Page 26 of Palace of Betrayal

“Nine thirty.”

Leo tried not to show his reaction but his blood chilled. If she was right then it couldn’t have been his cousin and friends on that boat, because Alain was with him at the time, and he’d seen Atticus and Chelsea after that.

“Are you sure of the time?”

“Yes, sir. I remember looking at my watch because I had a text come through with an early weather warning for windy conditions.”

“Thank you, Patty. That will be all.”

Patty nodded once and turned on her heel and left.

“Is there a problem, Your Highness?”

Hector must have picked up on his emotions during the last few minutes because he seemed worried, cautious.

“No, Hector. We’ve taken up enough of your time, but if you hear anything please let the palace know.”

“I will, Your Highness.”

Leo walked quickly back to the car, Bebe silent at his side, neither one risking a word to the other about what they’d just found out. He opened her car door for her and closed it before heading around to the driver’s side, his head on a swivel as every time he turned around the threat was coming from a different direction.

He watched Bebe take something out of her bag and flip a switch, placing it in the centre console.

“We can talk. That’s a frequency blocker, in case they planted anything on the car while we were away.”

“You think they would?” Jaw clenched in anger, his thoughts turned to his father again and the possible danger he could be in.

“No. But let’s not take a chance.”

He angled his body toward hers, the tinted windows keeping them hidden from prying eyes. “So, if my cousin was with me when he allegedly got on that yacht, whose bodies are in the morgue and where the hell are Alain, Atticus, and Chelsea?”

“Who identified the bodies?”

Leo shook his head. “I’m not sure.”

“We need to find that out, and fast.”

Ten

Bebe held Leo’s hand as they crossed the large reception hall of the main Palace to get to his apartment. Her mind was spinning a million different scenarios as she tried to figure out the most likely. Seeing the distress and confusion on the face of the man beside her had made her belly clench with sympathy for him.

He was acting like this was a mission to him, but she knew it had to be hard when the threat was so close to home. Everything he knew was being challenged, people he cared about had the finger of betrayal pointed at them.

“León.”

She felt León stiffen and then work a smile onto his face as he turned with her to face his father. “Your Majesty.”

King Alfred was tall like his son, his hair grey and receding but he looked fit, with just a small paunch around his middle. Handsome, with a regal, straight-backed bearing, he walked toward them, his eyes taking her in and assessing her. Bebe kept her face neutral, years of practice at hiding her true thoughts and feelings from the world, giving her a much-needed edge.

“Son.”

“Father, this is Bebe Basu, the lady I was telling you about.”

Bebe let go of León’s hand, remembering that he was a prince for the first time since they’d met. She dropped a curtsey and bowed her head in respect as the King waited for her to rise.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Basu.”

“The honour is all mine, Your Majesty.”