Ethan nodded, likely thinking the same thing. “Anybody hurt?”
“No, Your Highness, just superficial injuries. The King and Queen and the rest of the royal family are safe.”
Long Live Valleria.
The words echoed through her, too ingrained from her training not to be said in her head, but never aloud.
“Help me get Miss Salamanca to safety, and then I’ll help you with the others.”
“Shit! Oh, apologies. I had no idea it was her. Of course, we’ll be right down.” The man disappeared from view.
Ethan reached around her, his fingers wrapping around hers and her gun. He wanted her to hand it over. She held onto it for a few seconds, debated whether or not to fight him on it, then released it.
She pursed her lips in frustration. “You told him who I was on purpose.”
He tucked the weapon behind him, arranging his jacket to hide it. “Yes.”
“I have work to do.”
“Not until your wound is clean.”
She sneered his title. “YourHighness—”
He tugged her against him and she froze in his arms.
“I’ll do what it takes to keep you safe, Anda. I can find who did this, not you, not now. You’re hurt.”
He could keep her safe, just as he’d done numerous times before.
What he always seemed to forget was that she’d do whatever it took to keephimsafe, too. She only hoped he forgave her for it.
She kissed his neck, reveling in the scent and taste of him.
“Anda…” he whispered.
She used his distraction to get the pistol back…
Then she whirled away and used the butt of the gun to hit him on the temple.
He cried out and fell to his knees. “Fuck, Anda!”
“I’m sorry. I really am.” She was sorry, for so much more than what she’d just done.
She had to find who did this, had to save him the only way she knew how.
She arranged the gun back in her holster, hiding it as best she could, and rushed towards the bomb squad as they came near.
Like a veil covering her, she slipped into her actress persona. “Oh, I’m so glad you’re here! The Prince is hurt. You must help him first, I insist!”
While the others rushed to Ethan, one lone man stayed with her and walked her out from the bowels of the stage. She kept up her part while her ears stayed pinned on Ethan, who was coming up with a handy story she could follow. Ethan was brilliant at coming up with excuses.
After all…over the past fifteen months, he’d worked to become a secret agent just like her.
Though not even his brother Prince Marcello knew it.
2
Then
