Page 16 of Palace of Betrayal

“My pleasure, Your Highness.”

Walking to a corner table the furthest away from the scuffle now taking place, he pulled Bebe into his arms again.

“You’re overreacting.”

She spoke against his chest so only he could hear and the warmth of her breath across his chest made his dick hard. “No, people would expect me to act this way toward the woman I love.”

He pulled back to look at her, those brown eyes wide and clear of any fear.

“You thought I couldn’t handle it.”

Leo shook his head. “No. I protect what’s mine. For now, at least, you’re mine to protect, Bebe.”

Six

A dinner of cold meats, cheeses, and salads was served in their apartment that evening. Having an apartment inside the palace was certainly an advantage for this mission. It allowed her to keep close to the threat but gave her space to breathe too.

Bebe bit into a fig, the sweet taste exploding on her tongue as the man opposite her watched as he sipped his red wine. Her pulse fluttered as she held his eyes, not wanting to appear weak by dropping her gaze. This man made her want to prove herself in a way she hadn’t needed to in a very long time.

“How’s your uncle?”

They were on the balcony after spending the afternoon in the bedroom debriefing from his conversation with his father. That the King had no idea what was going on was a good thing but letting his only son investigate was a mistake. Although she was doing the same thing for different reasons.

León was an operator through and through, but he also carried himself in the way of a Prince and a proud one at that. A devastating combination for any woman, but Bebe wasn’t any woman. Still, the attraction was impossible to deny, her body betraying her every time they were close. He made her feel like a woman, not the deadly assassin she truly was.

Bebe had been angry with him for rushing to her rescue in the town, so used to handling every little thing herself without a man riding in to save the day. She didn’t need that or want it. Though her traitorous heart had skipped a little at seeing him stride through the door like an avenging hero as if he was going to destroy anyone who hurt her.

The thought that he didn’t think she was good enough to outwit a pap photographer had stung until he’d pointed out how it would be expected for him to act as he had. She’d felt foolish over her reaction and a tiny bit sad that she wasn’t the woman who could evoke such devotion in this man.

It was a throwback to another time when she’d been made to feel like she hadn’t done enough, wasn’t enough, and had failed. Sipping from her glass of rioja, she let the fruity flavours wash away the memories from a time long ago when she was someone different.

Placing the glass on the table in front of her, she leaned back, waiting for León to answer.

He sighed, resting his arms on the table as he leaned in toward her. “He’s broken, as you can imagine. Alain was his only child. My father was spending the afternoon helping him with the details of the funeral, but I should imagine he’s lost as to know what to do. He may not be my favourite person, but he loved his son. I have no doubt about that.”

“Losing a child destroys people.”

Leo balanced the rim of his glass on his lip without taking a sip, before putting the glass aside. “Personal experience?”

Bebe considered lying, her past and her family were never something she wished to talk about, but she found herself wanting to share with this man. Something about him made her want him to know her. “Some. My older sister died, and it tore our family apart.”

“I’m sorry. That must have been difficult.”

Bebe gave a dip of her head. “It was. Nina was a beautiful soul and the light of everyone’s life. When she died it was like the world went dark.”

“How did she die, if you don’t mind me asking?”

Bebe shook her head, taking a sip of her wine to fortify herself. “She had Leukaemia. Battled it most of her life.”

“Loss is never easy. It’s the part of life we all run from because we know the pain is too much to bear.”

“You lost people when you served?”

León rolled his lips between his teeth and sat back as if the question made him fidgety and uneasy. “More than I’d like to admit. Good men and women who were just doing their jobs and making the world a safer place. Taken from the world and lost to those they loved.”

“I don’t believe they’re lost to us.”

Leo angled his head. “No?”