Page 85 of One Last Stand
“Seriously.”
“He’d joined the KGB. Wanted to prove himself. I should have seen through it.”
“You were eighteen.”
“Yeah, well, when we found out, he tried to run and died in a shootout with one of the embassy guards, who was also fatally injured.” She looked at Shep. “The guard had a wife and two kids and had just brought them over from America, so that was . . .” She looked away, her throat suddenly tight. “I’ll never forget the way his wife looked at me. And no, she probably didn’t know the details, but I did. . . .” She looked back at him. “I vowed never to let someone betray me again.”
“Kind of a hard vow to keep.”
“You only get betrayed if you trust.” She looked up at him. “Don’t betray me.”
His mouth opened. Then it closed and his gaze met hers. “I would sooner lose my soul.”
Oh. And see, this was why she needed him, trusted him, loved . . .
She swallowed. Becauseoh,did she love him, and please let this night end well so they could go back home to their lives.
Ziggy’s words crawled into her head.“You won’t be happy until you are true to the person you were made to be.”
Tonight, she’d be Laney Steele for the last time.
They pulled up to a courtyard midway up the mountain, where the castle entrance road wound up and then under the first archway of the castle. It then rose to the next level and through another gate, then finally the third level and under a massive tower. Lights lined the path of the winding entrance, guards standing in full regalia outside each gate.
They entered the main courtyard, and the limo lined up behind her parents’, drawing alongside a magnificent cathedral, also lit up, the ornate stained-glass windows splashing color out into the night.
“Do you know why every castle has a chapel inside it?” London asked.
“So that the sovereign of the land can go to his sovereigns and pray for protection.”
She looked at him. “You did read a lot.”
“And my sister and I made up a game one summer about knights and armies and kingdoms. Every kingdom has a hierarchy of power—and it’s all about protection. From the serfs to the lords, to the barons or maybe earls who then pay tribute to the duke, who then owes homage to the prince or king of the land. The king has no one above him to seek protection from except God. Hence the chapel. The very wealthy kingdoms had a priest on staff, and if they were a large kingdom, they might even have a bishop on site, which could mean a visit from the Pope, but they’d need vineyards for that, to host a grand event. Usually gala events like this were used to keep an eye on all the other layers of nobility and remind them who was in charge.” The limo had pulled up to the door. “They were also very good places for a royal assassination.”
Seriously. “Homeschool pays off.”
He laughed. “Probably more information than you needed.”
Never. She just liked hearing his voice, really, the way he explained things. He was always so calm, so wise.
Yeah, Laney Steele for the last time.
He held out his hand as he slid out, and she took it. “For the record, we’ll have no assassinations tonight, thank you.”
“Perfect.” He slid her hand into the crook of his arm.
They followed her parents into the castle, past enormous pots of lilies at the doors—probably freshly flown in from Greece or Italy. From inside, chamber music spilled, and as they entered, a uniformed butler handed London a program with a map of the grounds and the areas accessible to the guests. She studied her little map as they stood in the receiving line.
“Cryptex isn’t on it,” Shep said, looking over her shoulder.
“Shame.”
He looked at her. “You’re doing it again.”
“What?”
He shook his head. “I’ll tell you later.” They’d come up to the entrance hall.
Shep gave their names to another steward, and London handed over their invitation, which the steward then handed to an aide. The receiving line led up to the line of royals, the entire Ribaldi family. Luka, the crown prince, stood next to his mother, looking every inch the royal catch.