Outside she shivered as if she was colder in the evening here, even though it was summer, and stayed closer to him. "I'd like one that you bought for me as something privatebetweenus."
They walked without speaking as their feet crunched against the overgrown grass until they made it back to the dirt path and then the cobblestone street. He held her close and wanted to ensure they stayed in this bubble where no one else mattered but the two of them. "Kristin, I really didn't think you'd be thisperfect."
Her laughter echoed on the quiet streets of the village. Where was everybody? Even at night the village always had streets full of people, often reveling as they went to one of the restaurants or late-night bars. Strange that everyone was inside and no one was here. His body became more rigid and his awareness of thesurroundingsgrew.
Kristin kept her voice low. "Does your kingdom have a curfew,atdusk?"
So she felt it too. Something was wrong. Everything was too quiet. His hands went into fists from the quietness of the street that usually had vendors everywhere. "Crime is usually imported. We're a small country. It can happen anywhere. But I have a feeling this is about myfamily."
Night was almost here, but at least the jewelry store had its lights on. He opened the door and heard the bell ding overhead as the only noise in the area. His gut churned and he ushered Kristin inside and off the street. "Shallwe?"
The elderly store owner, David, had tears dampening his face when he came over to them and cried even more. Antonio's entire body felttight.
The old man mopped his eyes. "Your Highness, Prince Antonio, we were so worriedaboutyou."
"Why?" He heard the edge in his voice. Everything had been fine this afternoon. If something happened to his father now, he'd feel guilty for stealing away for a few hours. Kristin squeezed his hand. “What’swrong?”
The jeweler then cried more. "We heard what happened at the palace. The reports must have beenwrong."
No. Something happened. He said a prayer his father was safe. "Whatreports?"
The older gentleman leaned against the glass counter that protected his jewels. "Communists stormed the palace and have your family as hostages. We're all waitingfornews."
No. His father had just woken from a coma! He couldn’t be moved, or startled, or he might relapse. Antonio never should have left the palace. His entire body tensed. "I have to getbacknow."
"I'm coming with you." Kristin held his hand in hertightgrip.
He thought to argue, but remembered that her protective instinct was at a 97 percentile which wouldn’t let herbackdown.
The jeweler locked the door behind them, and Antonio, with Kristin, marched up the street toward the palace. She ran with him and never asked to slow down. As they neared the gate, he told her, trying again to keep her safe, "I'll need you to stay with theguards."
She wrapped her other arm in his. "Antonio, my friend is in there. I'mhelping."
The last thing he needed was for anyone to hurt her too. Kristin was his future. "It's my family, Kristin. My father is gravely ill. I can't worry about you too." She didn't have a chance to respond because the doors were opened for him in the barracks and he called out, "Guards."
"Your Highness, this way." A lieutenant saluted and then marchedforward.
Everyone stood at attention as he strode down the hall. Once he made it to General Babik the man said, "We're happy you’re here." His neutral expression gave noemotionaway.
The general marched him to a wall of monitors where he saw the elite force mobilized near doors and various rooms in the house. Babik hit a switch and one monitor became his father's sick room. At least his father was still alive and in his bed, but who knew what wasplanned.
Babik said, "From the video feed, someone has tied your mother to her chair and your father is too weaktomove."
The enemy was in the room with his parents, but he had no idea where his brother or Renee were. Lucio was out of the country. Babik turned to him, his hands behind his back. "We haveaplan."
Antonio read the three-phase army plan to extract his parents and his brother in two different missions at the same time, which meant Marco wasn’t with his parents. The guards were in position. His heart beat fast as he asked, "Where are Marco andRenee?"
"Here." The general motioned to another monitor. "They are tied together. We have to move now, sire, if we have any chance of catching them before they secure the palace and cut off our entry points. We were desperately trying tolocateyou."
"They are in bed." Kristin pointed to the screen and it brought him back. That someone would hurt his family made his blood boil. His father was a good man and always did what he thought was best for his small kingdom. He'd let the black hole that wanted to consume him get himlater.
“We found ten traitors within the castle. Our men are stationed near four entry points where they can be apprehended. The enemy is trying to secure the doors.” The general added, "There are only two traitors with your brother. The other six are closer to your parents. Two more are withSophia."
The plan called for three major groups to be stationed in unsecured locations and three minor groups to block any escape attempts. He had read fast and approved. "How many guards dowehave?"
Babik stood at attention. "You have a thousand men mobilized and armedalready."
He pointed to the monitor. "I want a hundred extra men dispatched to free my brother and Renee, our guest. Send another hundred to get my mom's guest, Sophia. Then I want a hundred marching with me to my parents after the Special Forces unit goes in. The doctors specifically said no stress on my father so quiet is the best option if possible. Have the rest mobilized and ready to charge into the communist headquarters near the library once I enter the palace." He glanced at Kristin. This was his family, and she was now included in this mess. He then told Babik, "I am going to meet thesecommunists,now."
