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He looked around the table again, and his gaze ended up on Angelina’s face. “Do not forget the cameramen were not the only ones involved. Lieutenant Sasha Tcholek, who was trusted to guard the queen and was then transferred to guard the crown prince, was part of the conspiracy.”
She knew—all Zakhar knew—the king loved his wife. But even though she’d been a witness on occasion to intimate moments between the king and the queen she guarded, even though she knew their devotion to each other, seeing the king like this startled her. And—she caught her breath at the realization—it made her think of Alec. Alec, who’d been angry on her behalf. Alec, who she sensed could be just as ruthless as the king.
She quickly pushed thoughts of Alec to one side, because the king was speaking again. “I want three things,” he told them, his tone reminding those gathered around the conference table he was one of the last absolute monarchs on earth—at the Zakharians’ insistence. “First, I want further interrogation of the prisoner with the aim of learning the entire truth behind the assassination attempt. Second, I want an investigation into the backgrounds of both would-be assassins. Find the connection between them, my cousin, Lieutenant Tcholek and whoever else is involved. Do the same for Lieutenant Tcholek.”
He paused, poured water from the carafe in front of him into a glass and took a sip. “Third, I want a complete investigation of every man on the crown prince’s security detail. The same goes for the queen’s security detail.” He paused, and added softly, “And mine. We are fortunate Lieutenant Mateja was quick-witted enough to take Tcholek down, but we cannot rely on her every time. No stone unturned, is that understood? What nearly happened never happens again.”
The chorus of assent seemed to please the king, and he stood. “Thank you, gentlemen. You are dismissed.” Everyone rose and headed for the door, Angelina among them, but the king called out, “Captain Zale. Lieutenant Mateja. A moment, please. No, Zax,” he told his cousin. “You stay too, please.”
The king waited until only the four of them remained and then ordered, “Shut the door, please.”
Angelina obeyed, wondering what this was all about. She didn’t have long to wonder. “It has come to my attention, Captain, there still exists doubt and suspicion in some quarters regarding Lieutenant Mateja’s actions on Sunday.” Captain Zale shot a sharp glance at Angelina. “No, Captain. Lieutenant Mateja has said nothing to me. Nor did she say anything to the queen. Admirable, perhaps, on her part. She is completely loyal to you. But know this. Of every man on the security details, including my own, the only officers above suspicion in my mind at this moment are Lieutenant Mateja and Colonel Marianescu,” he said, using his cousin’s military title. “Lieutenant Mateja will be investigated—as every officer will be investigated—but that is a formality, Captain. Keep that in mind. You are dismissed.”
When Angelina turned to follow Colonel Marianescu and Captain Zale from the room, the king stopped her. “One more moment, Lieutenant, if you please.”
When they were alone, the king said, “Something else has come to my attention, Lieutenant, regarding the killing of Lieutenant Tcholek.”
“Yes, Sire?”
“You did what you had to do, Lieutenant.” His voice was soft but seriously intent. “You are a fighting man—a woman, yes, but a fighting man nevertheless. You cannot let this killing weigh on your conscience. Nor the death of the other man. These things happened, and you must live with them. Take solace that they deserved to die, although not, perhaps, by your hand. But you cannot second-guess yourself. Not now. Not ever.”
Suddenly Angelina knew the source of the king’s information. Alec, a little voice whispered in her mind. Alec talked to the king again.
The king wasn’t finished. “For a fighting man, instinct is everything. Reflexes rely on instinct. If you doubt yourself, doubt your instincts, this could be fatal. To you and the person you are guarding. You cannot afford to doubt. I have entrusted the most precious thing in my world to you, but I must know you are able to put the killing behind you and move forward with the same certainty of purpose you had before. You may be called upon to kill again someday in the line of duty. I must know you will not hesitate...if necessary.”
Angelina stiffened. “Yes, Sire.”
The king assessed her in that disconcerting way he had. “Good,” he said finally. “Very good.” He smiled his faint smile. “And Lieutenant, for what it is worth, I would have done exactly what you did under the circumstances. No more, no less. Exactly what you did.”
