“And we don’t think we can arrest him prior to the trip?” Alex asked, though he already knew the answer.
“No. We’ll just have to deal with the threats as they are, and we’ll likely get more in the lead up to and during the trip. Hence the U.S. wanting additional security.”
“So by asking for increased security, do they mean our side or they want more of their people?” their father asked.
“They want more U.S. secret service agents to help, though I’m more inclined to include more of our people. In the end, we’ll probably compromise and have some of each. I’ve already put a short list together of additional agents.”
Alex looked over at his father. “I know we need them, but this will increase the cost of the trip once we factor in housing and meals for the additional agents. The cost of this trip is becoming harder for the Council to ignore.”
“I’m sure they’ll use it against you in the future,” his father conceded. “But they won’t want to risk damaging diplomacy before the trip. They’ll likely bring it up closer to the coronation.”
Alex nodded. “Yes, that’s what I thought too, though they may bring it up with you separately. I’m already hearing rumblings they’re unhappy with my taking the throne.” He turned to Marcello. “Speaking of. You mentioned the E.A.M. leader meeting with Council members. Have any names for us?”
Marcello gave him an evil grin. “Oh, I’m so glad you asked. We’re in the middle of an investigation into that now. I’m hoping to have an update for you before the trip, but it may be after.”
“So for now we try to mitigate the threat, and rely on the U.S. to help us.”
“Pretty much. Ethan and Anda are there now, and they’ve been reporting back to me, but don’t have any conclusive information yet. They hope to have something more concrete in the next few weeks.”
“Then we’ll have to wait.” Worry and wait, what Alex always did when it came to threats against his life.
He sometimes wondered if it was all worth it. If he should plan to lead the country for the rest of his life, or become the last king and abolish the monarchy altogether. He’d even thought about holding apublic vote about it once he became king, but was afraid of the answer, especially in political times like these.
If he didn’t ask the question, would the next generation face the consequences of it? It may not be his and Rebecca’s child, but it could be one of his siblings’ children. Was it fair to put off the issue and leave it in their hands instead?
Personally, he wanted to be king. He wanted to help people, and he wanted Rebecca by his side while he—while theyboth—ruled. But he was really fucking tired of people trying to kill him and the people he loved all the time.
“Well, then,” his father said. “There’s only a short time left until you leave. Our last chance to cancel the tour, and not worry about the optics of it, would be just before. If we cancel at the last minute because of a credible threat, we could get away with it. Otherwise, you and Rebecca will have to proceed.”
Alex didn’t miss his father’s pointed glance when he mentioned Rebecca. “Then we’ll prepare for the worst and hope it doesn’t happen.”
“That’s what a leader always does, my son,” his father said as he stood, and everyone in the room stood too. He nodded a goodbye and headed out, leaving Alex with the strange feeling that his father wasn’t merely walking out of a room, but taking a step away from his current life towards his future retired one.
Since the abdication had been officially announced, Alex had seen a change come over his father. His mother, too, but more with his father. He was more relaxed, and his tenacious grip on everything had loosened.
Is this what Alex had to look forward to? Years of clawing and controlling, only to finally fucking relax in forty years whenhefinally retired?
He wanted to lead, had been born and raised to do it. Had seen his father doing it his entire life. Yet, for all the practical parts of ruling Alex knew how to do, he hadn’t given enough time to considerhow he’dfeel—physically, emotionally, even mentally—when it happened.
For a moment, Alex was a schoolboy again, everyone watching him, waiting for him to make an error or a slipup, then harassing him and claiming he wasn’t fit to rule one day because of it.
Yet, Alex wasn’t a boy anymore. He was a husband, a brother, a son, a friend, a leader, and very nearly a king. He’d been through terrible, godawful, shitty things before. Then he’d been through more, and more still.
He had lived through 100% of the bad things that had happened to him, and he would live through whatever came next. Whatever horrible moments or minutes or hours lay ahead, he’d survive them, and so would Rebecca. Because those moments don’t last, and one hour of his life was fucking nothing in the long run. No one would break him, no one would destroy him, and some petty words from passive aggressive assholes wouldn’t damage him unless he let them.
So, he’d keep going, moving forward, and moving on, with Rebecca by his side. Together, they’ll make this tour a raging fucking success.
fifteen
ALEXANDER
“What if the birth takes days? You can’t leave while Charlie’s still in the hospital.”
His father shook his head. “No, Lorenzo, they’ll have to go. A state visit cannot be rescheduled so easily.”
Alex nodded as the family continued to debate around him. They were set to leave for the U.S. in two days, and Charlie had just gone into labour. A little early, but the doctors assured them it was nothing to be concerned with.
Nearly the entire family was here eagerly awaiting the newest edition to the family, except for Ethan and Anda who were already in the U.S. Alex glanced around the hospital waiting room looking for his wife—they were in a separate Royal Wing of the hospital, which afforded them a separate entrance, private waiting room, and additional security—but didn’t see her.
