The Marcelli Princess

13

Francesca closed the bedroom door. As she turned, Sam caught her in his arms and held her close.

“I don’t know what’s wrong,” Francesca murmured. “Why is she doing this?”

“I have no idea,” he admitted.

Mia shifted uncomfortably, feeling that she was intruding. But before she could leave, Francesca looked at her.

“Tell me this is the first time she’s shown up like this.”

Mia made an X over her heart. “Trust me. If Kelly had been showing up here drunk and passing out, I would have been on the phone to you in a heartbeat. I don’t get it. She’s always been a pretty decent kid. Happy, interested. It’s awful.”

“I know.” Francesca took Sam’s hand and led the way down the stairs. They went into the kitchen, where the Grands had prepared a late-night snack that could easily feed thirty.

“Brenna went home,” Grammy M said. “She’s going to call you in the morning.”

Francesca nodded. “I know she will. I know everyone is worried. I just wish we had some answers. I want to say this is typical acting out, except Kelly is twenty and she’s always been so mature for her age. Shouldn’t this have happened a few years ago?”

Grandma Tessa ushered them to the large table where sandwiches, cold pasta dishes, and salads waited. There were pots of decaf and tea, along with a pitcher of ice water and two open bottles of Marcelli wine.

Francesca reached for one of the bottles. “She was drunk,” she said, as if she couldn’t believe it. “Kelly’s been tasting wine for years. She’s never been interested in drinking to excess. Last I heard, she didn’t even like hard liquor and she had trouble getting through a glass of wine in an evening.”

Sam put his arm around her. “She’s always been complicated.”

“I know and I even understand why,” Francesca said. “She went through some tough times. But I thought we’d worked through all that. I thought she felt happy and loved and wanted. We still ask her to come home when she’s on break from the company and I was sure she knew we meant it. We’ve kept her room as it was. The twins adore her.”

Tessa nodded. “She’s doing well with the ballet company, isn’t she?”

“Absolutely,” Sam said. “Everyone was very impressed with how she did last year, and this year, she was given several important parts.” He frowned. “Or is it dances?”

Mia grabbed half a sandwich. “There’s something going on,” she said. “Kelly was hanging out with me about a week ago. She stayed here for the night. We did a whole clothes-girl talk thing.”

Francesca and Sam both waited expectantly, which made Mia feel bad. “She just said she, ah, admired my life. That it was romantic.” When she finished speaking, she braced herself for the groans and recriminations.

Sam looked at Francesca. “I could live with Kelly being like Mia.”

Francesca smiled. “Me too. Thanks, Mia. You’re making us feel better.”

Mia blinked at her. “Excuse me? Kelly is talking about patterning her life after mine? I’m the queen of poor choices in the male department, I’m twenty-seven and still living at home, I have no job, and I’m a single mother. On what planet is that a success?”

“On this one,” Sam told her. “You’re very intelligent, you go after what you want. You’re not afraid to work for your goals. You have a master’s and now you’re getting a law degree. You’re raising a great kid.”

“He’s right,” Francesca told her. “Besides, a lot of women make poor choices with men. Not all of us can get lucky.” She smiled at Sam.

“I wouldn’t describe what I’ve done as a poor choice. Disaster maybe.” But she didn’t speak with a whole lot of energy. Hearing Sam and Francesca talk about her in such glowing terms was the first positive thing to happen to her in nearly a week. She’d never thought her very successful, very happy older sister would consider her much more than a screwup.

Francesca sank down onto a chair. “I hope Kelly isn’t acting this way because of Etienne. I don’t know what she sees in the man, and it would break my heart to have her behaving this way because of him.”

“She didn’t seem especially interested in talking about him,” Mia said. “Not in a romantic way. Usually Kelly can’t stop talking about a guy who interests her. So that’s something.”

Francesca looked at her. “So Kelly is sleeping with someone she doesn’t actually care about?” She touched her stomach. “Oh, God, I feel sick.”

“No, I didn’t mean it that way,” Mia said quickly.

Sam shook his head. “Mia, please. Don’t worry about it. We both know what you’re saying. It doesn’t seem that Etienne is the love of her life. That’s good news. The rest of it we’ll figure out how to deal with.”

Francesca stood. “You’re right. Oh, Mia, we’ve been bothering you with this when you have so much going on already.”

“I don’t mind,” Mia said, and meant it. “As soon as you’re gone, I’ll only have my own life to think about, and right now, that’s not a thrilling prospect.”

The small hotel seemed to have more in common with a B and B than a large chain, Mia thought as Joe parked in the nearly empty lot in front of the long building. She took in the ceramic animals in the garden, the seasonal flag over the front door, and a large plaque proclaiming “Our Guests Are Our Family” by the porch.

The whole place screamed cute, and she had a feeling Rafael would hate every second he was there. The thought cheered her as she climbed out of Joe’s SUV and walked to the reception area.

“He bought out a whole wing,” her brother said as he fell into step with her. “They have the second floor. It’s ten rooms. They’re using three of them and leaving the others empty.”

“At least it will be quiet for him,” she murmured. “He can catch up on his sleep.”

There was a young woman sitting behind the counter. She had an open biology book next to the registration log. A student, Mia thought. Probably from UC Santa Barbara.

“Hi,” Mia said with a smile. “We’re here to see Prince Rafael.”

The girl glanced around, as if looking for spies, then spoke in a low voice. “We’re not supposed to tell anyone he’s here. He’s been very clear about that. Not that anyone has been asking.” She flipped through several papers. “Are you Mia Marcelli?”

Mia nodded.

“You’re allowed to go see him.” She glanced doubtfully at Joe.

“I’m her brother,” he said easily. “Rafael and I go way back.”

The receptionist nodded. “Okay. They have the second floor of the beach wing. The stairs are right out there. He’s in room twenty-three.” She smiled again. “It’s our biggest suite. A really pretty room. He said it reminded him of when he stayed in Paris. Can you believe it? I’ve never been anywhere. He’s so gorgeous and a real prince. I Googled him.” She giggled.

“All right, then,” Mia said. “Thanks for your help.”

She and Joe found the stairs and climbed them. Before they reached the top, Oliver had stepped out onto the landing.

“Morning,” Joe said cheerfully. “Great place. Can you see the ocean from your rooms? I’ll bet they serve a nice breakfast. I heard the chefs are all culinary arts students.”

Oliver glared without speaking. Umberto joined him. Joe moved forward until he reached the landing. Mia followed.

“You’re not allowed in,” Umberto growled. “Only her.”

“That would be almost-princess Mia to you,” Mia said brightly. “And I’m not going anywhere without Joe. He’s not armed, though. We figured you’d get fussy about that. But feel free to check him out yourself. I always thought you got a bit of a thrill patting the guys down.”

Umberto growled, then motioned for Oliver to search Joe. The pat-down was quick and efficient. Oliver shook his head.

Mia wore a cropped tank top over a long cotton skirt. She’d left her purse in the car and held nothing in her hands.

She spun in a slow circle. “As you can see, I’m not armed, either. Don’t worry, as much as I want him dead, I don’t want to be obvious about killing him.”

The men exchanged a glance, then waved Mia and Joe through. Mia checked the numbers on the doors and knocked on 23.

Rafael answered immediately. She ignored him as she stepped into the suite. Just being close to him was enough to send her into a fiery temper, and right now she wanted to avoid any strong emotion. Far better to just get through the conversation without feeling anything at all. Emotional neutrality would be a win for her.

She took a moment to absorb the floral wallpaper and how it carefully matched the drapes and the cushions on the sofa. There were silks and satins and laces. Plants, tiny tables crammed with pictures in frames, and tiny crystal vases and knickknacks. There wasn’t an inch of clear tabletop or a foot empty of furniture. The rooms were crowded and fussy. She knew instantly he would despise them. How lovely.

She turned back to Rafael. “Interesting room.”

He shrugged. “I wanted to be close.”

“I’m sure you did. All the better to kidnap Danny.”

“Mia, please. That was not what I had planned.”

She held up a hand to stop him. “This is my meeting and I’m in charge. You’re going to listen.” She reached into her skirt pocket and drew out a piece of paper. After unfolding it, she handed it to him.

“We’ve been to a judge,” she said. “This is a restraining order. I’ll give you the highlights, although I’m sure you’ll want to read it all yourself later. You’re not allowed on Marcelli land without first making an appointment to see either Danny or me. You must notify me first, and telling someone else in the family doesn’t count. You must speak directly to me.”

“So you can avoid me for as long as you would like,” he said bitterly.

“Actually, I can’t, and I wouldn’t, but I don’t care if you believe me or not. You’re not allowed to see Danny on your own. I will be with you at all times. If you try to see Danny on your own or without setting it up with me first, you will be deported.”

He stiffened. “That is not possible.”

She tapped the paper. “Read it and weep, big guy. It is possible. I will supervise your visits and if you try to take him or influence him or anything else I don’t like, you will be deported.”

She nodded at Joe. “Why don’t you do the next part.”

Joe smiled. “Happy to. Danny has been fitted with a small wristband that constantly monitors his position. If he is removed from the property, an alarm will sound and an APB will go out. Local and federal law enforcement will be notified and all airports within a fifty-mile radius will instantly be closed. When you and Danny are found-”

Rafael raised a hand. “Let me guess. I will be deported.”

“I think you’ll be charged with some serious crimes,” Mia said. “Then your government will get involved because they won’t like that you’ve been arrested. That will be messy. And I’m pretty sure you’ll be fined for the whole airport closure thing. Then you’ll be deported.”

“Should you try to remove the wristband,” Joe continued. “An alarm will sound.”

Mia glared at Rafael. “Unlike you, I won’t try to keep you from Danny. I think it’s important he have a relationship with his father, regardless of how ratty that man may be. I was willing to trust you and you blew that, so now we do this my way. You may see him, you may be a part of his life, but you may not take him to Calandria. Not until he’s eighteen, and then only if he’s willing.”

Rafael’s anger was a tangible creature in the room. “You cannot do this. Daniel is the heir to the Calandrian throne. He has much to learn about his country and his people.”

“I guess he’s going to have to take his classes over the Internet.”

“This is unreasonable.”

“Unreasonable?” She felt her own temper flaring. “Let’s talk about unreasonable. Let’s talk about a man who slinks into my life, telling lies at every turn. Let’s talk about someone willing to deceive my entire family. I would have worked with you,” she yelled. “That’s what really bugs me. I would have been reasonable. I would have done the right thing. Because that’s the kind of person I am. But you weren’t willing to find that out. The very first thing you did was to lie to me. You used me in every way possible to get what you wanted.”

She curled her fingers into fists and wished she were strong enough to hurt him if she hauled off and socked him. “Do you think I like having to do this? Oh, sure, there’s the initial thrill of getting a little revenge, but then what? How do I explain this to Danny? How do I tell him that his father is a liar?”

“You do not understand,” Rafael said between clenched teeth.

“Actually, I understand perfectly.” She moved toward him. “Why didn’t you even ask? Why didn’t you try telling the truth?”

“If you said no, I would be left with nothing.”

“Which is pretty much what you have now.”

He grabbed her by the upper arms. “Mia, Daniel has a great future. He will one day be king. You have no right to keep him from his destiny. Do you think he will thank you when he learns the truth?”

Joe hovered close enough to rip Rafael away if he tried anything. Mia hated that Rafael’s touch made her blood heat and parts of her ache. So much for fury burning away baser desires. She’d been so hopeful, too.

“How do you think Danny will feel when he finds out that you were planning to steal him away?”

His blue eyes darkened with emotion. “He will understand why I thought it necessary.”

“As a rule, four-year-old little boys don’t appreciate losing their moms.”

He released her. She hated how she instantly felt about twenty degrees colder.

“You keep saying that,” he growled. “I would not have kept you from him. I planned for you to see him whenever you wanted.”

The last of her emotional restraints snapped. “You planned? Where the hell do you get off making statements like that? You planned. That’s bullshit. You don’t get to make those kinds of decisions without me. A person planning visitation talks about it. He doesn’t try to trick his child’s mother into a fake marriage for the sole purpose of divorcing her and stealing her son.”

“I know,” he said. “I am sorry.”

The apology surprised her, but it wasn’t nearly enough. “It’s done,” she said. “We deal with where we are now. Danny stays here until he’s eighteen.”

“He needs to be in Calandria.”

“Sorry, he’s not going to be. If you want to compromise, then get your law changed.” She smiled tightly at his look of surprise. “Oh, yeah, we looked it up. The second Danny is on Calandrian soil, he cannot be taken away without his father’s permission. It’s an heir thing. Change the law and we’ll talk. Until then, we play by my rules.”

He glared at her. “I am Crown Prince Rafael of Calandria. You can’t do this to me.”

“Watch me.”

Rafael arrived at the Marcelli house fifteen minutes before his first scheduled visit with Daniel. While he was furious with the fact that Mia was able to dictate all the terms of his seeing his son, he also admired her strength and tenacity.

She dared to stand up to him. More impressive, she managed to broker a legal deal that put him at her mercy. He would not have thought her capable of such machinations.

Unfortunately for him, her legal maneuverings were proving most difficult to escape. The top lawyers in Calandria were investigating ways around what she’d put in place, but they were not hopeful. An appeal could be made to an international court. The most likely outcome was that Daniel would live part of the year in both places. But that would satisfy neither of them. In addition, Rafael was not yet ready to go public with this complication. He did not relish being made a laughingstock in the tabloids for a second time.

Something Mia could have done, he thought as he climbed out of the limo and saw the four security guards standing by the house and in the yard. She could easily have taken her story and her plight to any one of several television news shows. But she had not, and he appreciated her restraint.

Not that his appreciation blinded him. He knew her decision had nothing to do with him and everything to do with keeping Daniel out of the limelight. Something else he appreciated.

He had handled everything badly from the first. In truth, he had never considered compromise because that was not his way. But he had also forgotten Mia’s determination.

He missed her. A foolish waste of time, but there it was. He missed her and Daniel. He missed how they had laughed together. With the two of them, he could be himself.

If things had been different…, he thought, not for the first time. If she had been from another family with different lineage. Except then she would not be the Mia he knew, and he would not have her change. Despite everything, he wanted her exactly as she was.

His father would not agree, he thought as he walked up to the back door and knocked. His father wanted Mia punished and Daniel returned at any price.

Joe opened the door and motioned for him to come inside. Oliver came with him while Umberto stayed outside. Rafael wasn’t sure what the other man expected to do-he was outnumbered and outgunned. Still, he appreciated the show of support.

“You have ninety minutes,” Joe said, then walked out of the kitchen, leaving Rafael alone to face the Grands.

Both old women stared at him. He could read the anger and hurt in their eyes. Grandma Tessa held a butcher’s knife in one hand and he sensed she very much wanted to use it on him. Grammy M chose a different tack.

“I’m very disappointed in you, Rafael,” she said, her voice sounding low and frail. “You were to be a part of this family.”

Her words cut him in a way he had not thought possible. “I did not…”

Did not what? Plan to hurt them? Expect to steal Daniel away?

Tears filled her eyes and she trembled slightly. “So much for being a prince,” she said, then left the kitchen.

He stood there, feeling uncomfortable in a way he had not experienced before. People were supposed to do his bidding. He was the one who decided what was right and what was wrong.

Daniel ran into the kitchen. “Daddy, Daddy! You’ve been gone so long!”

The boy raced right up to him. Rafael bent down and instinctively caught him as he jumped. Then he pulled him close and smiled at him.

“I am here now,” he said.

“I missed you.”

He stared into familiar brown eyes. “I have missed you as well.”

“Look what I got.” Daniel held out his wrist and rubbed a small metal band. “Uncle Joe says real soldiers wear one just like this. Now I’m a real soldier.”

The tracking device. Of course. “Very nice,” he told his son.

“Come play with me,” Daniel said. “We can play soldiers and then I want to ride my pony and then read a story. Five stories.”

“That is much to accomplish. Do you know how many stories five is?”

“A lot.”

Rafael chuckled. “It is indeed.”

The boy felt good to hold, he thought. He’d been telling the truth when he’d said he’d missed Daniel. In a matter of weeks, the boy had become important to him. In time he, Rafael, would have to return to Calandria and then what would happen? Would he truly be forced to leave Daniel behind?

Mia walked into the kitchen. Rafael stared as need flooded him. Not just to have her in his bed, but to talk to her, be with her. Ridiculous. He would stop needing her this instant.

“It’s a little hot for pony riding,” she said from the doorway to the kitchen. “Let’s leave that for next time. But you can play soldier in the family room. I cleared off a big space. You can have a whole war.”

“Mommy, no!” Daniel protested. “I want to ride my pony. I’m the heir and I said.”

“I think your mother is right,” Rafael said. “It’s not good to be out when it is so hot. Not good for you or Gaspare.”

Daniel pouted for a moment, then squirmed to be let down. “I’ll get more soldiers. I’ll get them all.”

“Sounds like fun,” Mia said. She turned her back and returned to the family room.

Rafael followed her. All right, perhaps he had expected some acknowledgment of him for taking her side, but if she chose not to give it, he would survive.

He found pieces of white satin scattered on the coffee table. There were several bags of open beads nearby.

“I did not know you sewed,” he said.

“I don’t,” Mia told him as she sat down and picked up a small piece of satin.

The Grands came in and took their seats across from Mia. Each of them went to work on a larger piece of satin without speaking to him.

“We’re beading a vest for David,” Grammy M said grudgingly into the silence. “It’s a tradition in the Marcelli family. Generally we bead the bride’s wedding dress. Actually, we make the whole thing by hand. Katie’s in charge. She made all the girls’ dresses, which was a lot of work, let me tell you.”

“Mary!” Tessa snapped. “He doesn’t need to know.”

Mia set down her beadwork and looked at him. “Maybe he does. Maybe he needs to understand that a family doesn’t have to be royal to have traditions. Maybe then he could start to understand how much we all matter to each other and know cutting off an arm or a leg would hurt a lot less than losing a member of that family.”

There was another pause, but this one felt much more awkward. Three pairs of eyes glared at him. He felt their combined anger as it grew and moved closer to him.

For the first time, he understood that he hadn’t just upset Mia-he’d alienated the entire Marcelli family and anyone remotely associated with them. If they had their way, he would disappear, never to be heard from again.

He’d faced adversity before. Many people resented who he was, pointedly reminding him that he was a prince only by an accident of birth. In school, other boys had wanted to be smarter or stronger or faster. They had taken great pleasure in defeating him in the classroom or on the playing field. There were women who wanted to be with him simply to say they had, and others who wanted to make him fall in love so that they could break his heart. Simply because he was Prince Rafael of Calandria.

But this was different. This was personal. The Marcellis hadn’t especially cared he was a prince before, and that title certainly didn’t influence them now. They hated him for what he had done. For his acts, not his title.

Which meant they could have liked him for the same reason.

Over the past few days, he had wrestled with his own temper and frustration. He resented having to come up with a new plan and take more time to achieve what he wanted. He’d never once considered what he might have lost.

Not just Daniel, but all of them. Mia and the rest of the Marcellis.

Did he care?

He couldn’t answer the question. Shouldn’t he be able to instantly say no? He was here for a single purpose. Nothing else could get in the way.

Yet sometime in the past few weeks Daniel and his family had become entwined. He wasn’t sure he could have one without the other. He wasn’t sure he wanted to.

If he lost, he would lose more than the heir, his son. He would lose his family and the woman he had never been able to forget.