Going Royal 02 - Some Like It Scandalous (25 page)

“It is a sad event to know that even princesses can grow up in abject poverty. My family wept for yours when you were at long last reunited.” The colonel touched a hand to his chest over his heart. “Though we were surprised that you allowed her to marry a commoner such as Daniel Voldakov.”

“Love knows no caste system and nor should it. Will you be writing a check to the fund tonight? I would be happy to take your donation.” He accepted a glass of champagne from the bodyguard working in the waitstaff.

“Forgive me, Your Highness, but one wouldn’t expect you to... What is the American colloquialism? Panhandle for funds?” Kachusov’s aide’s thinly veiled contempt certainly needed some work.

“I do not think any job is too menial when the cause is precious. And I have nothing to prove—” he fixed his gaze on Kachusov, “—to anyone in
any
country about my intentions or otherwise. I am a content man when I can serve the needs of others—sending foster children to university is a worthy cause. As are all causes that the Dagmar Foundation champions.”

“I see. So you enjoy the simple pleasures and aren’t looking to create new ones?” The man studied him, doubt clear in his expression.

“None.”

Nikole chose that moment to breeze up to him and wrap an arm around him. He settled a hand on her hip and smiled at Kachusov. “And what more pleasures could I need than these?” He switched to Russian, because he had no interest in encouraging Nikole’s behavior further than what suited the situation.

“Excuse me.” The silky thread of Anna’s voice cascaded through the room’s sound system. Conversations halted and eyes turned toward the stage. Anna stood there, smiling and graceful. “I wanted to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for joining us this evening and to our host, the Andraste Grand Duke for his generosity reflected in this event. In a few moments, we will invite you into the next room for dinner and a small presentation about the scholarship fund. For those of you that have already opened your hearts and your wallets to support the Princess Alyxandretta Dagmar Scholarship, I cannot thank you enough, but by your very presence here tonight you are sending a clear message that everyone deserves the opportunity to fly.”

Her gaze landed on him, like a butterfly, gentle and seemingly serene, before moving on. Even the quietest of whispers faded as they listened.

“My parents had six children—all of us big dreamers with huge plans because they encouraged us to seize every opportunity, to fight for what we believed was right and to take risks. With risk comes great reward and sometimes great disappointment. But whether you have a lot of money or none, what truly makes a difference is having the support of people who believe in you.”

She licked her lips, the gesture so open and vulnerable could captivate even the hardest of hearts. “I learned the hard way that support comes in all shapes and sizes. It comes from telling the truth...and sometimes from lying. It comes from meaning well and wanting the best... To doing what is right and what is just. It comes from walking away when nothing else can be done and staying to fight even when all hope is lost. I learned that education is more than facts and figures, history and dates. It’s discovering who you are—because that is the person you will always be—even when the world batters you, challenges you, tries to tear you down and build you up—” She swallowed hard.

Nikole leaned over to murmur in his ear and he silenced her with a look. She withdrew her arm and backed away a step. On the stage Anna collected herself. “This scholarship says that hope is never lost and even if you don’t know who you are yet, I—” she stretched her hand to the crowd, “—
we
believe in you. We know you can be the person you were meant to be, the person you can be, and we will support you in your choices and your decisions.”

He didn’t imagine it. She looked right at him.

“Trust is a leap of faith. Tonight, we are trusting these students to take these advantages and leap with them as they become who they were meant to be. Thank you very much.”

Applause rose to deafening levels and Anna swiped at her cheek and smiled as she turned to shake hands with a dozen well-wishers. They closed in on the stage, but her security was there and they kept them from getting too close in larger than groups of one or two.

“Many men would follow a woman like that,” Kachusov said in Russian, resuming their conversation as if it hadn’t been interrupted.

“Perhaps, but she has no desire to lead—only help those less fortunate.” He dragged his gaze away and fought to keep a bored look on his face. “Which is not as much fun as she makes it sound. If you gentlemen will excuse me...” He strolled away, his skin crawling with a thousand ants nibbling at him. He wanted to go over and sweep Anna up in his arms, congratulate her on the brilliant speech. But dismissing her publically—it would protect her.

And he wanted her alive more.

* * *

“Are you ready to go in?” Kyle slipped up to stand right at her elbow. The doors on the other end of the grand ballroom opened and guests began to filter in to their tables.

“In a minute.” She’d managed to keep from searching the room for the last hour, but when she’d looked at Charlie during the speech, a pulse went through her. For those few seconds, they connected—really connected. Gaze skimming the crowd, she searched for him now. When she located him, he stood near the entrance—alone.

As in
without his security
alone.

What is he doing?
Where are they?

Frowning, she picked up her skirt and started forward. A series of popping noises bounced beneath the noise of the crowd. Anna didn’t make it another step. Kyle’s hand locked on her arm and suddenly she was up off the ground and going backward. Armand disappeared out the door and three security suits surged forward.

“Wait.” She fought Kyle’s arm, but he didn’t slow. Kate was right in front of her—and Anna barely had time to process the fact that her “assistant” had a gun. Three additional guards closed around them. They didn’t slow until they were out a side door and she was tucked into a car. Kyle slipped into the front seat.

“What’s going on?” She couldn’t swallow the sour taste of fear in her throat or banish the quaver from her voice.

Kate stared at her for a half second. “Novak secure.” She closed the door and banged the roof. They were leaving their own party.

“Kyle.” She reached forward to touch the seat. “What happened?”

“Shots fired. Hang on...” He clearly listened to whatever chatter happened on his earbud. The SUV swung around a hard corner and she held on to the seat to stay upright.

Charlie was by himself.

He’d arrived with a gaggle of old girlfriends.

He’d ignored her.

But that moment...that moment during her speech when she’d looked at him—she didn’t imagine that.

He made himself the target...

She closed her eyes as they swung around another corner. He was so upset about Richard. He sent his brothers away. He must have arranged to sweep Alyx out of the country. He buried her in guards—her “loaned” assistant apparently had been one too.

And he walked through that crowd alone, unguarded and highly visible.

Please let him be okay.

“Roger that, we’re taking Miss Novak back to the tower right now.” Kyle gave her a small smile. “They have the shooter in custody.”

Heart squeezing in her chest, she nodded. “Charlie?”

“His Highness will be fine. They are securing the location, Kate will continue to take donations, but for now we need to get you back to the tower.” The guard turned around in the seat and faced forward. Anna exhaled a low breath. Charlie did it all to lure out the person or persons issuing the threats.

He put himself in danger to protect his family.

Rubbing a hand against her face, she stared out at the passing night. She didn’t think her heart would slow until she had her arms around him—hell, she didn’t even know if she would kiss him or throttle him for being so careless with his own life.

Please don’t be hurt...

* * *

“It’s him, Your Highness.” The FBI’s arrival on-site so close on the heels of Markov’s attempt couldn’t be coincidence. They didn’t care for Armand’s choice to play bait, but they’d definitely taken advantage of it.

Armand nodded slowly. “Peterson said no one was hurt, can you confirm that?”

Thomason nodded. “Your man is correct. Markov waited until Miss Novak was on stage and the attention focused on her. He’s apparently been here most of the evening just waiting for you.” The agent gestured to the area cordoned off by crime-scene tape. “He stationed himself behind those planters, dressed like one of the staff.”

“How did he get a gun past our security scanners?” Peterson and a circle of seven of his private security arrayed around Armand—with Anna off-site, they’d closed ranks on the prince.

“Plastic—high-tensile and quality plastic. It wasn’t good for more than three shots. But he walked right through the metal detector with it.” Thomason shook his head. “We have more than enough to hold him, but hopefully—hopefully that resolves all of this.”

Armand doubted it. It ended the Markov threat, but not the family behind it. No, the family behind that threat stood inside. He hadn’t missed the colonel staring at him during the speech or his lingering after the shots were fired. Only a few guests heard the pops, but security took the shooter down as soon as he lifted the gun.

The agent excused himself and Armand watched the cleanup. The grand ballroom doors were closed now, and if they managed to sweep this up swiftly, it would be a great mystery for the press to titillate the masses.

“Shall we get you back to the tower, Your Highness?” Peterson motioned to toward the side exit, but Armand shook his head.

“No. We still have a purpose here.” The Kachusov colonel still attended. If he disappeared on the heels of Anna, it gave her more import to them. Besides, what man in his right mind lingered at an event where someone tried to kill him?

“Sir, if you don’t mind some candor?” Peterson waited.

“I never mind candor from you.”

“Good. Please end this foolish gesture and go back to the tower with Miss Novak. She’s probably scared and worried about you. Staying here doesn’t send her a message you would want her to receive.”

No. It sent exactly the right message. It encouraged her to go, far away from him where she could be safe. “Let me know when she arrives at the tower.”

“And if she asks about you?”

He died a little inside. “Tell her I am dancing.”

Peterson shook his head, but Armand returned to the dining room as the video presentation about the scholarship ended. The applause was rich and enthusiastic. A live band set up and soon the wine flowed and the music played. He lost count of the number of women he danced with, paying each one courteous attention. He stayed for the entire event, leaving only when the caterers shooed the stragglers out the door so they could clean up.

Exhaustion wore on him on the ride back to the tower. He checked in with the hospital. Richard continued to improve. Peterson informed him that no new threats came in and the chatter with regard to Anna seemed to have muted.

He closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the seat.

* * *

“
You know
,
Amy
,
tonight has been one filled with surprises.
Sources inside the royal circle are now suggesting that the relationship between Anna Novak and Prince Armand was entirely fabricated.
The couple did not spend any time together tonight
,
and aside from thanking him in her speech
,
they didn’t discuss each other.
Miss Novak left the event early due to a mild illness.
A
source on her staff mentioned she was extremely anxious about speaking in front of such a large crowd and may have been overwhelmed.
Hardly princess material when you think about it.
Fortunately for the ladies
,
the playboy prince continued in fine form long into the night after Novak left the gala
,
dancing with every eligible lady in the house.
Poor Nikole
,
though
,
a
tantrum earned her an early exit from the event—I
would hazard a guess that the prince didn’t make any lady happy tonight.
This is Jill Roberts
,
Celebrity News.
”

Chapter Seventeen

He spent an hour going over the security’s performance during the gala and offering his congratulations—and thanks—for their swift, decisive actions. They hadn’t wanted Armand to play the target or to bait out the assassin, but he’d insisted. Of all the choices he’d made since inheriting his father’s title, this one brought him the least joy for the greatest sacrifice. He wanted his family safe.

All of them
.

Time would tell if the Kachusov representative took the hints and their failure and let go of the vendetta. He would also have to deal with George and keep him too busy to fund any more political nonsense and in six months or a year it would all quiet down. Maybe—just maybe—he could crawl back to Anna at that point. Loosening his tie, he walked out of the elevator and down the hall to the penthouse.

The main rooms were dark, illuminated only by the moon outside the lights of the city beyond. Two steps into the room, a hiss of air was his only warning before something struck him in the forehead. Wincing, he peered into the darkness. The hiss of air repeated in rapid succession and three more solid thunks hit him in the chest.

“What the hell?”

Falling back to the front door, he hit the wall switch and brought up the lights.

Anna stood on the sofa, a Nerf gun in her hand, and she fired it again. The rapid-fire autoloader was straight out of his own collection, used for playing with children. She pelted him with darts.