Page 12 of Royal Salvation

“Is it real?” he asked, already knowing deep down what the answer would be.

“Without a doubt.”

“Can you find anything from the metadata or the men in it?”

“If it’s there I’ll find it.”

“Thanks.” Reaper knew that was the truth. If Watchdog couldn’t find it, then it wasn’t there to be found.

“This changes everything going forward. I’ll need to contact the King and tell him about this.”

“No, wait. Let me speak to him tomorrow in person. By then I’ll have more information and a better idea of the threat and I can give him a detailed plan. If we tell him now, he’ll pull the plug and stop Lucía from going on her trip.”

“And rightly so. She’s in real danger.”

Reaper knew Bás was right, but he also knew how stubborn Lucía was and how upset she’d be not to go, and he wanted to find a way for her to get what she wanted. “I know, but if he pulls the plug, it still doesn’t guarantee her safety. Very few people know who she is in the outside world, which means it’s someone close to her.”

“You have twenty-four hours to tell him or I’ll call him myself.”

“That’s all I need. Just find out everything you can, Watchdog.”

“On it like a car bonnet.”

Reaper smiled knowing Watchdog was already working, his brain was so much quicker than anyone else he knew.

Bás came back on the line. “You’re off speaker. Do you need backup?”

“No, this village is as safe as houses. They adore her so nobody gets past them. Plus all the residents passed every single background check we ran and so did their family members. We fly to the Palace tomorrow, and she’ll have the Palace Guard as added security.”

“We don’t know if we can trust them.”

“I know. Which is why I’ll be stuck to her like glue. Our cover helps but not inside the Palace where the fake identities don’t work.”

“How will you ensure she stays safe?”

“Come on, Bás. You know better than to ask that but rest assured where she goes, I go. Inside and outside the Palace grounds.”

“If the King catches you in her room, he’ll cut your balls off.”

“Maybe, maybe not. If he understands the threat could be internal, he might approve it.”

“Or I could send Duchess over to help or perhaps Valentina? She’d blend in with the other guests and would be an easier sell for the King.”

Reaper wanted to refuse. He wanted to be the one protecting Lucía, but he knew that was stupid and this was a better option. “Good idea. Valentina would be perfect. Get the King to approve it and I’ll give him the details tomorrow when we arrive.”

“Talk soon.”

Bás hung up and Reaper left the laptop running as the mouse moved around the screen while Watchdog did his thing. Movement from the corner of the room caught his eye and he glanced up to see Lucía watching him from the hallway that led to the bedrooms.

“Thank you.”

Reaper stood and walked closer being careful to keep some space between them so he didn’t give into the urge to pull her into his arms. “What for?”

“For fighting in my corner.”

Reaper shrugged. “I just don’t want people making gut-punch reactions.”

“Well, I appreciate it anyway.”