“I’m the sovereign head of a country—” he started.
Flicka said, “The Council of Nobles hasn’t confirmed you yet. There is no current Prince of Monaco.”
“—and Monacohas the right to ask any EU country for law-enforcement help, no matter what you think of the request.”
The police officer pressed her lips together. “Yes, but we might not get to your request for a while. Paperwork piles up, you know. It might take months.”
Pierre said to the police, “I demand that you arrest all these men,” he gestured at theWelfenlegionand Rogue Security personnel aroundFlicka, “for kidnapping Her Highness Flicka von Hannover. Charges are pending against them in Monaco.”
“Jesus Christ, Pierre.” Flicka straightened and spoke to the police. “I wasn’t kidnapped that night. Pierre had kidnapped me. He was keeping me from leaving the Prince’s Palace in Monaco. These people rescued me. I went with themwillinglyto escape.”
The door opened at the back of the room,past Pierre and Quentin Sault.
Everyone turned, hands hovering near guns once again.
Dieter stepped in front of her again, his arm shoving her behind him.
Flicka stumbled but regained her footing. She leaned her forehead on Dieter’s broad back, breathing in his warm scent of cinnamon and clean musk for just a moment.
Her father, Phillipp von Hannover, marched into the room. “I demand to knowthe meaning of this! What the hell is happening inmycastle!”
“Oh, Jesus, as if this couldn’t get any worse,” Flicka groaned. She stepped around Dieter, who settled a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Father, please. Do us all a favor and wait outside.”
Phillipp shouted, “I have every right to know what is going on inmycastle!”
Her father had emphasized the wordsmy castletwice now. Flickawould have to warn Wulfram that their father was attempting to squat inSchloss Marienburg.“Father, please. We’ve only just averted a massacre in here. Everyone will leave in a few minutes. We’re done talking.”
Pierre told Phillipp, “I’m here to take Flicka home.”
“Over my dead body, you rat bastard,” Phillipp snarled.
Pierre’s eyes widened in honest shock. “What did you call me?”
Flickawaved to divert their attention. “Pierre, it’s time for you to leave. It’s time foreveryoneto leave.”
Dieter’s hand was warm on her shoulder, though she knew it was also there so he could shove her behind himself if anything went sideways.
“Flicka,” Pierre said, glancing back at her father with a disturbed look on his face, “I need to talk to you. If we talk, no matter what the outcome, Iwill leave you alone. I promise. I will withdraw all the arrest warrants, including the one for you.”
“What the hell did I do?”
“Attempted murder of several of my Secret Service agents.” His tight smile was smug.
“I didn’t shoot anyone.”
“Accomplices to a crime can be charged.”
She turned to the police officer. “You see, he’s using trumped-up charges to control me.”
The police officer’sjaw bulged where she was grinding her teeth. “Mr. Grimaldi, you will not be allowed to manipulate the German legal system.”
“Flicka.” Pierre held out one hand, imploring her. “Let’s just talk, alone, in quiet, without all these people meddling. All this arguing is from other people barging in on what could be a quiet, calm talk.”
She couldn’t keep herself from rolling her eyes.
“I’ll tell mymen to leave the castle and the grounds, if you do the same.”
“Yours, first,” she said. “You do know that my guards are only for my safety.”
