I went out into the hall and called Sebastian and Javier. Gabe, who has been here the entire time, was with me. I very briefly explained what Marcella told me and what I knew of the situation. We all decided this had to stay between us as we dug deeper.
That said, Marcella is still very weak, and I won’t rush what she needs to heal simply because I can barely contain myself.
We touchdown, the rotors of the helicopter slowing, and I remove the cans from my ears. Marcella has a lot on her mind. What should be the end of something now, once again, feels like the beginning.
I help her down, holding her weight with my hand on her waist. They gave her some pain medicine before we left, and not only has it made her drowsy, but it also hasn’t touched her pain the way the IV stuff did. The doors of the SUV slam shut, and Javier throws me a look in the rearview mirror.
“We need to talk about Antonia Albini when you get back. We’ve done some digging,” he says, and I sit up straight even as I keep Marcella’s head on my shoulder.
“What did you find?”
He doesn’t reply at first, his eyes dashing to the side, indicating Marcella.
I smile. “You can talk in front of her. She’s the one who brought us this information, remember?”
He frowns and sets off. He doesn’t want to do that, and I get it. But I trust her. I trust her with my life. And I know Sebastian trusts her.
“It’s okay,” she says softly. “You don’t have to speak in front of me.”
I drag my lips along her forehead. “I think we’ll need to. I think you have more information than any of us combined.”
Her eyes close, and her head rests on the space between my shoulder and chest. The drive to the palace is short, not even five minutes, and the doors are opening for us again.
Marcella is out on her feet, and I have her put into a wheelchair despite her protests.
“I think you should rest for a while before we all talk more.”
“No,” she says sternly. “I can rest later. I want to see Jaqueline, and I want to tell you, the king, and your security team anything that might help you.”
“Are you sure?” I press, not wanting her to overdo it.
She glances up at me and squints against the sun to hold my gaze. “I’m positive. These aren’t my first broken ribs. Trust me, I can take it.”
I wince and press my lips to hers. “No one will ever hurt you again. I mean it. I realize I said that before, and then this happened, and there are no actual promises or guarantees in this world, but I will spend my life making sure no one else does.”
She smiles softly up at me. “That’s what I want to do for you and your family.”
I kiss her a little harder and deeper than I should, but I have to. She’s alive, and she’s here with me, and despite everything, there is no fighting my joy with that. I take her hand and have the attendant wheel her to Sebastian’s study.
She winces. “I broke into his computer,” she admits, and points over to the table on the other side of the room. “I knew you and he had been working in here earlier that day, and Signoria wanted me to get into his system and see what was on it.” She pauses. “She and Samil told me over and over again that the king was corrupt. That he had been taking bribes and misappropriating funds. I didn’t find any of that on there. I found that in Samil’s folder instead, and I watched the videos of the night he attacked the king and queen.” She releases a breath. “That was the moment I decided I no longer wanted to be part of their scheme. I had been wavering, and it ate at me. The children were innocent, and so was Bellamy, and she was just lovely. I didn’t want to hurt them. I hated the idea even though I felt like a traitor to my brother. But the evidence was indisputable. I realized I was a pawn for him too. It broke me. He only saved my life so he could use me.”
I run my hand down her hair. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know him well, but I’m sure he loved you, even if he did use you. Not everything was bad, Marcella. He was obsessed, and obsession breeds madness.” I wink at her. “I should know.”
She smirks and slowly pushes herself to stand, not wanting to be in a wheelchair. I help her to the sofa and prop her up with pillows. A half-beat later, Sebastian, Althea, Javier, Gabe, and Jaqueline come in. Jaqueline races over to Marcella and throws her arms around her, making Marcella cry out in pain.
Jaqueline bursts into tears. “Oh god! I’m so sorry!”
Marcella kisses her cheek and wipes the tears. “You just have to be gentle with me for a while. I’m fine. We’re fine now.”
“Sorry about the cracked ribs,” Gabe says to her. “Those came from me.”
She shakes her head. “I’m not. You saved my life.” She turns to Sebastian. “Your Majesty, I’m?—”
“Alive, which we’re grateful for,” Sebastian cuts her off. “The rest isn’t important. Well, except what we’re here to discuss.”
She swallows and nods. “Yes, sir.”
“Sebastian,” he corrects. “Please call me Sebastian. My brother is in love with you. The formality feels weird.”
