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“Don Gabriel, a pleasure to see you,” Mikel said, lowering his head in a sketch of a bow. “Join me in my office, please.”
Gabriel rose and held out his hand to Mikel. “Thank you for seeing me without the courtesy of advance notice.”
“Of course, Duque.” Mikel clasped his hand briefly before turning to lead him down the hallway.
It always seemed strange to have this man who knew all the dark secrets of the royal family—many of which even Gabriel wasn’t privy to—treat him with such deference.
Of course, there had been that tackle on the cliffs of Acantilado Alto, so he was not always deferential. But that violence had come from a place of profound caring, which Gabriel valued more than gold.
Mikel gestured him to the blue velvet-covered sofa in the seating area of his office. Once Gabriel sat, Mikel settled on a carved wooden chair. “What may I help you with?” he asked.
“How much danger is Quinn in from Dupont?” Gabriel watched Mikel’s face closely, trying to gauge whether the man would tell him the truth. “Remember that I know from direct experience what he’s capable of.”
Mikel’s face tightened. “I am sorry for that.”
“You bear no guilt for the kidnapping. You weren’t royal security then,” Gabriel pointed out.
“I am sorry for your terrible suffering. No one should have to endure that.” Mikel’s knuckles showed white where he gripped the arm of the chair. “The wheels have been set in motion to track down Dupont, the murder witness, and the painting. If Pierson’s intelligence checks out—and I believe it will—Dupont will go to prison for the rest of his life. Once he is in custody, he will be too busy trying to regain his freedom to worry about Quinn.” Mikel’s smile was as sharp as a shark’s tooth.
“Until he is in prison, I would request that you have an extra guard on Quinn at all times.” The thought of Quinn undergoing the horror he had been through twisted fear and fury deep in his chest.
“Already done, as you heard last night,” Mikel said.
“Double it.”
“I will take care of Quinn.” A touch of steel hardened Mikel’s voice. “You should have no worries about that. I would ask that you postpone your trip to New York City to assist in that.”
Mierda! Gabriel should have seen that coming. To wait might be safer, but every molecule of his being cried out in protest. He had to find out what his future would be.
“I have two meetings set up with performers whose schedules are filled to overflowing. I can’t ask them to reschedule. It could take months to find a new time and place.”
“Two performers?” Mikel raised his eyebrows. “I know of only Marisela Alejo.”
“I also have a meeting with Kyran Redda. It is the first step in creating an international cultural festival in Caleva. My uncle wants to make it happen next year.”
“Kyran Redda, the lead singer of Powerhaus? I can see how that would be hard to cancel.”
“I will ask Quinn to stay here while I go,” Gabriel said, even though it felt as though he were tossing away his parachute while leaping out of a burning plane.
Mikel’s lips twitched upward at the corners. “How successful do you think you’ll be at persuading her to do that?”
“About one chance in a thousand,” Gabriel admitted. “As her boss, you could tell her you need her here.”
“I suspect it would take a command from the king to keep her from accompanying you.”
“That could be arranged,” Gabriel said. She’d be spitting mad because she would know he had spoken with his uncle.
“Quinn is quite competent, and you’ll both have protection while you’re in New York. I imagine that Kyran will have his own security as well.” Mikel gave Gabriel a level look. “Please keep me apprised of any additional meetings you might plan.”
“Now that I am aware of the danger Dupont poses, I will make sure to do so.” Gabriel could also get a jab in about Mikel keeping him in the dark.
“Gracias, señor.” Sardonic amusement tinged Mikel’s voice.
“By the way, Quinn strongly objected to me making this request of you. I promised I would tell you that.”
“She wishes to prove herself.”
For a moment, Gabriel was tempted to ask Mikel about Quinn’s past. Then Gabriel would be prepared for whatever she revealed.
