“I’ll be all right. Once we’re back in the palace tonight, we’ll all sleep better.”
“Still, though. Have a seat and let me do a quick checkup.”
Alex reluctantly went into an empty room sat down on the pristine bed while the doctor did some poking and prodding. “How are Rebecca’s parents doing?”
“Just fine,” the doctor said as she took Alex’s blood pressure. “They’re being officially discharged as we speak, then they’ll be over to see Rebecca. Your blood pressure’s a little high.”
“That’s hardly surprising.”
“Perhaps. I’d like to see it monitored, however.”
“I’ll let the doctors at the palace know.”
She smiled. “Lovely. Then I’ll just send them the notes from our checkup so they’re aware of what I recorded just now.”
Alex cursed silently. He’d hoped to avoid seeing them, but now there was nothing for it. “An excellent idea,” he said, barely missing a beat.
“I’m going to examine Rebecca. You’re welcome to the coffee and pastries we’ve got in the waiting room.”
“Thank you,” Alex said as they walked out. Alex watched as she disappeared into Rebecca’s room before heading back to the waiting room. He was startled to find Marcello there, as well as Tavin. Anger bit through him, hot and sharp, at the sight of his chief of staff.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Alex said as he strode up to Tavin.
“Just a minute, Alex,” Marcello said as he stepped between them. He noticed the security agents move towards them and Marcello simply shook his head; they returned to their posts.
“Please, Your Highness,” Tavin said as he clasped his hands together tightly. “I just wanted to see how Rebecca was doing and apologize.”
Alex took a deep breath. Rebecca did not need any more violence in her life, and that was the only thing keeping him from destroying Tavin as thoroughly as he had destroyed Rebecca’s captor last night. “I don’t know if she’ll want to see you. In any case, I don’t want you to see her.”
Tavin nodded. “I understand, sir. I take full responsibility. I’ll never forgive myself for what happened.”
Alex knew that Tavin did not know even half of what had happened. The press had merely reported that Rebecca had been kidnapped, not the details of it all. Still, he could not allow Tavin to take the full blame.
“You’re not completely responsible for what happened. Lafayette is dead. You are, however, liable in what happened.” Frustration broke through. “What the fuck were you thinking? Didn’t you even have your security agents vetted before they started working for you?”
“Yes, Sir, yes, I did,” Tavin spoke quickly.
“He did, Alex,” Marcello spoke quietly and some of the fight left Alex. “The truth is that Lafayette had a clean record before this. He’d been planning it for a long time, had been working his way up in personal security for years. Years, Alex. No one would have suspected it unless they knew how twisted he really was.”
“What about Gerald? He knew he had an illegitimate son and told no one?”
“Father had a very one-sided conversation with him last night, as did I and the security team that showed up on his doorstep this morning. He’ll never set foot in Valleria again.”
Alex sighed and collapsed into a chair, and put his head in his hands. Marcello dropped a hand on his shoulder.
“Let me get you some coffee and a bite to eat. You’ll need your strength for Rebecca,” Marcello said. Alex lifted his head and nodded.
After Marcello stepped to the other side of the waiting room, Alex gave Tavin a hard stare, who sat pin straight in a seat facing him, fear evident in his eyes. Tavin had been invaluable to him for several years now. He was an excellent chief of staff, and had been duped just as they had. That fact did not make it any easier to look at him.
Alex found himself thinking about what Rebecca would do in this situation. She was not just his heart, it seemed, she was also in his head now, too.
“I’m not going to fire you,” Alex said finally, after some more internal debate. “I should, but I won’t. You’ll go on probation for the next year, which means your security clearance will be remedial, at best. You’ll need to train someone else to handle the more serious situations.”
Tavin released a sigh of relief. “Yes, sir. I’ll start on that right away. Thank you, sir. That’s very fair.”
“Well, I have no doubt the press will, unfortunately, vilify you enough. We’ll see how the year progresses and reexamine things at that time.”
Tavin nodded just as Marcello returned. Alex took the coffee and pastry and asked, “What about the other kidnapper? What’s happened to him?”
“He’s in prison, awake, and doing well physically. He was just a pawn in the whole scheme. Another distant relation he’d recruited for this.”
“I didn’t recognize him.”
“Neither did I. He’s technically a cousin, many times removed. I’ve already questioned him and confirmed that there was no one else involved. Apparently, Lafayette wanted to recruit others but when an opportunity came up to insinuate himself into Tavin’s security, he just decided to proceed with his plan.”
Tavin shifted uncomfortably in his seat as Marcello continued. “When Lafayette picked up on you and Rebecca, then he started to make his move.” Marcello paused. “I’ll need to talk to Rebecca, get her statement.”
“No,” Alex said simply before he took a sip of coffee.
“It’s not up for debate, Alex. It needs to be done.” When Alex’s eyes narrowed, Marcello said, “We don’t have to do it right now but, believe me, it’s always harder the longer you wait. The sooner she gets it out, the better off she’ll be.”
Alex frowned. He knew from his own military experience that what Marcello said was true. It did not make it any easier for him to accept it, though. “I’m staying in the room with her.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea? She’ll need you there for comfort, not anger, Alex.”
Alex put down his coffee and stood up. “I can be calm.”
“This is you ‘calm’, is it?” Marcello mused.
Alex cursed under his breath and Marcello laughed. “You do have it bad, don’t you?”
“A man should have it bad when he’s going to get married.”
“Married, Sir? Oh, congratulations! Such wonderful news,” Tavin said, genuinely pleased.
Alex turned his scowl into a half-smile. “Thank you, Tavin. All right,” he said as he faced Marcello. “Let me see if she’s up to it now. She may want her parents there, too. They should be released soon.”
Marcello nodded and they began walking back to the room.
“How are you doing?” Alex asked him.
“Pissed off. It’s my job to take care of security, for our family and our country, and I let everyone down.”
“Marcello,” Alex started but Marcello held up a hand to silence him.
“There’s no use denying it. This whole situation was one security breach after another, one disaster after another. They’ll try to throw me off the Royal Council for this.”
“They’ll never get anywhere. Papa and I won’t allow it.”
“You may not be able to stop it. This isn’t just a damn video, Alex.”
Alex took Marcello’s arm, causing them both to stop and face each other. “What happened was terrible, but it’s an opportunity, not a defeat.”
“Are you deluded? Maybe we should have the doctor examine your head.”
“Use this,” Alex said, ignoring his comment. “Tell the Council you can’t do your job effectively with the funds you have, and the staff you have. Use this to get what you need. I can tell you right now, Papa and I will never settle for anyone less than you as the Minister of Security and Defense. If you don’t want that role, then that’s another story.”
“I do want it.”
“Then it’s settled. Spin this. Use this. Turn this godforsaken situation i
nto something positive.”
“I will, Alex. Thanks for the advice.”
Alex brought Marcello in for a fierce hug; Alex knew he would never have made it through the last few days without him. When he pulled away he kissed both of his cheeks, a Vallerian sign of love and greeting.
“How are you doing with everything else?” Alex asked; it was never easy to take a life, as Marcello had done last night.
“All right,” Marcello said with a shrug as they continued walking down the hall. “You know how it is.”
Alex did, and all too well. He could never forget the lives he had taken in the name of war. It was why he had switched to doing rescue missions during the latter part of his military service. He preferred to help, though he knew that sometimes hurting others was necessary.
It was a fine line for a leader to walk.
“It never gets easier, does it?” Alex asked.
“No,” Marcello said with a sigh. “I hope to God it never does.”
They approached the room just as the doctor walked out. “She’s doing fine,” she said. “She just needs to rest for the next week or so. Have the royal doctors check her at least once a day, all right?”
Alex nodded and shook her hand. “Thank you, Doctor.”
“My pleasure. She’s a lovely woman. She’ll need to stay a few more hours, but I’ll go ahead and get her discharge papers sorted so they’re ready to go.”
Alex knocked, then slowly entered the room. “Darling? Marcello’s here.”
“It’s all right. You can both come in,” Rebecca said.
When Alex walked in, he felt his chest lurch again at the sight of her battered form. She sported several new crisp, white bandages, and an IV hung and drained into her slim arm. With a smile on her face, however, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
He walked over and kissed her forehead as he took her hand in his. “Marcello wanted to take your statement. Do you feel up to it?”
Her smile turned into a slight frown and he felt as though the light in the room had grown dimmer somehow. “I want my parents to be here with me. I’d rather they didn’t hear it all, but they’ll ask me anyway. I’d rather only say it once.”
He kissed her forehead again. “They should be here soon. Did you like your smoothie?” he asked, spying the large drink on a side table.
“It’s lovely, and very large. I couldn’t finish it all at once. It must have a thousand calories in it.”
“You can finish it later,” Alex said; he would ensure she did.
“You’ll need the energy,” Marcello said as he sat on the empty bed nearby. “Especially if you’re going to make it through a family dinner. Hell, I might need one of those, too.”
Rebecca laughed, then winced at the pain on her mouth. “I’m looking forward to meeting everyone.”
“Liar,” Marcello said and earned a warning glance from Alex and an amused one from Rebecca. “You’re terrified of meeting everyone. That’s okay. I’m terrified of most of them on a daily basis.”
“I never had a large family. I’m worried about saying or doing the wrong thing,” she admitted.
Marcello waved a hand in the air while shaking his head. “I wouldn’t worry about that. The thing you’ve got to remember about large families is that we all love each other, we all tease each other, and we all would do anything to help one another. Remember that, and you’ll do just fine.”
She leaned over and took his hand. “Thanks, Marcello.”
Marcello kissed her hand. “Anytime, my almost sister. Anytime.”
***
When they finally arrived at the palace that afternoon, all Rebecca wanted was a nap. The rest of the morning had been a draining one as she had recalled the events of her capture. Her parents had wanted to stay in the room with her as she recounted everything, and she knew it had been particularly hard for her father and Alex to hear all the terrible details. At one point, she had just closed her eyes and held onto her mother, unable to see the anguish in their faces anymore or feel the burning mortification on her own cheeks.
Her parents had wanted Rebecca to stay with them at their house, which had been put to rights again, but Alex had insisted that Rebecca stay at the palace again. With the royal doctors on call and a bevy of staff to help her, it was hard for her parents to disagree with the idea.
Instead of the guest suite, however, this time Alex took her to his royal apartment.
“It wouldn’t look right for me to stay here, Alex,” she said as they entered the suite.
“I spent the entire night in your bed at the hospital, darling. I think we’ve been found out,” he said with a smile.
She sighed. “That was different.”
He took both of her hands and brought each to his lips for a gentle kiss. “If you think that I’m going to be able to sleep a single night without you by my side, you’re sorely mistaken. You’re moving in with me, and that’s final.”
“Excuse me?” Rebecca said, feigning anger to make a point, even while her heart wanted the same thing he did. She removed her hands from his grasp. “Is this how you expect married life to be? You blindly making orders without consulting me first?”
“You don’t have an apartment. It’s the most logical choice.”
“Thank you for reminding me that all my possessions have been destroyed. That did wonders for my morale,” she said and began limping away with her head held high. From the corner of her eye, she was pleased to see a look on confusion cross his face.
“Rebecca, I didn’t mean it like that,” he said as he almost reached out for her but stopped himself.
She slid on a controlled face and turned towards him. “Oh? How did you mean it, then?” She crossed her arms over her chest and the borrowed clothes she wore.
“I just meant, that, well. Oh, hell,” he said and sat grumpily down in a chair.
Rebecca bit back the smile and limped over to him. She lifted his chin with her hand and said, “You don’t make any decisions about our lives together unilaterally. Understand?”
Alex nodded and took her hand in his. “I’m sorry. I promise, truly promise that I won’t do that anymore. Do you forgive me?”
“Yes,” she said easily. “If you want something, you need to learn how to ask for it. Don’t just assume things, or take what you want to get your way, not with me. It’s as good as lying to me. Total honesty,” she reminded him.
He pulled her into his lap and rested his forehead against hers. “Total honesty,” he agreed. “I promise.”
She tenderly brushed her lips across his cheek and his eyes closed. “I love how your lips feel against my skin.”
“I don’t mind how your lips feel either,” she said with a small smile.
“I hate not being able to kiss you, darling.”
“You can kiss me, everywhere but here,” she said pointing to her lips.
“In that case,” he said as he lifted her in his arms and began carrying her.
“And just where are we going?”
“I’m going to give you a bath. The doctor left me with some very strict instructions.”
“Oh, she did, did she?”
“Oh, yes. I’m afraid I’m going to wash you quite thoroughly.”
Rebecca sighed and shuddered. She had wanted a shower ever since she had left that terrible warehouse. “Right now, I don’t know if I’ll ever feel clean again,” she said honestly.
He paused in his stride and held her tight against him for a long minute. She felt something in her unwind and some of the tension release, just because he was holding her. How did he do that? Or what that love that did that? She wasn’t sure.
He kissed her temple and said, “Oh, my love. Let me take care of you.”
She nestled her head against his shoulder. “All right. If you insist.”
When they got to the bathroom, he gently set her on her feet, and began to remove her clothes. Though the scene should have been erotic, all she was looking forward t
o was the bath.
After he filled the tub, he gently removed her bandages, which would need changing soon anyway. Then he began to remove his own clothes and Rebecca gave him a long look.
“Just what do you think you’re doing?”
“Joining you,” he said as he removed his boxers and stood naked and semi-erect in front of her.
“I hope you don’t think you’re going to get anywhere with that,” she said glancing at him down below.
He smiled broadly. “Not today anyway. Come on,” he said as he stepped into the fragrant steam and held out his hands to help her.
Alexander & Rebecca (Royals of Valleria #1) Page 23
