Page 18 of Royal Salvation

“I trust you and my daughter are getting along better now?”

“We are, sir, and I apologised to her and now you if my behaviour was out of line. It was never my intention to upset the Princess.”

“I’m sure. Now, I assume you’re not here to discuss incidentals. So, tell me what is on your mind.”

Reaper liked the directness and respected a man who could cut to the chase. “Yesterday the Princess received an email to her work account containing a video of a man being beheaded. The killers, three men who we’re trying to identify, threatened her to stay away and addressed her by her royal title.”

The King stood and walked so he was behind the chair, leaning on it slightly as he did. “Is she okay?”

“She was shaken but she’s a strong woman and if I may say so, stubborn. She won’t allow us to stop her plans and I fear doing so won’t help in any case.”

“Why not? Surely if she were to come home she’d be safe.”

Reaper knew this could go down very badly but he had to be honest, he knew no other way. “Permission to speak freely?”

“Of course, I have enough sycophants. I don’t need one protecting Lucía too.”

Reaper smothered a smile at the King’s response. “The men knew her title, which means they knew who she was. As far as I’m aware there are only a handful of people who know that Lucía is Carla Cassidy, war photographer. Which means the leak came from inside the Palace. Apart from that, the security here isn’t up to par, I hate to say it, but I don’t believe she’s safe here, so much so that Bás and another female operative have flown over. Although Felix won’t let them through the gate.”

“You believe she’s in danger here?”

“I do.”

“I’ll have Felix escort Bás and the other person inside personally and apologise to them, but I fear he was just being overprotective. He can be a bit much sometimes.”

Reaper could hardly contain his anger as he remembered the way he’d spoken to her at the airport. “He’s more than that. He’s rude and disrespectful to your daughter.”

The King’s jaw clenched, and he could tell he wasn’t happy, but Reaper didn’t care, he needed to know. “He addresses her by her given name, talks down to her, and won’t allow her personal guard inside the house, decreeing that the household guard handle it. That’s not good enough for her. She may only be the ‘spare to the heir’ as he calls her, but she’s a human being who deserves respect from him.”

“Why has Lucía never mentioned this to me?”

“You’d need to speak with her and ask her yourself, but her sister is aware of the situation.”

“I’ll speak to my head of security about this and make sure you’re allowed inside with her at all times, but I must insist that you not enter her bed chambers.”

Reaper didn’t rate his head of security for shit but held his tongue. He’d got away with everything so far and pushing his luck with a man such as this would never work. “Of course. Which is why I’ve asked for a female operative. Valentina will stay by the Princess’s side when I can’t.”

“What about the rest of the household? Do you believe the threat is just against Lucía?”

“I do. I think it stems back to her work and perhaps something she’s seen, or they’re afraid of what she may uncover. She’s an excellent and talented woman and may know something these people don’t want exposed. That said, I think it’s prudent for everyone to increase their security for the time being until these people are caught and the leak found and plugged.”

“Do we know anything about these people?”

“We believe they’re white males, with military training, most likely special ops, and have seen combat. Other than that we have very little, but we’re searching through every thread we can to expose them.”

“And Lucía? She’s aware of all of this?”

“She is. As I said, she’s a strong, intelligent woman and I think honesty is the best way for her to handle things.”

“You seem to have got the measure of my daughter in a very short period of time, Mr Carson.”

Was that suspicion in the King’s tone or was it his own guilt at the feeling of lust and desire he felt for the Princess? “It’s my job to read people. She’s easy to read as she wears her heart on her sleeve.”

“Really? Most say she’s a closed book, but you seem to have seen a different person than she shows to others outside her family.”

“On the contrary, she’s warm and friendly to those in her village and is loved by them all.”

“She’s safe there? I worry about her being all alone and far away but as you’ve most likely seen, she’s stubborn and independent.”