Page 48 of Palace of Betrayal

“I’ll fight, Father.”

“No, we’ll fight side by side as it should be. Now, tell me who you think this American is behind all this?”

“My best guess is Atticus. He’s the only person unaccounted for and although he comes across as a playboy, I know for a fact he’s very cunning. Bebe has her people running checks now.”

Leo ran his eyes over her as he spoke, and she felt his gaze like a caress over her skin.

“I must speak to Alwyn.”

“That’s not a good idea. We need him to think we don’t suspect him. It’s bad enough that Bebe’s cover is blown thanks to Wojcik.”

The King raised his brows in surprise. “Wojcik knows about Bebe?”

“I might have killed his brother.” Bebe had never hidden who she was, and she wasn’t about to start now.

“Oh?”

She wasn’t sure the King’s brows could go any higher on his forehead, but she was wrong. “He was trafficking women and children for the sex and organ trade. I was tasked with bringing him to justice. He resisted, so I shot him.”

She wasn’t sure why she was being so provocative with her choice of words, except to say she was testing the King in some way to see if he could tolerate her past.

The room was utterly silent, as if waiting for the other shoe to drop, the tension in her shoulders making her neck ache. Would the King have her removed from the palace? Would he shun her choices as so many people would in his position?

“Then he has nobody to blame but himself.”

That was all he said on the matter as a stunned Bebe looked to Leo to find him grinning at her.

As if she’d revealed no more than a disagreement, Alfred continued. “Alwyn doesn’t have the faith in my son that I do, and in this instance, it plays into our favour. He’ll believe my son is an ignorant pawn in this game. With Alain missing, he’ll think you’ve taken him and become outraged. Wojcik will likely have his work cut out handling my brother. I’ll call Alwyn and tell him the funeral must be postponed because of the police investigation. I’m the King after all, and my word is final. He won’t like it but he’ll have no choice.”

Bebe didn’t like the idea of Alfred in danger. He was older, more vulnerable than she and Leo were. “May I make a suggestion?”

Leo cocked his head slightly and the King nodded.

“I know you trust your guard, but in this instance, if you insist on staying here, I’d feel happier if I get my own people in to help guard you. Only two or three, not an army that would need explaining.”

“I thought your team were all on similar assignments to this?” Leo folded his arms over his chest, and she swallowed as the muscles in his arms bulged, temporarily fogging her brain with lust.

Blinking she pulled herself from the memories of last night and the shower and then how he’d held her all night. “They are but we have others who don’t go undercover anymore and still work for Zenobi.”

“And they’d come?”

“Yes of course, and it will add one more layer of protection for you and peace of mind for Leo and myself while we try and get to the bottom of things.”

“Won’t this tip Wojcik and his boss off?”

Bebe smiled as she shook her head. “No, they won’t realise the guards are guards.”

Leo cottoned on and smiled wide. “Because they won’t expect female guards.”

Bebe rubbed her hands on her cream linen trousers and nodded. “Exactly, and to be clear, these women are as deadly as any man.”

“Oh, my dear, I suspect more so. My wife, God rest her soul, had the temper of a lioness when she was in protector mode.”

Leo dipped his head to his father and offered him a consolatory smile. “That’s settled then. I’ll make the call today.”

“Good and I’ll call Alwyn after that. Now, what else can I do to help?”

“Nothing, just stay safe.”