Alexander & Rebecca (Royals of Valleria #1) (5 page)

“No, sir, just us. Well, and the kitchen staff.”

An idea, more an opportunity, seemed to be presenting itself. Only years of practice at keeping a blank face allowed Alex to hide his intentions. “It was nice of you to arrange for a tea service.”

“It was the least I could do, sir. She won’t eat anything, but she might have a snack if I send it up with tea.”

A nudge, a precise one, should be all it took to set his secret plan in motion. “I see. Well, perhaps Catharine can convince her.”

“The Princess, sir?”

“Yes, she’ll be returning to the office briefly to assist me with something.” A clever lie. He would have to convince Catharine to help him without knowing the real reason. He knew she would help him with Rebecca for the price of his secret, but he didn’t want to play that hand, not yet. “Have a family style dinner sent to her offices.”

“Family style, sir?”

“Yes. Catharine needs to eat, too. This way, they’ll both have something to eat together.”

“A very clever plan, sir. I’ll just give Rebecca a call to let her know.”

“No need,” Alex said, a little too quickly. “Catharine’s already told her. In fact, after you make the call to the kitchens, I think you should head home as well. I’m off to meet with Marcello, then I’ll be on my way home myself.”

“Are you sure you don’t need anything else, sir?” Tavin asked, and looked a little lost for things to do. Alex almost smiled at his confused reaction.

“Yes, Tavin. Have a good evening, and I’ll see you first thing tomorrow,” Alex said as he strode away.

“Your first meeting is at eight, sir,” Tavin called. Alex acknowledged the comment with a quick wave and without a backwards glance. Now to put the rest of his plan in motion. A chance to spend time alone with Rebecca was too good to pass up.

He sent a quick message to his most trusted security man, asking him to oversee his security personally that evening for a few hours. Though he initially balked at the idea of only one man guarding the future king, when Alex assured him that he was remaining inside the palace itself, the man relented.

Next, Alex needed to contact Catharine. He had to tread carefully, making sure that Cat, whose heart was soft and often worn on her sleeve, wouldn’t go directly to Rebecca and eat with her.

Still awake, Cat?
Alex messaged.

Yes, why? Where are you?
Cat messaged back.

Office.

Do you need me back at the office? Can’t it wait until morning?

Don’t need you to come back, but do need your help. It’s about Rebecca.

Rebecca! What’s happened?

Video’s making the rounds.

I know, it’s just awful.

She’s come to the office to work ‘just in case’.

I’m not firing her.

I didn’t tell you to, did I? Tavin said she’s so worried that she refuses to eat anything.

Oh, no. Shall I go talk to her?

Alex quickly replied.
I had Tavin order her some dinner. I just need you to convince her to eat it.

But how do you know she’ll eat any of it?

She will if you tell her you’ve sent food to her and that you’re coming to join her for dinner.

Why don’t I just go over and ensure she eats?

You’ll only make her more nervous. Who understands people better, me or you? Trust me.

I hate it when you’re right.

Alex chuckled.
Then you must hate me quite often.

Oh, shut it. Okay, I won’t go over. I won’t fire her either.

You won’t have to. I’ll arrange a statement to the press in the morning to clear it all up. Stop worrying.

I’ll try.

Night, twin.
Alex messaged.

Night, twin.
Cat replied.

It had been a tricky task, but he had accomplished it. The downside to having a twin was that Cat could usually see past his bullshit much quicker than anyone else. Fortunately for him, however, tonight she had been distracted.

Now to see what Marcello wanted, and quickly. The thought of dinner with Rebecca had put a spring in his step. She didn’t know they were about to have their first date, but she would figure it out soon enough.

Two agents of the Vallerian National Security Agency stood guard in front of the Situation Room at all times. Alexander approached the doors, pressed in a series of codes, and completed a retinal scan before the doors opened. Though the room was tucked away in a secure basement corridor of the palace, silent cameras, both hidden and obvious, recorded his every breath and covered every nook and cranny nearby. The images were watched by agents located offsite in the opposite side of city, across the Rhone River.

As Alex walked through the doors, a series of lasers scanned and x-rayed him, as they did everyone who walked inside the room. Marcello, seated at the end of a long, polished conference table with papers and photos scattered in front of him, had undergone the same scan.

Not that it mattered much if you were a royal.

The main room inside, where Marcello was seated, had two full walls of screens, filled with muted news, data, maps, and more. Several smaller conference rooms and offices led away from the main room. During times of war and trouble, all were used.

“What’s so important that it couldn’t wait?” Alex asked as he sat down beside Marcello, who wore a dark suit and had his blond hair styled back; Marcello must have had plans before the threat arose. “I haven’t got much time.”

“You never have much time, but you’ll make time for this,” Marcello said as he tossed a few photographs his way.

Alex’s brows furrowed as he picked up the glossy black and white photos and began sifting through them. His eyes narrowed as the photos focused closer and closer on the subject within them. A storm slid across Alex’s eyes as he flipped to the last picture. “What the hell is this? These are all pictures of me, and the last one’s of me in my private apartment. I’m exiting my own bathroom for Christ’s sake!”

Marcello, his face grave and troubled, nodded. “Don’t you think I realize that?”

Alex whipped up from the chair and started pacing. “I’m wearing a fucking towel! Are you telling me someone’s planted a camera in my private suite? In my private bathroom?” Alex paused and turned to Marcello. “Is this a new security policy you’ve decided to implement? Have you set up cameras in all of our suites?”

Marcello rose in a flash and stood nose-to-nose with his elder, infuriating brother. “How dare you accuse me of something like that!” he yelled and pushed Alex lightly in the chest.

Alex’s nostrils flared and spoke deceptively soft. “I’d like to remind you that you’re pushing the future king.”

“That doesn’t mean I can’t kick his ass if he deserves it.” Marcello turned away and rubbed a hand across his face before turning back. “For Christ’s sake. Do you really think I would do something like that?”

The fight left Alex as quickly as it had come. “No. No, I don’t. I’m sorry, Marcello. I didn’t mean it. Truly.”

“You did, but we’ll leave that for now.” Marcello walked over and picked up another photo and some papers, then handed them over. “These death threats came with those photos.”

Alex read them over. He’d read other death threats since he had come to work full-time in the royal offices after university. Threats against him, his father and mother, even his siblings. Every one still made his blood curdle and his heart race.

“Do we know who it is yet?” Alex asked, though he already knew the answer.

Marcello shook his head. “We’ve got our people analyzing the original photos and letters; those are copies. We’ve already scanned your apartments, too. Found the cameras. There were none in your office, and no audio equipment anywhere, so let’s say thanks for small favors.”

“Yes, let’s be thankful they only spied on me and didn’t hear anything,” Alex said dryly.

“You know if they’d heard you, it would be an entirely different situation. We would have been dealing with a serious threat to national security and a loss of state secrets. You’re always working and on the phone, even when you leave the office.”

“What about the corridors?” The palace, particularly the wing where the family lived, was filled with secret corridors.

“They’re clean. No breaches.” Marcello paused. “You know what I need to ask you next, don’t you?”

Alex knew. Had he been alone in his apartments? Would photos of him with another woman surface? “Do we know when these were taken?” Alex asked.

Marcello crossed his arms over his svelte but muscled chest and gave him an assessing look. “You tell me. You’d be able to recognize when these were taken sooner than us.”

Alex picked up the photos again, despite his instinct to keep them as far away from him as possible. He felt violated and betrayed as he looked at images of himself, images that the press would love a little too much and which would cause embarrassment to the family and the Royal Council. He suppressed a shudder when he caught a glimpse of a particular tie. He threw the photos on the table, and they slid swiftly across the polished mahogany.

“A month! A fucking month! That one,” he said pointing to a photo teetering precariously near an edge. “Was taken at least a month ago. The Swedish prime minister gave me that tie as a gift and I had to wear it for our state dinner during his visit. I haven’t worn it since. Did you sweep the other rooms? Cat’s? Our parents? Who else is home? Carolina or Sarah? If some sick son of a bitch has got photos of our sisters or anyone else, I swear.”

Marcello held up a hand. “You don’t have to tell me. I would kill them myself. Trust me. We swept everyone’s while they were out. Only your apartments were flagged.”

“Can you trace the cameras? It had to be someone who works here. Only a few people have access to our royal apartments inside the palace.”

“I’m looking into it.”

Alex sighed and sat down again. He saw a mention of himself and Rebecca scroll across one of the televisions, and the video appeared soon afterwards. As he watched it, his body reacted each time she fell against him on the screen. He thought he even smelled lavender.

Alex checked his watch and realized that dinner may have already been delivered to her. Alex needed her, wanted her, lusted for her. Right now, however, he just wanted her comfort.

Where did a future king go to feel safe, when he was too old for comfort in his mother’s arms or for his father to chase away the nightmares? Alex had been alone with his thoughts and fears for years. Too long, really. He was tired of being alone.

“The others will have to be told,” Alex said finally, referring to their siblings.

Marcello nodded. “At dinner in a couple days, unless things progress sooner. Arianna and Ethan are still out of the country, and Lorenzo’s still at the castle in Masillia,” Marcello said, speaking of their brothers and sisters. “If we told them now, they would only worry until they came back. We can tell our parents tomorrow. Besides, we may know more by the time of our family dinner.”

“We will know more by then.” Alex ordered, then paused as another opportunity presented itself. “What about our staff? Are they in danger?”

“I don’t think so. Tavin has his own security, anyhow.”

“I’m not concerned with only my staff. I want all the chiefs of staff protected.”

Marcello gave Alex a shrewd look. “That’s expensive. It’ll be hard to convince the rest of the Royal Council something like that is necessary.”

“Then it’s a good thing that several members don’t have a high enough security clearance to be involved in intelligence matters.”

“That was your doing, wasn’t it? I don’t recall Papa passing that rule with a Royal Order.”

Alex smiled deviously. “Yes, it was. It’s lucky that as heir apparent, I am allowed to issue Royal Orders.”

Marcello snorted. “Regardless, even the council members that have clearance will want justification for the protection.”

“Then spin it. You know what to do.”

“All right. I’ll see what I can do, but it won’t happen until at least tomorrow, when the next council meeting will be held.”

“Convene a special meeting tonight.”

Marcello shook his head. “I’d rather not draw more attention to this right now.”

“I’ll trust your judgment then.” Alex stood and made his way towards the door, stopping just before he reached it. “There won’t be any pictures of me with anyone else.”

“Are you sure? Not even a photo that could be misconstrued like the video of you and Rebecca has been? No one in the last month, or during the summer?”

Alex shook his head. “No one for much longer than that.”

“How much longer?”

“A lot longer.” Alex thought of all the long, lonely nights he’d spent dreaming of Rebecca. They might have photos of him tossing in his sleep and his morning erection, but they’d never heard him whisper her name, as he was sure he’d done. Too many of his dreams had been filled with her.

Marcello uncrossed his arms and looked at Alex disbelievingly. “No one? You’re kidding, right?”

Alex turned and gazed at his younger brother, saved from the crown by a fate of birth. “A future king must be discreet.”

“Discreet I get. You’re acting like a monk.” Marcello walked over to Alex and placed his hands on Alex’s arms. Alex’s suit was crisp and fresh, despite the fact he’d been wearing it for hours, even while traveling. Marcello noted the dim circles under his brother’s eyes, and the uncharacteristically leaner look of him. He’d lost some weight. When had that happened? What worries did his strong shoulders carry, that he refused to share with anyone else?

“You don’t enjoy life enough, Alex, and don’t give me some bullshit about being a ‘future king’. You deserve some happiness. You’re a man, too.”

Knowing Marcello would keep his secret, Alex said, “I know I’m a man. The trouble is that I’m a man who’s been in love for a long time with a woman who doesn’t know it yet.” Until that moment, Alex hadn’t realized how much he needed to say that out loud, how much he had needed to admit that.

When Marcello’s hands fell away, Alex opened the door and left before the shock on his brother’s face disappeared and morphed into questions. He didn’t have time for them now, though he didn’t doubt they would come later.

As Alex started down the hallway, with his one, most-trusted security agent trailing behind, Alex focused his thoughts on Rebecca. As a leader, he had become adept at compartmentalizing, and shifting his thoughts from one crisis to the next, one issue to the next, and one person to the next.

Tonight, he would leave his job behind for once, and focus on this time with Rebecca. Just the thought of her filled him with a sense of peace and expectation, and a rush of love he still hadn’t learned how to channel. He knew they were meant to be together. Now, he had to find out if she could ever feel the same.