Evie nodded. "We bothdid."
There was no way her sister would lie using their grandmother’s name. Amy's shoulders slumped. "Then who emailed thosepictures?"
Her sister’s cheeks went from white to red. Amy listened close for the truth as Evie said, "I don't know about an email. But yesterday, a man came to my house in Scotland and threatened to destroy me if I didn't give him something about you and Lucio. I went to our parents’ London house and searched through the storage room, stumbling over the box of pictures, and that old camera—with the undeveloped rolls. Oh, Amy, I am sorry, I was an awfulsister."
"And?"
"The man came back to Scotland, and I gave him the pictures. You’re the only sister I’ll ever have and I truly feel terrible. Once the man left, Michael and I flew here to support you. I’m really sorry about all the horrible things I did to you. I never should have cut your hair on one side, and then lied to Mom and Dad aboutit."
She’d been ten when her sister had done that. Amy didn’t have time to think about that now. Were the pictures to be used as a way to discredit Lucio, or the royal family? Her heart raced. "What man threatened you?How?"
Evie reached for her hand, but Amy stepped away. "I don't know hisname."
None of this made sense. She stared at her sister. "How did he threatenyou?"
Evie's voice grew shaky. "He threatened to show Michael proof I cheated onhim."
"No." Amy couldn't imagine. Her sister seemed so excited to marry Michael and genuinely happy foryears.
Evie wrapped the shawl tight around her body and lowered her gaze. "It was only when we first met. After our fifth date, I realized I was falling hard for Michael and ended my other relationship. I can't have a stupid mistake ruin ourfuture."
That didn’t seem so bad, Amy thought. Many people kept their options open at the beginning of a relationship. Amy tilted her head. "That sounds innocent. Why don't you tell Michaelyourself?"
Evie shook her head furiously. "Because the relationship was with his littlebrother."
"Oh, Evie." Amy understood immediately and couldn't imagine how to solve Evie's problem. Going after one royal, while keeping another on the line. Not sosmart.
Evie dropped her hands to her sides revealing her silk pajamas. "I'm sorry about the photos. Especially if they ruinedanything."
"Lucio and I are fine." Amy assured her as her mind put Evie with Michael's little brother. He wasn't even that hot and her pulse raced with revulsion at thethought.
Her sister let out a huge sigh and gave her one of those famous, gorgeous smiles her parents always said could be like a model. "Good. I'm looking forward to yourwedding."
Evie had been blackmailed herself into leaking those pictures, so Amy would still invite her. Amy wondered if this was all part of a larger conspiracy, tied to the anarchists. If so, she needed to tell Lucio. It took precedence over her fast feelings. She'd not let anyone hurt his family using her or anything she did. She would find a way to stopit.
She left her sister's room and closed the door behind her. Where would Luciobe?
16
Lucio stood near a long,thick wooden table his ancestors had all used in the war room for planning what happened in the country. Today he, his brothers, Antonio and Marco, and the lead general all discussed Amy's report. She’d put together a more thorough list and helped them narrow their scopesignificantly.
General Babik put the faces of the six most likely anarchists in the country and one older gentleman—Amy’s contact. Turned out he was one of the men'sfather.
Marco patted Lucio's shoulder. "Lucio, we're getting a picture here of who is behind this at the top. Your fiancée is clearlyintelligent."
Without her keen analysis, they'd be a week behind on this trail. Lucio, with pride, hit the print button for the older man's photo. "I'll ask her if Neill was the one she met inLondon."
Antonio nodded, arms crossed at his chest as he stared at the center of the table where the electronic visuals were displayed. "Marco, will you ask Evie why Neill went to visither?"
Lucio wanted to protest that Evie couldn’t be involved but Sophia had lived in their castle practically for years and she’d led a smaller government overthrow to win back her own neighboringcrown.
If Evie had been approached, it meant the faction might have seen him in Scotland, and then again in London, where he was with Amy. Lucio met Antonio’s gaze from across the room and gave a slight nod. "I met with Evie in Scotland so that I could move forward with Amy. I don't think she is part of the anarchist plot, but Marco would have clearerinsight."
Marco moved the father's picture to the side and focused on the five 20-to-30-something males likely responsible for recent crimes. "Thanks. If Neill, the man who probably visited Amy, was the one who visited both sisters and took the report to his son, Edvard," Lucio tapped a photo of a man who had cold blue eyes and white skin that looked like he never saw the sun. "We have a clear chain of events. Edvard and his group were near the school, in the financial district and in the vicinity of the old guard house before theyoccurred."
Again, Amy's words swarmed in his head that his family would be the next target and his father, mother, brothers, their wives and now Amy were all in danger. Ice raced up his spine. "I don't like that he's been so close to the castletoday."
Antonio's hands fell to his sides in fists. "We'll stop him before he gets toanyone."
