Chapter 12

twelve

ALEXANDER

A lex entered the Situation Room and saw Marcello gathered with several high-ranking and high-clearanced officials, as well as their father, Gabriel, and their youngest brother, Ethan, and his love, Anda. Alex nodded to each of them or acknowledged their bows or curtsies, then took a seat beside his father.

"Rebecca?" his father whispered.

"She's resting."

His father nodded and squeezed Alex's hand. Even at his age, the small comfort from his father did a lot to set his heart at ease.

Marcello pointed to one of the many large screens in the room displaying various kinds of information. "Thank you for coming so quickly everyone. I'll get straight to the point. We've intercepted some chatter about a potential attack against the group traveling to the States. It's not unexpected—we imagined something similar would pop up, as it always does during royal visits abroad. What's interesting about this is that the threat isn't just targeted at us. With so many traveling to the All Nations meeting, others were included in the threat."

Marcello pointed to a different screen highlighting various text messages. "As we would with any royal visit, we coordinate safety with the host nation and we each communicate any relevant threats received. The Americans, Valleria, and other European nations also intercepted similar messages. The Americans in particular said the messages are from a group they're already following, but wouldn't say more. They're going to do some recon, and we have a follow up call with them later tonight."

"I'm disappointed they won't share more at this point," their father said. "I expected better cooperation."

"Your Majesty," Mirabel, the head of the Vallerian Intelligence Agency began, "this is not uncommon. We would do the same in their position, and gather more information before discussing how to manage the threat. For example, we'd want to confirm if we have any undercover agents there before passing on any information that could compromise their position or potentially harm them."

"Perhaps, but things were different during previous royal visits there."

Marcello nodded. "It's a different U.S. administration. Different rules. Also the logistics of security for the All Nations meeting makes it different too."

"Different on our end as well," Gabriel added. "Alexander and Rebecca are essentially going as the king and queen."

"It's not official yet," Marcello reminded him.

"As good as. The fact the coronation hasn't happened yet doesn't diminish the truth."

Alex noticed something in the messages on screen that made his blood burn. "The ‘R' they're referring to—is that Rebecca?"

"Maybe but we're not sure yet, Your Highness," Mirabel said. "There are a few others it could refer to, even you if they're using a nickname to refer to you, or ‘R' could simply stand for royal in general. It could also refer to someone else not related to our visit at all, but to someone or something from another nation. That's one of the things the U.S. is confirming for us."

That wasn't good enough for him. ‘Maybes' weren't enough to keep his wife safe. "Should we think about cancelling the tour? Or rescheduling for appearances' sake? I won't go if my wife is at risk, in any way, shape, or form." Including her health, though he didn't say that part out loud.

"I think it's far too early for that," Marcello said. "We've already spent months prepping for this thing, and the politics and perception of cancelling—even if we call it a reschedule—isn't going to help us, particularly since the abdication and coronation announcement."

"I agree," his father added. "You'll need to travel for the All Nations meeting in any case. Going on your own without Rebecca will only lead to speculation and gossip we can't afford until after the coronation."

Ethan glanced at Anda and they had some unspoken communication before he spoke. "Anda and I will travel with you, back you up. I can attend all the healthcare-related meetings with you as a doctor, and Anda can have some meetings scheduled with Rebecca in L.A. as part of her cover." Ethan, though primarily a doctor in the Navy, also worked as a Vallerian intelligence agent with Anda, whose cover was that of a famous actress.

"It's a good idea," Alex conceded. "Though we need to keep the focus on me and especially on Rebecca. One of the main goals of this trip is to establish ourselves as leaders on the world stage, even though we are not officially king and queen yet. You and Anda—and I mean no offense by this—are a distraction. We need the focus on us."

Ethan just smiled. "I have always been more loved than you. I am the youngest of the family after all, the most beloved, the most?—"

"Sickening?" Marcello suggested.

"Disturbing?" Alex added.

"Repulsive?" Marcello chimed in again.

"Overrated?" Alex proposed.

"Enough," their father said in his quiet strong voice, but with a smile on his face. "Back to the matter at hand, I like the idea of Ethan and Anda going, but agree that it wouldn't look right if they did."

Anda pushed back from her chair and walked towards a different screen. She tapped and moved a few things around, then enlarged a particular document with the itinerary. "So why don't we go early? We can do our own recon on this group, and then join you and Rebecca at specific events. If it looks like we've been there ahead of time, the press will get their initial fill of us, so we won't divert as much attention when you arrive.

"Also, we'll stay in L.A. If we're not at too many other meetings in the country, we'll appear more ‘contained', for lack of a better word. From the outside, we'll only be associated with Hollywood, not politics."

Alex rubbed a finger over his upper lip, thinking through the timing. "You'd have to leave fairly soon. Could you set up meetings and get things in place in the next week or so? And won't you have to coordinate security and all that for the visit?"

Anda shook her head but said, "Yes to the first question—meetings are easy to set up, especially for me, and I have ongoing work Ethan and I can pursue while we're there." Anda was working a long game to uncover corruption in the entertainment industry.

"I really am a fabulous actress, and my popularity has shot up since Ethan and I were revealed as a couple, and since the involvement in my next movie was announced." Anda wasn't being conceited, she was simply stating fact.

Anda shook her head. "No, however, to the second question. We'd have to inform them we were coming, but we can keep it more low key. The heavier security will be around you and Rebecca anyway as the future rulers."

"I also don't want the U.S. to know about your dual roles as intelligence agents," Marcello added. "So, if we do this, let's insist on personal security for you both that Valleria will pay for. That way, we aren't adding to the financial and resource burden of Alex and Rebecca's visit."

"Why don't we use Bash's team?" Ethan suggested, referring to his future brother-in-law, Eddie, and his security company.

Marcello nodded. "I was thinking the same thing, but we're still going to need some locals to help gather intel. Let's get a bead on the rest of our network of agents."

Mirabel held up her pen-filled hand, then made a few notes. "I'll work on that and connect with nearby assets on the ground. Next time they check in, we'll give them an updated task list."

"Then let's break for now." Marcello checked his watch. "We'll reconvene tonight after Mirabel and I check in with the Americans. Ethan and Anda—I'll let the U.S. know you're coming early, so you should be ready to fly no later than Sunday night."

"We'll be ready," Anda said as she put a hand on Ethan's shoulder.

"Good. I want to stress that we don't know much, but I don't see any reason to cancel the tour at this point. Let's take things day-by-day, hour-by-hour, and go from there."

Everyone agreed and started to get up and leave. Alex stayed behind, gesturing for his father to step into one of the smaller side-rooms where they could have some privacy.

"Yes, my son? Is it Rebecca?"

It was but it wasn't. "She's still recovering, but I think she'll be fine to go on the trip, if that's what you're worried about."

His father squeezed his shoulder. "I was actually trying to figure out what you were worried about."

Alex sighed and sat down, his father remaining standing but leaning against the conference table facing him. "It's not her, not exactly. I mean I am worried about her, but I wanted to ask your thoughts if I went on the trip alone. You mentioned it wouldn't be a good idea, but I think we can weather the storm if we needed to."

His father's mouth dropped slightly open. "You just said she'd be fine to go."

"Physically, yes. Mentally…I'm not sure if she'll be ready. She's been struggling since the surgery. Since before the surgery really. She th inks I don't know, that I don't see it, but I do, and I'm not sure what to do."

"I think this trip might be a good thing, for both of you. You've each had a lot to process over the last year, between losing the baby and everything else and, if you feel things are so serious that you'd rather go alone…well, we should just plan to reschedule the state visit entirely. You could still go to the All Nations meeting, but it won't look good if you're there and Rebecca's not. It will be implied that you're ready to rule, but she isn't. Worse still would be both of you going but not appearing to feel as…connected to each other."

Alex nodded. "I only want to make things easier for her."

"That's admirable, my son, but it's not realistic. If it were easy, it wouldn't be called life. The best thing you can do is support her, be there for her, but don't smother her."

Alex frowned. Had he been smothering her? She'd as good as said that this morning when she rushed him out the door. If that were true, going on a trip like this wouldn't help. Even though most of their meetings and events were separate, they'd still be in close quarters and contact. "I suppose I have been overprotective."

"I've done the same with your mother throughout the years, and this probably won't be the last time for you either. The trip can help you reconnect, just as much as it can push you further apart if you let it."

Alex's voice came out slightly strangled. "Does it seem like we're further apart?"

His father's voice was a little sad. "It does, but only to your family because we know you both so well."

"Fuck." He ran his hands through his hair a few times. "What should I do, Papa? I feel so lost."

"Rebecca likely does too, remember that. Perhaps ask her parents to come over. I'm sure Francine or Ettore could help."

Alex's brows furrowed. "Do you know, I don't think I've seen them at all since she came home from surgery. That is unusual." Maybe she was pushing them away too. Hmmm. "I'll ask them to stop by. Thanks for the suggestion."

"Just take it one step at a time, and I have no doubt you'll find each other again. As for the trip, we can move it. Not easily, but it's not impossible either. Do what's right for you and Rebecca."

"Thanks, Papa."

"Anytime, my son."

After a hug and kiss on each cheek, they parted ways, Alex heading towards his offices, while his father headed towards a formal dining room for lunch with a few Royal Council Ministers. Alex texted Francine along the way and she said she'd drop by that afternoon. He hoped Rebecca would see her and that Francine would be able to help.

REBECCA

It was early afternoon the next time Rebecca woke up, yet she still lay in bed, staring at nothing and thinking too much about everything.

"Ma'am?" one of her security agents called from outside her door. "Your mother is here."

Damn. She thought she'd avoided her for another day. Should she feign sleep?

"It's all right, I'll just go in and check on her."

"Mrs. Campo, I don't think that's?—"

"Nonsense, it will be fine." A few moments later, the door clicked open and her mother came in.

Rebecca acted as if she'd just woken up. "Mama? What are you doing here?"

Her mother gave her a smile, then shut the door. "I've come to see you, of course. Have you eaten today? "

Had she? She couldn't remember, so she went with the easiest answer. "This morning, with Alex."

"Good." Her mother sat down beside her and brushed some of her hair away from her face. "Do you feel like getting up? Maybe taking a shower?"

All she wanted to do was lie there and do nothing. Why was that so fucking hard to understand?

She sighed internally but pasted on another fake smile. "Sure."

"Good. Do you need any help?"

"No." Just leave me alone.

"All right. Just yell if you do. I'll get some lunch sorted in the meantime." Her mother pushed her covers back and Rebecca had no choice but to get up. It seemed her mother would wait until she got to the bathroom. Damn it.

As she shuffled away, her mother called back, "Don't forget to wash your hair. I think you'll feel better if you do."

Fuck. Now she was actually going to have to shower properly. She'd been planning just to stand under the water for a few minutes, but now she'd have to put in the effort or else her mother would know.

She turned on the water and slipped off her clothes, being careful with her underwear. She'd been wearing sanitary pads since the surgery—the doctor told her she'd have intermittent bleeding for a couple weeks, though it seemed more like consistent than intermittent to her.

She stood underneath the hot, nearly scalding water and closed her eyes. She let the warmth penetrate her skin, cascade down and through her hair, and over the weak and bruised parts of her, inside and out.

It had been so hard simply to feel these last few days. It was so unlike her, but she didn't care enough to do anything about it. She just wanted to sleep or sit and be fucking still for once in her life.

It was also a struggle to shower. Her arms felt heavy and just lifting them to rub and rinse the shampoo from her hair seemed to take all her energy, so she didn't bother with conditioner. The thing she was most worried about was drying her hair; she wasn't sure she could make the effort for that, but she didn't want to lie in bed with wet hair.

A few knocks on the door startled her.

"How's it going?"

"Fine, Mama. I'll be out in a few minutes."

"All right. Just let me know if you need help."

Maybe she could convince her mother to dry her hair. Then she wouldn't have to make any effort, and she could get to sleep sooner. Her mother should do it, Rebecca reasoned. After all, it was her fault Rebecca had to wash her hair in the first place.

She dressed in the same clothes again and stared at her sink and the various bottles and lotions and serums around it. She even had a little fridge she used to store some of them, but she couldn't handle doing anything but brushing her teeth and putting on deodorant.

When she came out, her mother had a fresh set of clothes laid out on the bed. Ugh. She was already dressed. Wasn't that good enough?

"I'll help you change. Come on."

Too weak, or likely too apathetic, to care, she raised her arms and let her mother swap out one tee for another, one pair of sweatpants for another.

"Can I dry your hair for you? Or did you want to do it yourself?"

Damn it, she wanted to convince her mother to dry her hair, but now she was just offering to help. Rebecca wanted to be mad and annoyed and upset at her mother, but she was making it really difficult. "You can do it."

Her mother led her to her vanity, which was settled in a corner of the bathroom, and sat her down. Once again, Rebecca was faced with a mirror and didn't like what she saw, though at least it was a cleaner version of herself from this morning. She could begrudgingly admit that maybe the shower had been a good idea. She couldn't remember the last time she'd showered. After the surgery maybe?

As her mother brushed and dried her hair, Rebecca closed her eyes and let her mind roam. She still felt disconnected from herself, but her mother's familiar hands were comforting.

Her mother led her into the bedroom when she finished, and Rebecca saw the sheets and covers had been changed.

"I know the bed looks inviting, but let's have lunch first and then you can take a nap. Okay?"

Rebecca automatically followed her mother down the hall towards their little dining room, where soup and sandwiches were waiting. Rebecca wasn't actually that fond of soup, but it took less effort to have it than it did to eat anything else. They ate quietly, her mother never pushing or forcing conversation. Though Rebecca still had her guard up, she could almost relax.

"I'll be in the sitting room for a while if you need anything, all right?" her mother said as she tucked her into soft, fresh sheets. She kissed Rebecca on the head, pressed a hand to her cheek for a moment, then went out, leaving the door cracked and the light off.

Rebecca lay in bed thinking over the past hour or so. She'd exerted herself more in that hour than she had in days, yet she wasn't completely exhausted as she usually was. What did that mean? She drifted off to sleep while trying and failing to figure it out.