Page 71 of The Royal Art of Revenge

Alec jerks his head in a nod. “They used a series of VPNs, so it took a little work to untangle the path, but we figured it out a few hours ago. We don’t know who arranged this, just that someone within the house did.”

“So, it could be anyone from Rosalyn to a gardener?” I ask.

“Exactly.” He pauses, twisting his unlit cigarette between his fingers. “We have no way of narrowing it down further.”

“What about Harriet? Does she know?”

“She does. I got confirmation from Marina about half an hour ago. In fact, she called me and told me your fiancée demands to question these thugs herself.”

I grip the edge of the chair. “Alec—”

“Apparently, saying ‘no’ isn’t an option.” He shrugs, holding his hands out, but the twinkle in his eye says he’s enjoying this far too much. “And who am I, there mere twelfth Duke of Kilon, to refuse an order from my future queen?”

Annoyance shoots down my spine, and I clench my jaw. “You just want to meet her.”

He smirks. “That, too.”

“Alec—”

“For fuck’s sake, Finn. She’ll be safe here. We’re both here, and we aren’t going to be alone.” He spins the cigarette once more before picking up the box and slipping it back inside. “Besides, I’m pretty sure those guys won’t be making it here with all their bones intact, so don’t worry about it.”

I lean forwards and rub my hands over my face. I don’t want Hattie anywhere near this shit. I don’t want her to have to worry about it. I don’t even like that Alec allowed his little maid spy to tell her the truth.

With the technological capabilities at his hands, he should have been able to just cancel the shoot while pretending to be the person who booked it.

Then we could deal with this quietly.

It’s not that I don’t think she can handle it. I’m sure she can. She’s already made it perfectly clear that she’s been through shit I can’t even imagine, but that’s why I don’t want her to have to deal with this kind of stuff.

She doesn’t need to.

She shouldn’t need to.

I don’t want her to.

She shouldn’t have a target on her back already. It’s inevitable that she’ll become the target of ire and even death plots when she’s announced as my fiancée, but to already be in a position where she’s in danger…

Fuck.

“There’s more going on in that house than we know,” I say, staring towards the window. “For someone to be targeting her so overtly…”

Alec shrugs. “She’s the legitimate daughter. Jasmine is merely an adopted one, even if she is related to the Sinclairs by blood. She’s undoubtedly threatened by her, even if your engagement is still a state secret.”

So secret even the state doesn’t know about it.

The government only knows there is an engagement, but not to whom.

“But to actively seek to harm her? What are they trying to do to her? I get the impression Hattie already thinks her stepmother is responsible for her kidnapping all those years ago.”

“Wait.” Alec raises his hand, frowning. “How is that possible? And why would Rosalyn have a hand in that?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t want to push her at the time. It’s not an easy subject to discuss. I’m also not sure she fully trusts me yet.”

“Well, she was kidnapped. Chances are, she’s used to doing things alone and not relying on anyone. She’s not going to begin trusting people overnight.”

“I know that, I just…” I rub my hand over my mouth.

I just, what? Want her to fall at my feet and let me save the day? Let me handle everything that plagues her? Let me swoop in like a knight in shining armour so she doesn’t have to lift a finger and risk dirtying her hands?