Royal Target

by Traci Hunter Abramson

  Eduard opened his mouth and then quickly shut it again. He rubbed a hand over his face before looking at her once more. “Daughter-in-law? It was supposed to be a fictional engagement. I don’t know what Garrett is thinking—joining another church, falling for an American spy. He has lost all touch with reality.” Eduard shook his head in frustration. “Do you realize that this will change the very fabric of the royal family?”

  “I know.” Marta reached for his hand and continued. “I’m not any happier about this than you are, but I don’t think he’s going to change his mind. With or without our approval, he’s going to be Mormon tomorrow afternoon.”

  Eduard pushed out of his chair and stalked to the window. He stared blankly into the darkness before turning back to his wife. “You really think he would choose this church over his own family?”

  “He doesn’t want to make that choice, but yes, I think he would.” Marta sighed. “Especially now that Janessa is tied to his decision.”

  “How long do you think Janessa will stick around if we cut him off?” Eduard considered. “Once she sees Garrett lose his wealth and position, surely her interest will fade. Perhaps that’s what Garrett needs to make him come to his senses.”

  “Eduard, we both know better.” Marta stood and closed the distance between them. “Even with her foreign upbringing, I thoroughly approve of her for our son. I’ve taken note of her tastes and her personality, and I believe she is just the sort of woman Garrett needs, the perfect princess. She’s not the sort to be interested in him for his money or his title. If she were, she would never encourage him in this.”

  His eyes narrowed. “Maybe it’s time we find out for sure.”

  * * *

  King Eduard didn’t believe in wasting time. He was also accustomed to getting what he wanted. Though it was barely seven o’clock in the morning, he instructed his secretary to send for Janessa. He settled into his chair and glanced at his schedule. As usual, it was full from eight in the morning until well past business hours.

  Expecting that Janessa would take her time in answering such an early morning summons, he flipped open the file containing her most recent security reports. He had already read the report about the bomb that had been intended for his son, and he was fully aware that Janessa had nearly died helping disarm it. That last tidbit of information had not come from Janessa’s report but rather from the injured security guard.

  The knock at the door surprised him. He glanced at his watch to see that less than five minutes had passed since his secretary had called Janessa. “Come in.”

  She pushed the door open and stepped inside. “Good morning, Your Majesty.” Janessa dipped into a curtsey before continuing. “You asked to see me?”

  “Yes.” Eduard motioned for her to sit down as he studied the petite woman in front of him. This woman had saved his son’s life, but now her mere presence threatened to unravel generations of tradition and heritage. “I wanted to speak to you privately before I discuss my decision with my son.”

  Janessa took the seat he indicated and fiddled with a ring on her right pinkie. “With all due respect, Your Majesty, I have nothing to do with Garrett’s baptism.”

  “I disagree.” Eduard kept his voice mild, his expression bland. “He said himself that your presence gave him the courage to go through with this baptism.”

  Janessa’s chin tilted up a fraction. “And he told me that he was planning on discussing this decision with you the day of the embassy bombing.”

  Eduard considered her answer and decided to push a different button. “I have it from reputable sources that you and he are pursuing a relationship beyond the requirements of your assignment.”

  Heat stung Janessa’s cheeks. “My relationship with Garrett has nothing to do with his decision.”

  “You have been here long enough to appreciate the lifestyle my son has been born into.” He waved his hand to encompass the palace. “I can’t believe he won’t at some point regret his decision and resent your part in it. And if I disown him today—strip him of his wealth and title—what will be your response?” Eduard pushed on.

  Janessa took a sharp intake of breath and remained speechless for several moments. Then she cleared her throat and spoke calmly and professionally, surprising them both. “First, I would urge you to provide him with adequate security to ensure his protection if he is not permitted to stay at the chateau until the gala. Second, I would ask that you allow me to complete my assignment here. I have no interest in seeing any of you hurt, regardless of any decision you make.”

  Eduard considered her words, tapping his fingers on the report in front of him. “You surprise me.”

  “You may not know me well or feel particularly fond of me right now, but I hope you love Garrett enough to make sure he is safe regardless of whatever decision you make. He wants to remain an active member of this family, but if you force him to choose, ultimately the choice is his and his alone.” Janessa stood. “Now, if you will excuse me, I have some work to attend to.”

  Eduard nodded his assent and watched her leave the room. His wife had been right, as usual. Not only was this woman in love with his son, but she would be a wonderful addition to the royal family—if only he could ignore the issue of religion. With a sigh, he picked up his phone and dialed the number for his private quarters. He and his wife had some major decisions to make.

  Chapter 25

  Janessa sat beside Garrett in the back seat of the limousine as they headed for the groundbreaking. Garrett’s parents had yet to speak to him today, and Janessa’s heart ached as she thought of her conversation with his father that morning, a conversation Garrett still knew nothing about.

  “You’re awfully quiet this morning.” Garrett pressed the button to raise the window between them and the driver. As it slid into place, he asked, “Is everything okay?”

  Janessa let out a sigh. She couldn’t keep this from him. After all, he had a right to know where his father stood before it was too late. “I spoke with your father.”

  “What?” Garrett shifted so he could see her more clearly. “When?”

  “He sent for me first thing this morning.” Janessa laid her hand on his. “Garrett, he asked what I would do if he disowned you.”

  “What?” Garrett’s hand fisted beneath hers, and his eyes darkened.

  “He basically wanted to know if I would stick around if you lost your money and your title.”

  Garrett let out a sigh of frustration, but his eyes stayed locked on hers. “What did you say?”

  “I told him that my biggest concern is for your safety and the safety of your family.” Janessa’s voice softened as she added, “I’ll understand if you want to put off your decision. You don’t have to get baptized today.”

  Garrett drew his hand away. “Is that what you think I should do?”

  “Garrett, it’s your decision to make, not mine,” Janessa insisted, her voice taking on an edge. “Which is something I pointed out to your father.” In a rare show of impatience, Janessa dragged her hand through her hair. “I love you, Garrett. I just don’t want you to resent me a year or two down the road when you realize how much you gave up to be a member of the Church.” She let out a sigh. “You have to make this decision for you, not for me.”

  His eyes softened, and he reached for her hand once more. “I’m making this decision for both of us, but if you weren’t here, I would still make it for myself.”

  “Even if it meant losing your family, maybe even your country?”

  Garrett nodded somberly. “Even then.”

  * * *

  The site for the new temple was twenty miles inland. It would

  sit up on a hill, overlooking the main road leading to it as well as

  the Mediterranean Sea in the distance. When Garrett and Janessa arrived, a crowd of Church members was already gathering around the groundbreaking site. Several photographers and reporters were also in attendance.

  Though a security sweep had already tak
en place, Garrett’s bodyguards checked the area a second time before one of them opened the door. Garrett’s automatic smile widened when he saw Tim standing outside of the vehicle.

  “It’s about time you got here.” Tim grinned as he accepted Garrett’s outstretched hand.

  “I’m here now.” Garrett returned his smile and turned to Janessa. “This is Tim O’Donnell, the friend I told you about from law school.”

  Janessa’s smile was warm and welcoming. She reached out and shook his hand. “I’m so glad to finally meet you.”

  “Me too,” Tim said, his eyes shifting back to Garrett. “So how did things go with your parents?”

  Garrett understood his meaning perfectly and shook his head. “As expected.”

  “Garrett, I’m sorry.” Tim laid a hand on his shoulder. “I really hoped they would understand.”

  “The jury’s still out as to the consequences. But let’s not worry about that right now.” Garrett motioned up the hill. “You said you wanted to meet your prophet. There’s no time like the present.”

  “You didn’t tell me the prophet was going to be here.” Janessa’s eyes widened as Garrett took her hand.

  Garrett leaned closer and spoke softly. “You didn’t ask.”

  “What was I thinking?” she said wryly and fell into step with him.

  Flanked by two bodyguards, Garrett expertly led them through the crowd and past the reporters for the brief ceremony. The prophet addressed those gathered, inspiring the members in this tiny country to appreciate the new opportunities the temple would bring them.

  As Garrett listened to the words spoken and considered his family’s reaction to his impending baptism, he could only wonder how much worse last night’s conversation would have gone if he had also disclosed his plans to marry Janessa in the temple, a building his family would not be permitted to enter.

  * * *

  “They might still show up,” Tim commented as Garrett glanced at the door for the fifth time in as many minutes.

  “I don’t think so.” Garrett took his seat on the cushioned chair in the front row.

  A minor act of deception had helped clear most of the guests from the building. To make it appear that they were leaving, Garrett and Janessa had moved to the back of the church building, and a few minutes later their limousine drove away as though they were inside. In reality, they had hidden in a classroom for a few minutes while they waited for the guests to leave.

  Only a handful of people still remained in the building, and all of them were now gathered in the small font room. To Garrett’s delight, the branch president had informed the prophet of Garrett’s impending baptism, and he had been able to stay to witness the event. Janessa sat on one side of Garrett and reached over to give his hand a comforting squeeze as the branch president stood up to conduct the meeting.

  The branch president offered a short talk about baptism and confirmation, after which Tim entered the baptismal font with Garrett. As he stepped into the water, Garrett’s mind raced with all of the possibilities and the many outcomes of this step he was seconds from taking. Then he glanced up and saw the prophet’s calm smile. His eyes then darted to Janessa and the tears glistening in her eyes.

  He closed his own eyes as Tim began the baptismal prayer. The moment he was submerged beneath the water, he felt a peace unlike any he had ever experienced. When he stood once again, he looked up to see Janessa smiling down at him.

  When it came time for Garrett to be confirmed a member of the Church, the Spirit filled the room as Tim laid his hands on Garrett’s head. The prayer he offered spoke of many things, including how Garrett would come to rely on the Holy Ghost as he helped lead his country in difficult times as well as in prosperity.

  Hope leapt in Garrett’s heart, and he prayed his father would allow him the opportunity. When the prayer concluded, Garrett looked up to see his mother and brother. Stefano’s eyes met his briefly before he reached for the doorknob and escorted their mother into the hall.

  A mixture of emotions rushed through him—disappointment that his father wasn’t present, surprise that the rest of the family had come, and, as he glanced at Janessa, hope for the future.

  Chapter 26

  “Where’s Tim?” Janessa stepped next to Garrett on the terrace as darkness settled over the village below.

  “The branch president gave him a ride to the chateau so he could settle in,” Garrett told her. “He wasn’t sure he wanted to be around my father quite yet.”

  “Does your father know Tim is the one who gave you the Book of Mormon?”

  “I don’t think so, but Tim didn’t want to take any chances.” Garrett shrugged. “He knows we’re returning tomorrow anyway.”

  “It’s great that Tim could come for your baptism,” Janessa commented, noticing the fatigue in his eyes. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m relieved that my father hasn’t kicked me out yet.” He tried to keep his voice lighthearted but couldn’t quite pull it off.

  “I think that’s a good sign,” Janessa agreed. “I imagine it will take him some time to come to terms with your decision.”

  Garrett nodded as he looked out over the water. “I wish my family could understand what it was like when I was confirmed a member of the Church. I had the most incredible feeling.”

  “The Spirit in the room was very strong,” Janessa said as she laid a hand on his arm.

  “Yes, but it wasn’t only that.” Garrett turned now to face her. “When Tim spoke of my service to my country, I felt this new sense of obligation, like it’s my responsibility to protect Meridia from the world.”

  “You’ve always had that responsibility.”

  “Not like this.” He shook his head. “I wasn’t born to rule, nor have I ever had the desire to be king. In that moment though, I felt like the fate of Meridia was in my hands—not my father’s hands, not Stefano’s, but mine.” Garrett glanced back at the palace.

  “Perhaps it is.” Janessa reached for his hand. “You have a gift now that they don’t have. Maybe you felt that impression because there will be times when the Lord will direct you in a way that isn’t what your father or brother would choose.”

  Garrett sighed. “I didn’t expect to feel this weight.”

  “All I can tell you is to pray about it,” Janessa suggested. “If there is something you are meant to do, the Lord will help you know what it is.”

  Nodding, Garrett turned to look over the Mediterranean Sea once again. He stared for a moment before he realized what he was staring at. “Do you see that?”

  “What?”

  “Is that a boat down there?” Garrett pointed to a dark spot in the water midway between two of the port authority posts. “It’s running dark.”

  Janessa struggled to see the faint wake in the moonlight. “Do you think it’s smugglers?”

  “Why else would a boat be out there without lights on?”

  “I’ll get a phone,” Janessa said, quickly turning to go inside. A moment later she returned with Stefano, who held a cordless phone to his ear.

  Stefano passed the phone to Garrett. “The port authority is already on the line.”

  Garrett took the phone and gave the port authority the location of the boat headed out to sea. From where they stood, he could see a government vessel move to intercept and a second port authority boat take up the chase.

  “It’s trying to get away.” Garrett handed the phone back to Stefano and headed for the palace. “I’m going down there.”

  “I’m coming with you.” Janessa started after him.

  “Wait.” Garrett slowed for a moment. “I need you to get a message to your navy. Our latest reports showed one of your destroyers right outside our territorial waters. We may need it to help us.”

  Janessa sighed, reaching for the phone Stefano held out to her. “At least take your cell phone with you so we can get in touch with you.”

  “I have it.” Garrett nodded and turned toward the garage.

 
“I’ll come with you,” Stefano told him.

  Janessa headed for her room to retrieve her phone directory. She made the call to the local fleet commander and was surprised when she met resistance.

  “I’m sorry, miss, but I’m not authorized to divert a US vessel into Meridian waters without permission from the Meridian government.”

  “I am calling you at the request of Prince Garrett of Meridia,” Janessa told him. “I was assured that our military would help Meridia in any way possible.”

  “This sounds like an internal matter,” the commander returned.

  “This boat may be involved with the embassy bombing,” Janessa told him, shifting tactics. “We can’t afford to let it get away.”

  “I’ll have to call Washington for authorization.”

  “There’s no time for that,” Janessa insisted, her mind whirling. “What if the king of Meridia were to request your help directly? Would that give you the authorization you need?”

  “Well, I guess it would.”

  “Just a minute.” Janessa strode down the hall to King Eduard’s office and rapped on the door. The king opened it a moment later, surprise lighting his eyes.

  “Your Majesty, would you please tell the US Navy fleet commander that he has authorization to enter your waters in pursuit of a suspected smuggler?”

  King Eduard’s eyebrows rose at her request, but he reached for the phone and waved Janessa into his office. When he spoke, his tone was commanding and authoritative. “This is King Eduard Fortier of Meridia. To whom am I speaking?”

  Janessa sighed in relief as the commander gave his name and rank to King Eduard.

  “Commander, you were just speaking with Janessa Rogers, my son’s fiancée. I would appreciate it if you would note that any request from her is to be treated as a request from the royal family of Meridia.”

  Janessa’s jaw dropped as he continued.

  “Now, are you able to assist us in this matter?” King Eduard listened to the commander go through standard procedure. With a sigh, the king moved to unlock a drawer in his desk and then rattled off an authorization code to verify that he was indeed the king of Meridia. Once the verification process was complete, he nodded. “Good. Now I’ll give you back to Miss Rogers.”