Alec's Royal Assignment (Man on a Mission 3)

Yesterday had rocked his world. Shaken it off its foundations. Before yesterday, if someone had asked him whether a woman should sacrifice her career for a man’s, he’d have had no hesitation in saying, “Absolutely!” Not just because he was a man, but because that was the way his father had raised him. Because that’s the way things had been for years and still were for the most part, despite some relatively recent changes in the United States.

What had happened yesterday had clearly shown him how wrong he’d been. Why should Angelina give up a job that meant everything to her, the culmination of a lifetime of sacrifices on her part? A job she was damned good at? But if he wanted a future with her—and right now, he couldn’t imagine not having a future with Angelina—what other choice did they have? He wouldn’t be staying in Zakhar. Not permanently. He couldn’t even if he wanted to, because he’d eventually be reassigned. That was the nature of his work. And if he wanted to be promoted, it was almost guaranteed he’d have to relocate to wherever that promotion was—that’s how the federal government operated.

It wasn’t until he’d convinced himself he’d never ask Angelina to make that kind of sacrifice for him that he realized just how devastating a blow it would be to him if he asked her and she didn’t choose him.

Chapter 9

They had dinner at Mischa’s in the central district again. Afterward they walked as they’d done the first time, although this time they were able to walk much farther afield since Angelina wasn’t wearing heels. Conversation at dinner had been restricted by their surroundings—neither had wanted to discuss anything related to yesterday since it might be overheard by other diners. But as they walked, they talked freely.

“Where does the investigation go from here?” Alec asked.

Angelina shook her head. “I am not involved in that,” she said softly. “Captain Zale and the heads of the other two security details are in charge of the investigation from this point on.” She started to say something more but changed her mind at the last minute.

“And you’re just going to let them push you aside like that? You’re not even involved in the interrogation of the remaining cameraman?”

“I would like to be,” she said, unable to keep a trace of wistfulness from her voice.

“You should be.”

It seemed a criticism, and Angelina was quick to defend herself. “You do not understand. I am in no position to insist on anything. I am fortunate to still have my job. I am fortunate not to still be under investigation myself.”

He stopped walking to look at her. “For what?” His expression of incredulity was a welcome sight. At least Alec thought it an impossibility she was involved in the conspiracy. When she explained, he snorted. “Idiots.”

“No, they are—”

“Yes, idiots, if they think there’s even the slightest chance you had anything to do with the assassination attempt. Don’t they know you at all? I haven’t known you very long, but even I know that much about you.”

“It is not just that,” she continued. “When they finally let me leave last night, the king’s men—Majors Kostya and Branko—implied that even if I was not involved, I was somehow at fault because—” She couldn’t finish her sentence.

“Because you’re a woman?” Again there was that note of incredulity in Alec’s voice, and it warmed her heart. “No man could have done better, Angel. I know I couldn’t.”

“The king agrees with you,” she added quickly. “I think it is only because of him that I was allowed to return to my post guarding the queen.”

Alec took her hand in his, stared at it for a moment and then pressed a kiss in the palm. Angelina had never had her palm kissed, and she felt it tingle all through her. Then he said, “I’m glad you told me about the king. I like him. And I respect him more than most men I know. If I thought that he—but he doesn’t, and that’s good.”

He hesitated but then seemed to reach a decision. “I’m going to tell you something, something you can’t tell a soul. But I know you won’t.”

“Tell me what?”

“Let’s walk.” He tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow. After a minute, he said, “I don’t know what you might have heard about why I’m here.” She opened her mouth but then decided it was better not to say anything. “Yeah,” he said, glancing at her, humor in his eyes. “I’ll bet you’ve heard rumors.”

“It is not a reflection on you,” she rushed to say. “Princess Mara...she is well liked in Zakhar. Everyone knows you were one of her bodyguards when she went to Colorado—it is not a secret.”