Page 80 of Trapped with the Undercover Prince

Chapter Fourteen

“You will give me everythingI asked for, or I will kill your son and the American doctor.” Anton snarled.

Even several feet away, Zar could hear him taking a wheezing breath every other word.

“I’m confused, Mr. Gaumond. I thought you wanted us to seal our border to refugees? Most of this list consists of demands for money, transportation to South America, and other material things.”

“The issue with the refugees is at the top of the list. If you don’t stop the inflow of refugees, they will erase the Lerasia we know from the map and replace it with a country of mongrels.”

“Change is inevitable,” the queen said. “We cannot isolate ourselves and hope to survive as a country, as a people. Without immigrants, we would cease to exist in fifty years or less.”

“Why won’t you see reason?” Anton demanded. “Are you that pig-headed?”

“I will not be forced to act against my conscience. There is nothing you can do that will make what you want to happen a reality.”

“How about losing your son?”

“You talk of saving Lerasia, but you’re willing to kill a prince of the land to force its monarch to change policies?” The queen sucked in an audible breath. “How dare you.”

“I don’t want to kill him, Your Majesty, but I will if that’s what it takes.”

“Coercion will not get you what you want.”

Zar had never heard his mother sound so implacable.

“Lerasia is a constitutional monarchy, governed by elected officials, and normally, my role in government is ceremonial, but there are a few instances when I can take a direct hand. One of them is to strip a person whose crimes offend the crown. I declare Anton Gaumond to be an outlaw of Lerasia, an enemy of our kingdom. He is to be arrested on sight and brought before the highest court of our kingdom to stand trial for crimes against the kingdom and the crown.”

The silence following her words seemed to echo around the room.

Anton’s jaw worked and he swayed a little from side to side. “I want my money and that plane.”

“Anton,” Anna said softly. “Give me the gun.”

He growled, his hand tightening on her arm, then froze.

Movement from the hallway leading to the bedrooms resolved into three members of the Guard. Then, from behind Zar, several more members of the Guard rushed in and spread out throughout the room. Two of them stood in front of Zar, shielding him from any shot Anton might make.

He needed to get Anna away from the terrorist.

“Anna,” he hissed at her.

She didn’t look at him, but kept her gaze on Anton’s face. She held out her hand. “Let me help you. Let me go and give me the gun.”

“Shut up.” He pointed the gun at her temple, and all the blood in Zar’s body froze solid.

“It must be incredibly painful to breathe. I can hear you struggle for air, and you have blood on your shirt.” She held out her hand again. “Please, give me the gun.”

“Anton,” Zar said, putting every ounce of command into the man’s name. “I know you and your brother weren’t working alone. Where did you get the explosives? Who else is involved in this?”

“I’ll never tell,” Anton croaked out, looking around, his gaze bouncing from person to person. He stumbled, and Anna twisted out of his hold.

She backed away slowly, but he pointed the gun at her.

Anton’s gaze darted around, his eyes glassy and unfocused. “Stay back.” He took a couple of steps back toward the front door.

But there were Guard members there, too, giving Anton nowhere to go.

“Please,” Anna said. “Give me the gun.”

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