Page 25 of Lorenzo & Lily

Chapter Five

Dressed in casual clothes, Lorenzo and Ethan – along with a discreet Royal Protection agent – made their way through tall stacks of shipping containers along the docks. The large, multi-colored steel blocks were emblazoned with logos; Lorenzo caught sight of Cellini Shipping’s logo alongside one for Cantellano Fitness, another company with which Dante did business.

They rounded the corner and passed dock workers Lorenzo didn’t know, but they nodded to each other just the same.

“Who are we meeting?” Ethan asked.

“Some alumni from the MARC, along with a local worker.”

“And you’re sure they won’t mind my tagging along?”

“I mind your tagging along, but I didn’t have a choice.”

Ethan sighed. “Lorenzo.”

“You’re current military, so you’ll be fine. And don’t worry; they won’t hold you being a doctor, rather than a straight soldier, against you.”

Ethan huffed a laugh. “Good to know.”

Lorenzo spotted them up ahead, a burst of pride swimming through his blood. Three of them – Andrew, Peter, and Laura – had come through the MARC. The last, Gaston, he didn’t know, but Lorenzo could sense his unease even from several feet away.

Peter nodded as they approached. “Captain Low. Captain Santoro, or do you prefer Dr. Santoro?”

“Ethan, please, if you’re comfortable with it.”

“I’m afraid some of us won’t be comfortable with that.”

Ethan grinned. “I’d figured as much.”

“Captain Low.”

Lorenzo leaned in and shook Peter’s hand, then pulled him in for a hug. He wrapped his hand behind Peter’s neck and squeezed. “How are you, my friend?”

“Well, Captain.”

“Glad to hear it.” Lorenzo greeted Andrew and Laura, and shook Gaston’s hand. “Thank you very much for meeting with me.”

Gaston crossed his arms over his burly chest and sniffed. “Won’t do much good. The strike’s gonna happen.”

Peter shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. “That’s not decided.”

“As good as,” Gaston said gruffly. “Our pay’s been the same for years now. Not one raise.”

Lorenzo decided to face the opposition head on. “There was a recession. Hardly anyone’s salary rose.”

“The Royal Council’s did,” Andrew muttered.

“Believe me. If I or any of my family could have stopped that, we would have. But with the Council, there’s always more than meets the eye.”

Andrew’s mouth curled down in disgust and his nostrils flared. “And that justifies their behavior?”

“Nothing justifies their behavior,” Lorenzo said with a finality that could not be misconstrued. “I’ll remind you that Council members have tried to murder members of my family, or conspired to do so, and most recently tried to prevent my brother, the future king, from marrying the woman he loves.”

An uneasy silence filled the air. “The Council should and does serve a purpose, but not all those on the Council fulfill that purpose or their duties.”

Ethan placed a hand on Lorenzo’s shoulder. “He’s right. It hasn’t been easy for us the last few years. We never know who’ll try to kill us next. It’s worse for me, most of all.”

Lorenzo stared at him, wide-eyed. “How do you figure that?”

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