Page 24 of Palace of Betrayal

Bebe shook her head. “No, we stick with the plan. Whoever it is won’t make a move on you or the King straight away. If three members of the Royal family die, it brings too much outside focus to the Kingdom and an investigation would take place.”

Leo considered this and slowly nodded; she was right.

“Of course, we could be off, and Alwyn isn’t involved. It could be someone blackmailing the King.”

“What? No!” Leo stood fast, knocking the chair backwards as he paced the space, his hands tugging at his hair to try and ground his temper.

“Hear me out. If someone found out something about your father, such as his affair or something else, then he’d want it kept a secret. If he thinks the person only wants the stone, would he sacrifice it to save you from embarrassment?”

Leo stopped, his heart pounding hard in his chest. He knew what she was saying could be true and he hated it. His father loved him and had never made it a secret that he’d always try and protect him. Leo always put it down to guilt, but he saw now that was harsh. “So, as of this second, we don’t know who or when or where, just what.”

“Well, we don’t know that either until I can speak with my contact. I have a call scheduled for tonight.”

“Right. Let’s go to the Marina and see what we can find.”

Bebe stood and sashayed back inside, and he knew the act was back on. The balcony had been cleared of bugs and she was checking twice a day for new plants, and her camera hadn’t caught anybody coming and going inside his apartment except for the cleaners, and they’d only done their jobs.

Leo followed her, his eyes on her ass, a grin on his face but it was forced as he thought of the risks and connotations if his family were involved in this.

* * *

Leo settled his aviators in place as he got out of the car. He’d driven his more sedate Audi Q7 to the Marina, not wanting as much fuss as the Ferrari would cause. He moved to the passenger’s door and opened it for Bebe, offering his hand as she exited. She looked sensational in white Capri pants and a yellow shirt tied at the waist. Wedged espadrilles on her feet gave her height and made her ass look amazing.

Taking her hand, he walked toward the dock where his yacht had been moored in the Royal slip. “I asked Hector, the Marina Manager, to meet us.”

“We should have someone look into him, too.”

Leo checked his black diver’s watch and dipped his head. “Agreed.”

Hector was waiting at the office when they arrived and he greeted first Leo and then Bebe, offering his condolences for Alain and his friends.

He and Bebe had agreed he’d take the lead. After all, she was there as his girlfriend, not an operator. “Thank you, Hector.”

“Please sit, sit.”

Leo waited for Bebe to sit in one of the office chairs before sitting beside her and taking her hand in his again. They needed to sell his complete adoration of her to anyone that could be involved. Her smile was genuine as she glanced at him.

“Would you like some water, tea, coffee?”

“No, thank you.”

Hector took a seat behind his desk, bracing his hands together, elbows on the table.

“Tell us what you have so far, Hector.”

It was no secret he’d been in the army, and he was familiar to his people, having made it his mission to be seen in the towns and villages. He eschewed a guard, knowing he was more deadly than any man on his security team and would likely spot a threat before they did. He kept them in place though, so the palace had extra cover. They were currently patrolling the grounds, ensuring none of the journalists surrounding the palace got close to the King. His involvement wouldn’t be unusual to anyone, they’d expect him to get involved.

“The bomb was professionally made and placed inside the engine room. It was set on a timer. Most likely so that the boat would be out to sea by the time it went off.”

This was the same information the police had given them. “Has the marina had any new faces of late? Any staff members, short mooring leases, that kind of thing?”

“We have a few summer hires to help with tourists day mooring their boats with us but all of them have been background checked and none are allowed near the Royal mooring.”

“Any issues with clients in the last few months?”

Hector shook his head, his face getting redder as he did. “No, nothing like that. I run a clean operation. My staff are happy, and every rule is adhered to completely. I take my job seriously, Your Highness.”

“I know, Hector. We’re just trying to make sense of it all.”