Page 74 of Ruthless
“I—” Intense agony twisted his face, and his body jerked.
“Papa!” Eve shouted.
The doctor and nurse zoomed to the bed. A hand pulled on Eve’s arm, drawing her away. She didn’t want to leave.
“Eve,” Gideon said. “Let them work on him.”
Feeling helpless, she took several steps back and mutely watched as medical professionals surrounded her father, doing their best to save his life. The machine monitoring his heart rate was beeping rapidly and an order to clear his airway was snapped out like a drill sergeant.
Who had done this to him?
She sent Gideon a silent, agonized plea, and he answered immediately. Wrapping his arms around her, he whispered softly, “We’ll find them, Eve. I promise. We’ll find out who’s doing this, and we’ll make them pay.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
His mind on the thousand and one other things he needed to do, Alexandre prepared himself to greet the members and supporters of the Coalition to Prevent Childhood Hunger. He wasn’t especially good at these kinds of events, but Nicolas hadn’t been available, and the king had had another engagement. He didn’t resent having to make these appearances, but it didn’t make the event any more enjoyable.
The woman beside him shifted slightly, reminding him to focus on the matter at hand. He was here to assure the people of his country that the monarchy continued to be deeply committed to ensuring the welfare of Ile de la Lune’s children.
Despite their differences, he was glad Chloe, his former wife, had agreed to appear with him today. Their divorce had been final for years, but they still occasionally appeared in public, if only to show that there were no hard feelings, that their failed marriage had been caused only by a lack of compatibility and not because of animosity.
Chloe Blanchet was not the woman for him. Even on their wedding day, he’d had doubts, but marriage had been expected of him, and she was a beautiful, charming woman with the proper pedigree and family. He had thought love might grow. He had been wrong.
When she had suggested a divorce a few years into their marriage, he hadn’t been surprised. Their divorce had caused some complications, but not as many as it would have if he were higher in the line of succession to be king. That honor went to his brother and then to his eldest nephew, Andre. So while a divorce wasn’t the most scandalous of events for a third son, it had still caused a few ripples. Thankfully, his papa had the ability to smooth out those kinds of issues. By the time all was said and done, the divorce had been looked upon as two young people who had tried to make it work but had finally had no choice but to admit they’d made a mistake.
The country had moved on, and so had he and Chloe. Fortunately, they’d had no children. Chloe hadn’t remarried, but she was in a long-term relationship. He, on the other hand, had not found anyone he wanted to share his life with. The next time he married, he would make sure their goals were in alignment and that she understood their marriage was forever. One failed marriage was barely a newsworthy note with the press. A second failed marriage could indicate a pattern. He didn’t mind publicity, but not when it pointed out his failures. Not a good look for a royal, no matter how far down the line he was. His uncle Jacques was a prime example of how multiple failed marriages could adversely affect a royal’s reputation.
So far, Alex didn’t have anyone in mind to share his life with, but he had hopes that someone was out there for him.
“And now, I’m so pleased to introduce our distinguished speaker. A man who loves this country as much as we do and has strived tirelessly to give back to her people, ensuring our well-being. I present to you, His Royal Highness Prince Alexandre Wellingsley of Ile de la Lune.”
Taking a bracing breath, Alex went to his feet. He’d barely straightened when the first bullet hit. The impact was so great, he was thrown back against the wall, slamming his head against the hard surface. His comprehension dulled by the agony in his chest and a piercing ringing in his ear, Alex barely heard the second shot. He saw a spray of blood, and then Chloe, her expression one of panicked disbelief, slumped forward in her chair.
Alex’s eyes closed, his mind blanked, and he felt nothing more.
* * *
The drone of the plane was a low, pleasant hum as Nicolas sat beside his wife, Camille, holding her hand. Their sons—Andre, Pierre, and Leo—sat across from them. They were his world, his life. Everything he did, every move he made, was done with them in mind.
The threat against his family was real. He had no doubt about that. Threats against the monarchy weren’t that rare, but they were usually said in anger, and nothing ever came of it. This time was different.
His father believed only himself and Lina were being threatened. Nicolas didn’t believe that for a moment. The king and princess were just the two who had been mentioned. But as he was the crown prince, it only made sense that Nicolas and his family be targeted just as much, or more, than anyone else.
Alexandre was in danger, too, though to a lesser extent. When Nicolas had tried to convey his concerns to his brother before he’d left, Alex had dismissed his concerns as ridiculous.
In Nicolas’s opinion, threats to his family were as far from ridiculous as one could get. If any of them were safe, it was perhaps Uncle Jacques. But that wasn’t a given either.
Weeks ago, Nicolas had put his family in a safe place. But that no longer felt like enough. If anyone hurt any of his family, he wasn’t sure he would be able to carry on. That’s why he was moving them to a new location now. The only people who knew where they were going were here on this plane with them. He hadn’t even told his father. Not that he didn’t trust him, but the fewer people who knew his plan, the less chance there would be of a leak.
When the truth of his actions came out, it would not be well received. He knew that and was willing to accept the consequences.
The fiery glare from his eldest son reminded him that no one was happy about this new development. Andre was eighteen years old and, by all accounts, had found the girl for whom he was willing to stop his philandering ways. She was lovely and from a well-known, wealthy family. The girl would likely be heartbroken that she was left behind, but that could not be helped. If he’d brought everyone on board who meant something to each family member, they would’ve had to have an additional plane to carry them all.
He hoped, in time, his family and his country would understand his decisions. If they didn’t, then that was just the way it had to be. He loved his family and his country, and he was protecting them both by keeping his loved ones safe from harm.
A text alarm on his phone had him standing in an instant. “I’ll be right back.”
“Nic.” Camille reached out to stop him. “Is everything all right?”