Page 23 of Forbidden Prince
Renee handed the phone to the queen and glanced at the growing crowd near the gates. Kristin looked despondent too, so Renee went over and asked, "Are you sure you want to marry Antonio? We can sneak out of here, if you're changing yourmind."
"I love him, Renee." Kristin wiped her eyes. "I'mscared."
Good. Her friend always assumed love was a joke and scoffed at romantic movies, so having Kristin say that was a big deal. Renee kept her voice down so no one else heard them. "I'm happy for you. I'm glad you believe that loveexists."
Kristin nodded. "Renee, love isn't bringing someone home to meet your parents. It's about findingyourownhome."
Score one for her best friend. She saw right through her. Marco was amazing and if he wasn't prince of a messed-up country where people strapped bombs on her friends, she'd say he made her feelhappy.
Her old boyfriends had been decent guys, but nothing like Marco. Prince Marco Aussa lived way out of her league and she wasn't sure she belonged in this world. So maybe the feeling of belonging to him was stupid. She held her hands around her waist and stared at the door that didn’t open. He needed to get out here,now!
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"Stand up."Marco ripped Greg's tank top so he could see thebomb.
The look of terror on Renee's face haunted him, but he worked on getting Greg’s entire shirt off so he could see the whole bomb. Once the room was cleared of people, Marco picked up his tools and traced the bomb for thetrigger.
The device was so thin that it hadn't been visible beneath the tightfabric.
Greg stood still while Marco traced the belt with a small metal object that looked like apen.
"What are you doing?" Greg askednervously.
The last thing he needed was for Greg to move during the extraction, so he opted to explain. "This is an IED, clearly made to let the world believe this was a suicide bomb." Marco then pointed to a plastic container. "This is the PETN, but I need to find the trigger and stop it before itdetonates."
Greg's tears rolled down his cheeks. "I'm so sorry. I just wanted to wash my car, that's why I'm wearing these oldclothes."
The clothes didn't matter though Renee's relationship with Greg definitely did. Marco motioned for Antonio to talk to Greg and keep himcalm.
"You’re doing good," Antoniosaid.
Greg nodded and sniffed. "I don't want a life of excitement. I just want to go home and forget this everhappened."
As long as his home didn't include Renee at his side, thoughtMarco.
Marco focused on the trigger and worked his tool to release the bomb, but he was hyperaware of footsteps in the hall. A second later a loud bang echoed that must be the door. Antonio had to deal with it because Marco was in a sensitive juncture, but from the corner of his eye, he saw his best friend Victor Amadeus holding a semi-automatic gun inside theroom.
Antonio whispered, "Keep working, Marco. I'll handlethis."
Marco had seconds to disarm the bomb. He closed his ears and trusted his brother would take down the man with the gun. He whispered to Greg, who shook like a tree in a storm, "I need you not tomove."
Marco had the first half of the trigger in his hand and needed to disconnect the second piece, when Victor shouted, "You walk around all proud of yourself because you were brought back to be a future king when the truth is you don't deserve any ofthis."
Marco began to disengage the second half of thetrigger.
His brother said, "It's true. I don't deserve a crown. I never sought it out. It was offered to my father, because of our family lineage. The people believe if we're here, then our kingdom is blessed from heaven above and that they will allprosper."
Victor snarled and cocked the gun. "Your father bribed people to get back toAvce."
If the bomb went off, in a safe place, perhaps he'd distract Victor too. Marco unlaced the final piece of the trigger and worked on taking the explosive offGreg.
Victor snarled at Antonio. "I get to watch you and your brother die and knowIfinally stoppedyou."
It was now or never. Marco released Greg entirely and threw the bomb out the open terrace and toward the river. He then tackled Greg to get down to the ground. He had no time to warn hisbrother.
The ricochet from outside knocked the othersdown.
The gun hit the floor. Marco ran to his brother, prone on the floor. Antonio blinked in a daze, but allowed Marco to assist him to a standing position. Greg went for Victor and knocked him out frombehind.
