The Prince's Forbidden Bride (The Princess Brides 2)

At this point a total of ten people, including those from the next village of Caserta, were under investigation. Two of them were managers from a firm that had won the main contract to build one of the wind farms, installing sixty-three turbines.

The contract was worth 120 million euros, and the proceeds from them, he knew, were being channeled to offshore bank accounts. Enrico had indisputable proof they’d been illegally trying to get into the renewable energy sector for many years. Finally he’d heard enough to give the order for their arrests.

It was the only pleasure he’d known since Donetta had flown back to Domodossola yesterday. The fact that she’d gotten on the jet instead of running back to him and telling him what he needed to hear had dealt him a crushing blow.

He’d hoped his proposal would make her see she could rule with real power, but it wasn’t meant to be. She was ambitious, incredibly capable, and he’d learned she had a hunger to be queen. Deep down he knew a marriage to Arnaud couldn’t possibly fulfill her.

Trying to deal with his pain, he’d chosen these couple of days to drive to Avezzano and get this investigation over. If he’d stayed at the palace, the walls would have closed in on him.

Now that he’d finished his work here, he was heading for Caserta, twelve miles away. He would find an isolated area to sleep out later tonight. He alerted his bodyguards he was leaving and went out to his Land Rover.

His sister Lia phoned to give him an update on their father. Ending the call, Enrico realized that his mother had pointedly refrained from speaking to him over the last couple of days. Clearly she was still upset about his relationship with Princess Donetta. But she didn’t need to worry any longer. Donetta was gone from his life.

After a few miles the phone rang again. Hopefully, his cousin wasn’t calling about an emergency that took him back to Saracene.

“Chè di nuovo?”

“Where are you?” Giovanni blurted without preamble.

“I’m driving to Caserta.”

“Stop the car!”

Enrico frowned but pulled to the side of the road. “What’s going on?” After talking to Lia, he knew all was well back at the palace.

“You’ve got to turn around and come home immediately.”

“Why?” He was in no mood to put out another fire.

“Because Donetta just flew in on the royal jet from Domodossola. She’s registered at the Lake Front Hotel in the palm suite and—”

“Wait—” Enrico’s heart had almost exploded out of his chest. “Say that again!”

“Donetta is here in Saracene!”

He gasped. “How could she be?”

“I don’t know. She left a message on my phone, but I haven’t called her back yet. What do you want me to do?”

Enrico had to think. “I’d rather talk to her myself.” Santo cielo. He was still trying to catch his breath. “I’ve turned around and am on my way home. I’ll be there in forty minutes. Put a guard on her. Warn him he’s not to let her out of his sight if she leaves her room! Don’t tell him who she is.”

“You think I’m crazy? Your mother would explode. I’ll take care of it right now.”

“I owe you, cousin.”

Driving over the speed limit, Enrico made one vital phone call before reaching the hotel in record time. It was midafternoon when he raced inside to her suite on the second floor. One of the palace guards stood outside the door.

“Your Highness.”

“Thanks for your help.” His heart refused to calm down. “You can go now.”

After the guard nodded and disappeared, Enrico knocked.

“Chi è?”

That was her voice. She really was here. “Why don’t you open the door and find out?”

“Enrico—” He heard the incredulity in her voice.