Flicka said, “I belong here in Monaco with my husband. I’ve been keeping busy,decoratingmy suite. I’m quite interested in the use of stone materials likelimestoneand granite.”
Wulf blinked, and his jaw went harder, if that were possible. He stared at Pierre over Flicka’shead. “Flicka is coming with me.”
Those words that she stressed were from their old code, of course, the one she and Wulfie had worked out years before when she had been back in the dorms atLe Roseyboarding school for upper school and he had gone into the Swiss army to serve his year-long conscription as all Swiss citizens do.
Fiddlesticksmeant that she was all right in every way that mattered,so she had used that one months ago in her text message after she’d run away from Pierre in Montreux.
Limestonemeant that she was generally not safe, which meant that they were not safe at this moment, surrounded by Pierre’s Secret Service.Limestonemeant that it was not safe to talk.
The worddecoratingmeant that she was in active danger, such as she had been kidnapped, or another seriouscrime was in progress.
She’d never had to use those two words before.
Pierre shook his head. “Wulfram, she just told you she didn’t want to leave, that she’s busy here.”
“I said that she is coming with me.”
“Flicka isn’t going anywhere with you,” Pierre said. “She’s the Princess of Monaco, and she’s staying here.”
“She isn’t the Princess yet,” Wulfram said, “and you’re not the Prince of Monacoyet, either.”
Alexandre spoke to Pierre, “I’m on that council of nobles, and I won’t vote for you.”
Pierre shrugged at Alexandre. “There are thirty nobles on the council. Go ahead and vote no-confidence. Everyone knows Maxence wouldn’t accept the principality, so you’ll look like a self-serving idiot, trying to take the crown with your one, singular vote. It won’t go over well,Xan Valentine.You haven’t been here. You haven’t done your duty for Monaco like I have, all these years. I’ve been the one making the appearances, negotiating the conventions and business deals, and being seen in the casino and marketing materials. Go back to your rock band. No one will elect you Prince.”
Flicka considered raising her hands and trying to calm the three men down, but she wanted to walk outof the Prince’s Palace with Wulfram and Alina.
Let them argue.
Let Wulfram win.
“But you aren’t the Prince of this country yet,” Wulfram said, “and Flicka isn’t your prisoner. She should leave with me if she wants to.”
Pierre lowered his chin, and his eyes narrowed. “I will be confirmed as the Prince when the council votes in a few days. I am the highest ranking family member, so I am thede factosovereign Prince. She stays here in Monaco with me, where she belongs.”
“She’s leaving with me,” Wulf ground out, glaring at the highly trained, armed Monegasque Secret Service men standing around him. If Raphael had been there, the two of them might have stood a chance in hand-to-hand combat. “I understand what you think you are, but I’m telling you this right now: back down. Let Flickaleave with me. You’re the monarch of a country—”
“Yes,” Pierre said, and his tone was smug.
Wulfram said, “—so what you do has repercussions for your country.”
“In a few days, I willbeMonaco. You won’t be able to touch me.”
Wulfram continued, “If someone were to wage war against you, it wouldn’t be the kind of war that this antiquated, medieval fortress was designed to withstand. Wars noware fought with financial and cyber weapons. If someone dumped enormous amounts of certain companies’ stock into the markets while simultaneously shorting those stocks, those financial instruments would go into freefall. I know Monaco’s finances, Pierre. I know yourpersonalfinances. You would go bankrupt within a few weeks. Monaco itself might take a month or so longer, but I can destroy it.”
“Monaco is a country. We have a national bank,” he scoffed. “You’re just one person.”
Wulfram laughed a deep, rolling laugh that echoed on the domed ceiling far above and reverberated from the walls. “No, Pierre. I’m the head of the House of Hannover, and I control most of the assets for the House of Welf. I’m the Queen of England’s stockbroker and the financial expert for most of the royal housesof Europe. You’re just a lordling, the titular head of a casino and a beach. Within a week or two, word will reach the street that the House of Grimaldi is insolvent and taking Monaco down with it. I will burn Monaco to the ground. I’ll bury you.”
Pierre’s dark eyes narrowed. “All just for revenge?”
“No, for my sister. When trading opens tomorrow morning, the hemorrhaging will begin. The painwill stop when Flicka is inSchloss Marienburgor my house in the States.”
“I don’t believe you,” Pierre said. “You can’t take on an entire country and win.”
“Try me,” Wulfram growled.
“It doesn’t matter if you do.” Pierre motioned with his hand, waving the Secret Service men closer to Alexandre and Wulfram. “You said it’ll take weeks to have any effect. Tonight is the Winter Ball. Tomorrow,the council of nobles will begin their deliberations. I’m the heir apparent. I only need a simple majority vote of confidence. I’ll make a pretty speech. They’ll vote. It’ll probably be done by tea time. At most, a few days.”
