A Guiding Light_A Royal States Novel

by Susan Copperfield

  “Unfortunately,” the other agent muttered.

  “Isn’t there somewhere safer he could go?”

  I understood. To me, her safety trumped all, but I also understood if anything happened to her family because I was worried about my safety, I’d never forgive myself, and I doubted she’d forgive me either.

  Some risks were worth taking.

  Chapter Eleven

  It took longer than I liked, but I managed to convince everyone the best place for me was at my hotel. They needed the distraction, and I could provide it in a way no one else could.

  Once I was safely away and no one could link me to Veronica, a single call to Alfred Knoxwin would begin my plan. My job was simple. I would give them an hour warning of when I was making my move. They believed I meant to stir trouble and create a false rendezvous.

  Nothing about my rendezvous with North Dakota’s king would be false, which was why Peter took me aside and forced me to wear his bulletproof vest under my clothes. He promised he wouldn’t tell Veronica, Ian, or Zach in exchange for my promise I’d be careful and only do what was necessary.

  The vest wouldn’t save me from a bullet to the head, but my vital organs would be safe enough. That Peter worried I’d need the vest was enough to give me second thoughts about my plan, but I couldn’t afford to change my mind.

  Peter disguised the reason he pulled me aside by loaning me one of Ian’s leather coats, which fit surprisingly well. When we returned to the living room, Veronica looked me over and nodded her approval. “Be careful.”

  I smiled. Hoping she’d appreciate the gesture, I kissed her cheek. “I will. You’re the one who needs to be careful. You’re going to the castle. I’m just going to a hotel and making a phone call.”

  Making a show of it, Peter left the room and returned with a handgun, giving me a brief lesson on how to use it and made me swear I wouldn’t unless I was up close and personal with my target. My lesson came with a free slideshow of what happened to people when shot, including several disturbing images of the mangled ruins of feet when someone had been foolish enough to point their weapon too far down.

  If I had my way, I wouldn’t disengage the safety.

  To help cover my tracks and limit the possibility I’d be connected to Veronica or Ian, Peter dropped me off at Fargo’s largest mall, his dark SUV with tinted windows one of many. I even had a convenient excuse for a side trip: I needed a new phone.

  With it, I’d call Alfred Knoxwin and begin baiting him—and the king—into paying me a visit. That’s where my plan got murky, and Peter knew it.

  “I don’t know what you’re up to exactly, but stay in public, keep to where there are a lot of witnesses, and try not to antagonize anyone.”

  “Already planned on it,” I admitted.

  “Good. Give me a time frame so I can make sure we’re able to act.”

  “I’ll be placing my first call in about thirty minutes. I’ll text when I do it.”

  “Thirty minutes is enough time for us to get into position. What phone number is the best to reach you?”

  “Give me yours, and I’ll text you with it.”

  Peter handed me a business card and dropped me off at the curb.

  It took twenty minutes to replace my phones, and to be extra safe, I opened a third line, which I used to contact Peter. He texted me back with several Montana area codes so I’d know if someone from Montana was trying to get a hold of me. There was one place in the mall where any treachery might be witnessed: the food court.

  I had to wait ten minutes to get a seat in the busiest part of the open room, which made it ideal for my plans. If His Royal Majesty showed up, I’d have plenty of deterrents to keep him or his RPS agents from acting hastily. I’d also make use of a very potent weapon in my new arsenal.

  If I convinced the king to meet me in a public place, I’d tip the media off about the rendezvous. For better or worse, there’d be witnesses capable of turning a gathering at the food court into a distraction of royal size.

  I hoped it would be enough.

  To appease Veronica later, assuming I survived the potential meeting with His Royal Majesty of North Dakota, I grabbed a salad. To pretend I was actually happy about the rabbit food I needed to consume, I also bought myself a milkshake.

  When I compared them, I’d rather eat salad every day for the rest of my life than deal with Alfred Knoxwin and the problems he’d bring into my immediate future. Bracing for the worst, I dialed the man’s number.

  “Alfred speaking,” the king’s stock broker answered.

  “Adam Smith. Is your client still interested in talking business?”

  “Potentially.”

  “I’m preparing to send my proposals to the banks. I’ll be doing so within the next few minutes. This will begin the process of safeguarding North Dakota’s financial interests and sovereignty. I’m willing to discuss the transition process and plan to revive the economy, but I have a condition.”

  “What condition?”

  “You and your client need to meet me at the food court at West Acres.”

  “Which one?”

  I rolled my eyes at the oddity of two West Acres malls near Fargo. The one near the highway juncture boasted a lot of floor space and huge retail centers and even a museum, but the king had revived the downtown location, expanded it, and turned it into an even larger monstrosity. The pair of shopping centers drove most of the retail commerce in the kingdom, and they served as a popular tourist destination. “The downtown location. I’m doing errands here, so if he’s got some time now or later this afternoon, I’m available. After that, I’ll be leaving on a business trip, and it might be a while before I return to Fargo.”

  “Where will you be traveling?”

  “That’s personal business, Mr. Knoxwin.”

  “Can I call you back in a few minutes?”

  “Of course.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Smith.” Knoxwin hung up.

  I wondered if His Royal Majesty would pay me a personal visit. I expected the worst—he’d bring an entire retinue of his goons, resulting in my public execution.

  With the media underfoot, he might get me out of the way but he’d be starting a rebellion he wouldn’t be able to control, as I had zero intention of hiding who I was, who I’d been, or who I might become given a chance to settle down with Veronica.

  Our bond would be scrutinized by the court of public opinion, but I’d do a lot more than sacrifice my dignity and pride if it meant ending the king’s reign.

  If I emerged unscathed, I’d do a little better at thinking things through before acting. Sighing, I choked down my salad and contemplated going on a hunt for fries to enjoy with my milkshake—and get the taste of lettuce out of my mouth.

  My phone rang.

  “Smith,” I answered.

  “We can be there in twenty minutes.”

  Showtime. “I’ll see you in twenty minutes, then.” I hung up, and with my third phone, I texted Peter that there would be a distraction in twenty minutes, apologizing for the short notice. Then I went to work notifying every major news outlet I could in the area about the meeting in the mall and the unpleasant truth of who I was, why I’d bought so much of North Dakota, and what I planned to do about it.

  If hell broke loose, I wouldn’t be the only one to take the fall.

  Plans rarely worked the way I wanted.

  Prince Marshal, who had no business being part of the meeting, made his presence known by stealing my milkshake and sitting on the table beside my laptop. “You got suppressors. Cool. Full-strength ones?”

  At a sedate pace, His Royal Majesty of North Dakota approached my table. Alfred Knoxwin and four RPS agents trailed behind him. I sent Peter a text telling him Prince Marshal was with the king—and, unfortunately, with me—before silencing the phone and pocketing it. “They are,” I confirm.

  “Cool. What’s the final rating?”

  “I wasn’t paying that much attention while they were doing the e
valuation.” Having a heart attack made it difficult to check how many of the bracelets they used, and I was in no hurry to experiment and rediscover my limit. I sighed over the loss of my milkshake. “I was drinking that.”

  “You should be eating something healthier.”

  His Royal Majesty stepped closer and took the milkshake away from Prince Marshal, handing it to one of his agents, who escorted it to the nearest trash can. “How funny you should say that, Marshal.”

  “Dad,” the young prince complained.

  “Next time, ask before you take. Perhaps Mr. Smith didn’t want to share his germs with you.”

  “My nutritionist would’ve taken it away, too,” I said, focusing my attention on my laptop. “Mr. Knoxwin.”

  “Mr. Smith,” he replied. “Thank you for agreeing to see us.”

  “Have a seat. I expect you’d rather get this over with sooner than later, the same as me. I have to leave for a trip soon. As you have stocks over the threshold for shareholder notifications, you’ll be receiving a copy of the new regulations I’ve promised in the near future, but I thought you’d appreciate a preview of the changes being made and a chance to ask any questions.”

  The king sat across from me. “Very well. Tell me what you’re planning.”

  “The baseline percentage across all North Dakotan banks will be five percent, and this limitation will apply to family units and corporations. A couple and their minor dependent children can have a combined maximum of five percent. This is to prevent a familial takeover of the banking sector. Some details will need to be discussed and hammered out still, but it’s modeled after New York’s system, which has one of the most stable economies in the Royal States.”

  Veronica’s father frowned. “Go on.”

  “The real issue will be stimulating our economy during the transition. I’ve written in a clause allowing for the kingdom to acquire excess stocks owned by the royal family, so you can decide how to split your shares to remain at the maximum allowed limit.”

  “And your excess shares? What about those?”

  “I will gradually be selling my excess shares to raise market values. When my branch companies have transitioned down to the maximums, I will sell them to North Dakotan investors or donate them to charitable organizations. I’ve plans to offer several of these companies to universities to bolster our kingdom’s education system. I’ll also be offering them to school districts in poorer areas. I’m also considering hospitals as recipients of my excess shares.”

  “How altruistic of you,” he muttered.

  “It seemed the best for North Dakota’s interests. Obviously, I can’t keep the shares, nor can I sell them in bulk. I can’t guarantee that North Dakotans will purchase them. Ensuring the stocks remain in North Dakota is my current top priority.”

  “You could sell them to the royal family,” His Royal Majesty replied.

  “Spreading the shares strengthens the entirety of North Dakota.”

  “My advisors have offered similar advice. You’ve grown in more than inches, I see. I find myself quite vexed. How should I deal with you?”

  It hadn’t taken him long to decide I needed to be dealt with. It shouldn’t have surprised me, but it did. If he wanted to tango, I’d tango with him, and I’d open with the truth. “It seems simple enough to me, Your Majesty. I marry Veronica, you rule until Veronica inherits the crown, and I handle restoring our kingdom’s economy. Financial investments have been my focus for eighteen years.”

  “And you’ve been working in construction.”

  “I enjoy building things.” It was the truth, too. I expected I’d build things because I could, ensuring Veronica’s patience would be sorely tested.

  “I’ve underestimated you, Adam.” The king’s gaze locked onto my pair of suppressor bracelets. “What’s your rank?”

  “I’m a concentrated leech, and I’ve been categorized as an elite. It seems I’ve inherited other talents, but my leeching talent is so strong I need an attuned set of suppressors before I can undergo additional evaluations.” I shrugged. “My previous physician was pushing for nullification, but it seems North Dakota doesn’t have a strong enough nullifier, so I have these instead.”

  “Interesting. So. It’s come to this, has it?”

  “It depends on what you mean by ‘this,’ Your Majesty.”

  “You’re after my crown.”

  I couldn’t help it; I laughed. “Not at all, Your Majesty. I’m after your daughter. To be blunt, I don’t give a damn about your crown. Everything I’ve become has been for her. If this was about your crown, I’d just leave the kingdom. This isn’t about your crown. It’s about your daughter. I love her. I always have, and I always will. Do what you want with your crown. Your daughter, however, I will fight for until my dying breath.”

  “It only took you eighteen years to get around to committing to the cause.”

  “Maybe I needed to prove I could become something when I was nothing. I have. She loves her kingdom, so I bought it for her. Because she loves her kingdom, I will do what’s best for it, and that means protecting its economy. This is something I can—and will—do.”

  “You really believe you can.”

  “I know I can. If I were to either die or disappear, the stocks would remain frozen for a year while my estate is handled. My will has been filed in the courts, and there are strict guidelines in place regarding the liquidation of my estate. My death would prolong the market’s collapse.”

  “That’s blackmail.”

  “No, it’s not. It’s the law. I have a will that’s been lawfully filed with the appropriate instructions for the discharge of my stocks. My executor will have specific instructions on the handling of my estate. My death or disappearance would do more harm than good.”

  “You value yourself highly.”

  “No, Your Majesty. I just know my current worth—and the value of North Dakota. Don’t sacrifice your kingdom due to your pride. I asked for nothing when I bought the bank stocks. Your man approached me. Had he not contacted me, we wouldn’t be having this talk right now. I’ve upheld your orders. I made no efforts to contact your family. I expelled myself from mine. I invited you here as a gesture of good will. Do with that as you will, Your Majesty, but have no doubt: I will pursue Veronica.”

  “You’ve become bold.”

  “I’ll become whatever I need to be to protect my kingdom and the woman I love.”

  “Are you threatening me?”

  “No, Your Majesty. I’m not.”

  “Then what are you doing?”

  “I’m making a promise.”

  A wiser man wouldn’t have engaged a king in a silent showdown of wills and stubborn pride, but he stood between me and Veronica. If it took a war to keep her, I’d fight one. If I needed to face off against two royal families at once, I would.

  Veronica had made her feelings known, her intentions clear, and refused to accept anything other than an us. She had met my challenge, such as it was.

  It was my turn to prove myself to her, which meant several things. First, I needed to buy time for her to get her mother and siblings out of the castle. Second, I needed to prove I no longer feared her father

  Most importantly, I needed to prove to the king he was an obstacle I would overcome.

  “You seem confident you can restore the stock market,” the king said, leaning back in his seat. “My advisors share a similar opinion due to your refusal to sell. Elaborate.”

  “Releasing stocks gradually increases their value. I’m planning on doing a controlled release of some stocks and gifting of others until I’m down to the new maximum. When I’m finished, the financial sector might be stronger than before the crash, but I have no way of guaranteeing that. That is my goal, however.” I shrugged.

  “And you’re willing to sell your shares to the kingdom and royal family to the new maximum?”

  “Once you’ve arranged for your transfer of your excess stocks, yes. That won’t be a problem. There
are rules in place allowing the private sales of public stocks. Selling to the royal family falls under this. It might be possible for you to push through a special law allowing for the conditional private sale of banking stocks until maximum stock levels are reached as part of the transition. That would require royal intervention and an understanding I’ll heavily scrutinize buyers.”

  “That’s something I can consider. If I were to push through such legislation, how long would it take for you to sell everything?”

  I expected the question was a thinly disguised attempt to find out how long he’d have to put up with me. “That depends on the market. I can’t make any promises.”

  “And your intentions with Veronica?”

  I battled my urge to roll my eyes. “My intentions are to marry her and start a family, of course.”

  “Planning on children?”

  “That entirely depends on Veronica, but if she’s interested, so am I.”

  Marshal watched me, and the brat smirked at my answer.

  “Are you even sure she wants you?”

  “Dad!” Prince Marshal pointed at his father. “Don’t lie to Adam. That’s mean.”

  “Marshal, be quiet.”

  I held up my wrist and showed them the suppressors. “He can say what he wants, Your Highness. Her heart doesn’t lie, and neither does my talent. Your father can decide for himself what he wants to believe. I’m no longer a boy to be molded, and I’ve learned to trust my magic over the words of men. My magic grew because we refused to let go. Not me, not her—we. Us. That’s an inconvenience to you, Your Majesty. I’m aware.” I rose from my seat and slid my laptop into its bag. “I appreciate you coming here to talk to me. I hope it’s clear where we stand.”

  “That you’ll be a thorn in my side even beyond your dying day?”

  “I was hoping for something a little more cordial, but if necessary, yes. That’s up to you. I’m an easy man to understand. What makes Veronica happy makes me happy. What makes her unhappy makes me unhappy. Lately, I’ve been an unhappy man, and I grow tired of it. My top priority is to make her happy.”