Page 52 of A Fierce Princess

He shakes his head. “Our security team is on the ground over there going through the video from the airport, but so far they haven’t seen anything suspicious. It appears as though only people with clearance were given access to the hangar where the jet was stored. Most of the workers wear hats, so it’s difficult to identify people that were coming and going, and there is one space of time when a camera was down for a few minutes. It was from a storm that went through and knocked out some power, a generator didn’t kick back on and caused a lapse of about twenty minutes in two video cameras, one was in the hangar,” he says.

“What does security think?” Chris’s voice booms from the doorway.

I jump, completely surprised by my brother. Auggie stands next to him, and Marcus, Shannon, Mia, and Paolo are all huddled behind them. Slowly, each one steps inside my father’s study, a most unusual occurrence, seeing as how he has not granted them permission to enter, but then again, the circumstances of this conversation are also most unusual.

My father sighs and swivels in his seat to face the audience in his study.

“They are investigating all possibilities. They aren’t sure whether it was directed at Hans and Lara, or if it was directed at one or all of you. It’s troubling. While we always have small factions in the country that would like to dissolve the monarchy, there hasn’t been any intel as of late that they were becoming violent in their stance. The head of our intelligence ministry has appointed a special task force to work with our security team to investigate the bombing. I hope to be debriefed by them within the next forty-eight hours,” he says.

Chris frowns and is about to speak when a voice from the door stops him.

“I have also hired a private security firm to investigate,” my Uncle Hans says. He stands next to Aunt Lara whose eyes are wide with fear.

“Good, the more eyes we have on this, the better,” my father replies. “I’d like everyone to remain here until we obtain further information.”

Everyone nods.

“For how long?” Auggie prods. I almost want to laugh because it’s so typical of him to poke the beast.

“For as long as your father, the King of Norddale, declares it,” my father says to him in a voice that says he will not be entertaining further conversation on the issue.

Auggie doesn’t respond other than a slight nod.

“Now, if you all don’t mind, I have work to do. If there is an update, I will call for you,” he says to us all, essentially dismissing us.

Everyone files out of the room, but I remain. For the first time ever, I consider telling my father. I hesitate because he will be angry, so very angry with me. I decide to wait, to go back to my computer and to gather more intel before I tell him.

“What is it, Anna?” he says to me. I look up to find him watching me.

“Nothing, Daddy,” I say slowly. I rise to leave but he grips my arm. I turn to him.

“There is nothing that you can’t tell me, my love. I am king, but first and foremost, I am your father,” he says. I lean down and kiss his cheek, touching it gently with my hand before pulling away. It’s bristly, as though he hasn’t shaved yet today, which is unusual for him.

“I know, Daddy,” I say to him. My throat tightens as I look away, ashamed that I can’t bring myself to say the words.

I leave his study and head straight up to my secret hiding place and pull my computer from the drawer. I begin searching for answers. I’m afraid of what I’ll find but I’m now more determined than ever to find out who is trying to kill Logan Winters.

Chapter 22

It’s the buzz of my phone that pulls me from my search several hours later. I glance down. It’s Auggie.

Auggie: The Room—Now

I sigh. “The Room” is Auggie’s code for the billiard room. He’s bored in other words and wants a playmate. I smirk remembering when Paolo was sent as his secretary instead of the young, blonde-haired woman he had wanted, who my father deemed not fit for the position. Her name escapes me but her attempts to push the royal dress code boundaries do not.

Auggie has a penchant for women and fast cars. The fact that he is unable to play with either is probably killing him right now.

Meanwhile, I’m pretty sure Chris is using this lockdown as an excuse to spend inordinate amounts of time with Mia. I sigh again and lock in my latest search before hiding my computer in the cabinet to work while I go play babysitter.

I decide I need backup, so I knock on Logan’s door. I don’t hear anything, so I slowly open the door.

“Logan?” I call out. His room is dark. I frown. I walk down to the kitchen to ask Tessa to bring Auggie and me snacks.

“These are amazing, Tessa,” I hear Logan’s voice, and I smile.

I open the door and find him sitting on a stool, eating more of Tessa’s cookies.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say that you are indeed a cookie monster,” I say to him.

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