Chapter Five

King Ireneo had used his big, strong body to shield Taylor from the blast.

Thankfully, it wasn't necessary. They and everyone else had been far enough away from the pouch that the explosion hadn't injured anyone. It sure shocked them all, though.

Even now, two hours later, their ears were ringing.

It was a quagmire as to who had jurisdiction over the case. The UN security agency arrived on the scene, but since the attempted assassination had occurred off United Nations premises, the NYCPD had a stake in this. While in the United States on official diplomatic business, the Isla Solara protective detail had authority, too. And, because of the international aspect of it all, the FBI was quick to descend upon the scene and throw its weight around, taking charge.

The street outside the eatery was blocked off. Ambulances, a fire truck, and numerous law enforcement cars were parked within the barricades, many of them with their lights flashing in a dizzying display of red, blue, and white that lit up the cold night.

The media had arrived—CNN, Fox, and MSNBC, along with some local channels. Anything relating to the UN was a big deal and they were all clamoring for a juicy tidbit.

A few local residents stopped to crane their necks past the barricades, trying to see what was going on, but the uniformed officers did a good job at moving them along.

Most people didn't seem to care at all, just going around the scene.

It was New York, after all. Stuff like this happened. The city had seen a lot and there was nothing new under the sun, as the old saying went.

"She wasn't in on this," Ireneo said, speaking to Tariq, an NYPD detective, a UN security investigator, and an FBI agent. "Why would she have stayed if she knew there was an explosive in that pouch?"

"I can't believe I did not check that satchel!" Tariq snapped. "This was my fault."

The FBI agent—a sharp woman who'd identified herself as Agent Hill—shook her head. "This was sophisticated stuff. Obviously it'll take a while for the labs to come back, but preliminaries show the documents themselves were explosives. The pen inside set it off. It was a small blast, aimed to kill only one."

"Me," Ireneo said.

"As I said, we're still waiting on all the reports. And there's still a lot of investigating to do. We're in the very early stages of this," Agent Hill said.

"And what about her? What will happen?" Ireneo said, looking to where Taylor sat on the back of an ambulance, a blanket wrapped around her.

She was still sobbing as she shivered in the misty cold. Ireneo wanted nothing more than to hold and comfort that cutie.

"Her story checked out," Agent Hill said. "Poor girl. We went to her place and searched it. It's…not much. She's down on her luck. Whoever these people are, they preyed on her, tricking her into thinking this was a real job and a good opportunity to get ahead. Pretty elaborate the lengths they went to, too. "

"They knew she is disadvantaged," Ireneo said, not bothering to hide the anger in his voice. "So they treated her as if she was disposable." His fists were balled. His nostrils flared.

"They sold it really well," Agent Hill said. "Of course, no one was in that hotel suite when we went to check it out. And all surveillance video of their coming and going was mysteriously wiped clean. These are pros we're dealing with. Certainly not amateur hour."

Ireneo nodded. "Thank you for your work," he said. "I trust you will keep my team briefed on any and all findings." He left the group behind before even receiving a response and walked toward the ambulance a few yards away.

"Your Highness!" Tariq yelled. "You cannot wander off and—"

"I am the king! I can do whatever I please!" Ireneo snapped. He turned around, strolling backwards as his face softened into a smile. He spread his hands. "Tariq, brother, we are roped off in a crime scene with dozens of police officers close by. What's going to happen?"

Tariq didn't like it, but he nodded and said, "Yes, King."

Ireneo turned around and walked toward the sobbing Taylor. She stood and said, "I'm so sorry! I didn't know! I promise I'm not a bad person!"

Her shoulders shook violently as her body was wracked with more pained cries.

"Shh, shh. Come here. I know. I know," he said soothingly, holding out his arms.

She fell into the embrace and cried into his strong chest. "I'm so sorry," she said.

"You have no reason to apologize," Ireneo said. "Come. Let's get you something to eat and I'll see you home personally. This isn't a good place for you to be right now."

She nodded and followed him to his limo, still crying the entire way.

***

Taylor hadn't meant to embarrass herself, but she'd scarfed her burger, fries, and shake down with lightning speed.

She'd eaten while the limo was winding its way through the New York traffic. The king had eaten, too.

"I didn't know royalty ate fast food hamburgers," she said, looking out the window at the passing city.

The buildings were getting progressively more derelict as they approached "her side" of town. The graffiti increased, the cars parked at the curb got older, and even more trash blew against the structures.

Home sweet home, Taylor thought.

A pang of embarrassment shot through her, but now it had nothing to do with how quickly she'd eaten her food. Ireneo was a king. What would he think about that part of town?

What would he think about her ?

The apprehension must've been written all over her face, she realized, because Ireneo said, "What's wrong, my dear?"

She looked at him for a moment, long enough to slightly bob her shoulders up and down, and then looked back out the window.

"I asked you a question. A shrug is not a proper response."

Taylor gasped, quite shocked by the abruptness of his words and the sternness of his tone.

"I'm sorry, sir," she said timidly.

"I'll ask you again. What's wrong?"

She worked up enough nerve to look at him. She thought of lying to him, but he would have figured it out. Something told her not much got past him. She felt a little sorry for whoever his Little was. She had one strict Daddy!

She then realized she had no reason to assume he was a Daddy. He was just giving off those sorts of vibes.

"I'm nervous about you seeing my apartment, sir. It's not what you're used to."

"I understand," he said. "But you needn't worry. I may be a king but I'm not one of those uppity leaders. I promise it will not faze me."

She still didn't feel at ease, but she didn't mention anything more about it. She looked out the window once again, hating every second that brought her closer to her apartment. As weird as it sounded—because the night had been a total disaster and even one step away from violent—she hated that it was ending. That day had been wonderful. At least, she'd thought it was wonderful. She'd thought she had a job. Then, she'd thought she was going to have dinner with a king!

She looked down at her new stuffie and smiled. At least she had him. And she still had that leftover money. She'd be able to eat for the next couple of days. She had some new clothes, too. They'd come in handy when looking for a job. That was all more than she'd had that morning.

For the briefest of hours, her life had been magical. Maybe it was just a taste of things to come. Perhaps there really was a good job out there, just waiting for her to find it. Her big break might be around the corner. That's what she told herself, at least, to keep the tears at bay. She couldn't give up hope. She wouldn't be relying on church food pantries and parish clothes closets forever.

The car came to a stop outside the mouth of the alley that marked the path to her apartment.

"Thank you for the ride, Your Highness. And thank you for not…you know…demanding I be prosecuted."

King Ireneo grinned. "There's no reason to prosecute you. You did nothing wrong." He picked up the bear that rested between them and handed it to her. "We must pick a name for your stuffie. I cannot go back to my home country not knowing his name."

She giggled. "I haven't thought about it, sir."

"Might I suggest Rashawn? It's a very popular name around the islands where I'm from."

She looked at the bear, thought about the name, and then looked at the king with a smile. "Rashawn. I like that." She hugged the stuffie.

Ireneo looked into her eyes for another moment and then said, "I will walk you to your door."

"Sir, that's not—"

He held up a hand to silence any further protest. "I will walk you to your door," he repeated.

He wasn't asking for permission.

She gulped and nodded.

Four members of his security detail opened Ireneo's door. He, in turn, opened Taylor's. She couldn't help but giggle again as a warm feeling hugged her. She'd never felt so protected! Normally, walking down that narrow alley—especially at night—was the most nerve-wracking part of her day. But now, as she strolled past the trashcans, piles of overflowing garbage, and recessed doorways, she wasn't worried about anyone springing out and surprising her. No one could touch her. She was perfectly safe. It was perhaps the only time she'd felt that way her entire life. She never wanted it to end.

It was about to, though.

They reached the entrance to her apartment. A dim, exposed lightbulb hung over it, faintly revealing an old, pockmarked metal door. A tin can clanked loudly on the concrete a few feet away, causing the security team to reach inside their suitcoats for their holstered guns.

They relaxed, though, when a cat scurried past them, deeper into they alleyway on its never-ending hunt for more food.

"Thank you. For everything," she said.

"I didn't do anything except lead you into danger, I'm afraid. You were merely a pawn in someone trying to get to me. I'm sorry you were put at risk, my dear."

"How could you have known?" she said. "How could either of us?"

He dipped his head in concession to her point. "All the same, you will be compensated. Do you have a bank account?"

Her eyes grew wide. "Sir, that's not necessary!"

"I'm the king. I decide what's necessary. Do you have a bank account?"

She shrunk a little and looked at the ground as she shook her head.

"Very well. Cash it is," he said. "Or I can arrange the opening of an account with a financial institution. Do you have a preference?"

"They, uh, won't give me one. I've had some…credit issues."

He shook his head. "That's not an issue with me. They'll do as I request. I have accounts with over a dozen here in the city. Do you have a phone where I can contact you?"

She winced again. "No."

"Taylor. Look at me."

She slowly brought her eyes up to look into his.

"You don't have to be ashamed. Hard times happen."

"How about hard lives?" she said, not even thinking before she spoke.

"Those, too," he said.

For a moment, she thought of pointing out that he was a rich king. What did he know about hardship? Then she remembered someone had tried to kill him that very night. Maybe things weren't all sunshine and roses for him, after all.

"I will find you here tomorrow," he said. "I can deliver the information regarding your account then. As for tonight, I hope you sleep well. Perhaps Rashawn will assist in that. Hug that stuffie, little girl. He needs it and so do you."

Taylor giggled. Was this a small taste of what it was like to have a Daddy? Mmm. Just this was heavenly. She could only imagine how wonderful it would be on a full-time basis.

"Thank you, sir," she said. "But please know I don't expect anything. I'm the one who tried to kill you ." She smiled.

He did, too.

At least they could see humor in it now.

She hugged him. The security detail tensed when she threw herself at him, but they relaxed upon realizing it was only an embrace.

The king hugged her back. It felt wonderful to have his strong, protective arms wrapped around her. For a moment, she wasn't in that dirty alley with the stench of rotting cabbage and cat urine filling the air. She was somewhere else. A magical place where nothing could hurt her. Nothing else mattered except Daddy.

It faded when she finally let go.

She tried opening her door after unlocking it, but Ireneo's big hand pressed upon it to stop her.

"You will stay with me tonight. Tomorrow, we'll leave for my island."

"Sir! I can't—"

He laughed in a slightly teasing way. "You tried to kill me. Remember? I could have my men arrest you. We have jurisdiction here when on United Nations business. The local police or the FBI would not stop me."

"You wouldn't!" she cried.

He laughed again. "Tariq?"

"Yes, Your Highness?"

"Do you have handcuffs?"

"Of course."

"Take this young woman into custody."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"First, is there anything you want from your apartment?" Ireneo asked a stunned Taylor.

She managed to shake her head, but it took considerable time and effort.

"Very well. Cuff her. Put her in the car." He grinned devilishly as he added, "She's in the custody of the king now."