could accept being a future king with Kristin at his side.

  Chapter 17

  Kristin woke up in a pink nightgown that went to her ankles. She turned and pressed against the warmth of Antonio's back, covered in a cotton t-shirt. She kept her eyes closed, listening to the birds chirping outside.

  Last night she’d intended to stay awake and wait for him. She blinked and realized her plan went wrong as it was morning. She rolled away from him and stretched.

  His hand went around her waist and he squeezed her for a hug. "Kristin?"

  He kissed her cheek. Somehow she’d hit the lottery when Antonio found her—she shouldn't have been angry at how. She sighed and said, "Sorry, I fell asleep last night. I know you wanted to talk. After all the excitement I must’ve been beat. But it feels good waking up in your arms."

  "I agree." He sat up, not noticing the gorgeous day or the green forest in the distance. He kept his gaze on her as he said, "And it's okay. Let's eat breakfast together."

  Tomorrow was their wedding, the reception, the vote tally and it all changed her life. There was so much to do. "I’ll have to eat fast. Your mother has a packed schedule for me, including picking a dress style." They both climbed out of the bed as she said, "One of the designers will then whip up something in a factory and have it here by midnight. I'm fascinated to see how that works."