Page 25 of The Mafia Princess

“Like what?”

“That she was going to be assassinated like her mother was.”

The thought made him sick. “Why? And who would do that?”

“Thewhois her father, and thewhyis because she stands between him and the throne. He should not be ruling that country. It was supposed to go to Aryanna.”

“Does she know that?”

“No.”

“Wouldn’t it be safer for her under lock and key?”

“Where she’s at now is safer because I trust everyone.”

“She was attacked the first night in the hotel.”

He heard a woman’s gasp and wondered about it.

“Is she all right?” James asked.

“Yes, just a few bruises, but the man said he’d find her again, and something about both of us pissing someone off.”

“What in the world?” James said. “I need you both to be safe.”

“We are. She won’t leave here until I get more answers, and we always have several guards and cars with us for protection.”

“Good.”

“What else can you tell me?” Remington asked.

“That I’m working on getting him taken care of.”

“He thinks you’re his friend.”

James snorted. “No, he just likes thinking he has the Mafia in his pocket. But it’s the other way around.”

“I still don’t understand why he let her come here?”

“I’m guessing he thought he’d be able to get her taken out easier than in a castle filled with guards. If she were killed at home, he’d have a revolution and people fighting to get him off the throne, but if she dies in the United States, they’ll feel bad that he lost his family and let him stay in charge. The good citizens of Malta don’t know how corrupt the son of a bitch really is. It all came down to it being easier to kill her where you are.”

“What should I tell her?”

“Nothing, if possible. Things will start moving forward. Just keep her safe.”

“I’m going to marry her,” Remington said.

He heard murmuring in the background and guessed it was his companion. Pictures of the woman that had lived with his father for six years popped into his head, and something niggled at the back of his brain.

“I think that’s a good idea, son.”

“Will she have to go back to Malta?”

“Not if everything falls into place.”

“I don’t want to be a king, Father.”

“I don’t think that will happen, but if you marry her, you’ll be a prince, whether you like it or not. You can ignore the title. It doesn’t have to change your life.”

---