Page 20 of The Princess Home for Christmas

He nodded. “Is there a reason? They’ve pretty much left you alone, haven’t they?”

“Yes, at my request. And you have to know I work really hard to stay out of their radar.” She laughed without humor. “Usually one of my brothers distracts them and I can do whatever I want without comment.”

Thomas thought for a moment. “There’s more. Would you mind sharing with me?”

She stilled. And Thomas wished he could read her thoughts. Then she pulled the laptop back on her lap, opened up a tab across the top and angled the screen so he could see.

A dry, arid desert filled the screen. She zoomed out and a circle of houses, with white tents and people gathered in front.

“What is this?”

A woman exited a tent closer to the camera. She smiled and waved as though she saw them.”

Dahlia grinned. “She can’t see us, but she knows I watch so she told me she always waves just in case I can see her.”

The woman had the flowy long clothing of the women in Arabic nations. Her head was covered but not her face. “Dahlia?” Thomas cleared his throat.

She pushed some buttons and the camera angled another direction. Two jeeps were parked and five soldiers in Torren uniforms sat nearby playing cards.

“Dahlia?” Thomas began to feel a little bit alarmed. What was Dahlia doing? “Where is this?”

She swallowed and took a deep breath. “If I share that, these people will be at grave risk.”

“Why? What are you doing?”

“Oh, Thomas stop. I rescued them. They were on the water, nowhere to go, just floating there. So I invited them onboard.”

“Onboard what?”

“My yacht. They were my guests for a week and then I couldn’t turn them away, throw them back into the water, so I invited them home.”

“Home? As in Torren, home?”

“Yes, they flew in on my jet and then I drove them to this place.”

“So, you have refugees, unregistered, just living here in Torren? Does anyone else know?”

“No one in my family. The soldiers obviously know.” Her laptop rang. “Oh good. Here is someone else who knows.”

A face filled the screen, and Thomas was surprised to see their minister of defense. “Dahlia, what are you doing? The press.”

“I know, Sebastian. I’m working on that problem right now.” She angled the computer so the camera would catch Thomas as well.

“Hello Mr. Castellanos.”

He nodded. “Minister.”

Sebastian frowned. “I won’t pretend we aren’t at grave risk.”

“So you’ve told me. But we’ll make it okay. I’ll think of something.”

“Let me know when this miracle solution presents itself. In the meantime, I’ve amped up security.”

“Thank you. I’ll be in touch.” She clicked away the video. Then she typed in a new name and started a call. The ringing continued, and Dahlia’s frown grew until at last, a voice sounded from the speaker. “Miss Valdez?”

Then a face appeared. A smiling, jovial looking man with tanned skin and thick dark hair. “Oh, Princess. How are you today?”

“Mo, I’m doing well. How’s everyone there?”

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