For all his annoying big brother antics, Nate could be counted on to help. If he made this promise, he wouldn’t let him or Anda down.
Nate gave him a long look, then nodded. “I promise I’ll do what I can for her if something happens.”
He let out a short breath. “Thank you.”
Nate brought him in for a hug. Ethan felt a sense of relief that someone else knew about them, even if he didn’t know everything.
He just hoped nothing happened to either of them in the next six months.
11
Now
ETHAN
Present Day…
Grand Valentia Theatre & Ballroom
Hidden Chamber
Ethan was pacing inside a hidden room of the theatre where Marcello had told him to wait, but he was itching to get out. After messaging Marcello, he’d tried to follow the men who’d taken Anda, but once they’d taken her out of the building and towards a waiting vehicle, he hadn’t been able to do anything further but get the make, model, and plate of the car.
When the secret door suddenly opened, Ethan automatically drew his weapon and pointed it, then lowered it when he saw that it was Marcello.
Marcello glanced at the pistol then back up to him. “Looks like we have a few things to discuss.”
Ethan stowed the gun behind him. “Later. Any news on Anda?”
“I know where she is. We used stoplight and security cam footage to track the car. They’re only a few blocks from here.”
Marcello gestured for him to step out into the ballroom again, where it was now eerily quiet.
“Where is everybody? Evacuated?”
Marcello started walking out of the ballroom and motioned for him to follow. “Yes. No one’s taking risks with potential chemical warfare. We still don’t know if that’s a viable threat, but we have confirmed there weren’t any more bombs left in the building.”
“Have you swept the vents and ventilation access points?”
Marcello quirked a brow. “Actually, yes. We’re leading a search of them now, but there are other points at which they could disperse something.”
“Why would they risk a chemical or gas bomb on an empty building? I’ll admit, I thought it might have been what they were working towards, but if they’re trying to kill royals, they already missed their chance. Something else is going on here, but I don’t know if this is it. Have you been attacked? The fake agent I ran into mentioned you were a target.”
Marcello shook his head. “Made it here and inside without issues, but I also switched cars at the last minute and switched again on the way, so if they had plans I might have bested them. I’ll keep an eye out.”
“What else could it be?”
He had a feeling they both thought of the idea at the same time. “Test run? The ballroom wasn’t the main target.” He looked out over the city, spying the structure of their beloved palace and home near the banks of the river. “Shit.”
Marcello followed his gaze and his face hardened.
“Could someone set up something like this in the palace? Either chemical or explosive? The palace doesn’t run on a centralized duct system.”
Marcello already had his phone out and was messaging somebody. “No, it doesn’t. The palace is just too big. When it was renovated, the systems were separated out by different wings to make it more manageable and efficient. The bunker actually runs on an artificial air system that isn’t contingent upon access to actual air, and anyone wanting access to it would have to be inside the bunker to get it. I’ll have Bash check on it just in case.”
The other people in the bunker—other military personnel, staff, and others—were selected and vetted personally by Marcello, so he wasn’t worried about an infiltrator.
“Palace was already being swept, but it will take time to finish. They’ll start with our rooms first and I’ve sent another set of cleared agents to sweep the bunker again.”
