The Eagle

Book 2: Spy Girl®

by Jillian Dodd

Genres: YA Romance; YA Fairy Tales & Folklore

Synopsis

Revenge won't change anything—or will it?

From USA Today bestselling author Jillian Dodd comes the second book in a sizzling series filled with action and adventure. Fans of The Selection and The Hunger Games will discover a heart-pounding thrill ride of espionage and suspense set in glittering high society.

The world's most deadly assassin, a man known only as The Priest, has come back from the dead to take a series of high profile hits. When the assassin completes his first task—shooting an important world leader, the global community goes into collective shock and his government vows retaliation.

With her cover firmly cemented as Huntley Von Allister, Spy Girl's vacation on the Royal Yacht is cut short when she's called home for her next mission—and, this time, it's personal.

Can Huntley accomplish her mission before the next hit takes place?

And what will happen when she finally comes face-to-face with the man who killed her mother?

Release date: October 9, 2016

Publisher: Jillian Dodd Inc.

Print pages: 267

Sample

PRO:LOGUE

 

Two men are seated in a large room with ornate gold leaf bookcases and a deeply toned, hand-painted mural covering a large, domed ceiling. The mural features the Archangel Michael in a battle with Satan. It was painstakingly created for this room based on the Baroque painting, “The Fall of the Damned,” and it took an artist three years to complete.

Although one of the men seated owns the home this beautiful room is in, he is not sitting in a place of power behind his mammoth hand-carved mahogany desk, but rather both men are seated in matching wingback chairs covered in the softest of plaid cashmeres and are situated near the room’s French doors, which overlook the estate’s vast grounds.

“We have some loose ends to tie up regarding Montrovia,” the owner of the home says after taking a sip of amber-colored liquid from a heavy crystal tumbler.

“We shouldn’t have trusted the girl,” the other man says.

“Easy to say in retrospect, especially considering she came very close to succeeding. If she would have become Queen, it would have made things much easier for us. We will prevail, regardless.”

“What is our next course of action, then?”

“We continue with our plan,” the owner states. “Although, I’m afraid there will have to be a few slight variations.”

“Does one of those variations have to do with why the Eagle wasn’t present at our meeting today?” the man asks, the understanding of an unusual event earlier in the day showing in his furrowed brow. 

“He isn’t doing what he promised. Now that he controls the world’s most powerful military, he seems to have forgotten who put him into power.”

“That was a very expensive endeavor.”

The owner of the home nods in agreement. “One of which we are not reaping the reward from. So, I’m afraid we have no choice. We must liquidate our bad investment.”

The man sets his drink down, trying to keep his hand from shaking, knowing it could just as easily be him if he dared to cross the man in front of him. “But he’s our friend.”

“Something he has also forgotten. Do it. And I only want the best, for obvious reasons.”

“Sadly, the best is dead.”

“Are you referring to The Priest?”

“Yes. He was killed after the Eagle’s father hired him for a hit then double crossed him.”

“I don’t believe he’s dead. Find him.”

“I’m sure we can find someone equally as talented—”

“I want The Priest and no one else,” the owner interrupts. 

How in the world am I supposed to hire a dead man? he thinks, but he doesn’t dare say.

“It’s going to be dangerous for us to even try to find him, but I will see what I can come up with. What if he is still alive, but says no?”

“You will make him an offer he cannot refuse. And see if he will give us a group discount regarding the outstanding Montrovian situation.”

 

 

 

The assassin known as The Priest enters an empty bar in France. The hole-in-the-wall drinking establishment is supposed to be open this afternoon, but the owner just hung the closed sign on the door.

“What is this nonsense about an offer?” the assassin asks, freaking out a little. “Everyone thinks I’m dead. We’ve worked hard to establish ourselves here. How did they contact you?”

“Through a secure network. I left a few trusted assets in place in case we ever needed the money.”

“We could be traced though that.”

“No, we can’t. I’m good at what I do. Are you interested in hearing the offer, or not?”

“It doesn’t matter how much it is. I’m not interested.”

“So are you saying that fifteen million dollars wouldn’t sway you?”

“Fifteen million? Who the hell is the target?”

“It’s a series of three hits, but they have only revealed the first one.” He whispers the man’s name. 

“You’ve got to be kidding. No way.”

“This money could set us both up for life.”

“We’re already set up for life. Sort of. Besides, I retired. With good reason.”

“They will go as high as twenty.”

“You know how well-guarded a man of his stature is.”

“Are you saying no because you don’t want to do it, or because you don’t think you can do it?”

“Whether or not I can do it is not the question. I always complete my tasks. However, in this case, getting away with it would be another story. I’d have a whole country after me. And they’d find you first, since you are the one brokering the deal.”

“You don’t trust my skills?”

“All I know is that I’m lucky to be alive. It’s been over six years since I was double-crossed, and you know as well as I do, that when Lara was killed it should have been me driving. I had gotten careless with my cover.”

“That was four years ago.”

“Two years after I was presumed dead. Men like that never forget. For all we know, this could be their way of setting me up.” He pushes himself away from the bar. “No. We can’t risk it.”

“If we could get them to twenty-five million, we could buy our own island and live in paradise forever.”

“We already live in paradise, my friend.”

“I’m tired of running this bar.”

“This bar is your cover. Hiding didn’t work before. Hiding in plain sight is. And we will continue to make it work.”

“Whatever,” the bartender says, his disappointment showing in both his expression and gestures. But he does as told—logs into a secure network and declines the offer. 

He’s surprised when there is an immediate response. 

“They just offered thirty million.”

The assassin closes his eyes. The thrill of the hunt is something he craves, but he can’t. 

He shakes his head no.

The bartender relays his decision, then his eyes go wide with shock.

“You need to see this for yourself,” he says, handing him the laptop.

The assassin reads the instant message.

 

Thirty million is my final offer, but I suspect it’s not about the money. I have other information that may interest you. The first target is not only a powerful world leader, but he is the legacy of the man who double-crossed you six years ago. 

 

He’s rereading it again just to be sure, when another message pops up.

 

Does that change your mind?

 

The assassin drains the beer in front of him. “Tell the man that it most certainly does.”

 

 

MISSION:DAY ONE

 

My cell buzzes on the table next to me as I’m sunning on the upper deck of the Royal Yacht, fending off a slight hangover and lack of sleep.

I smile when Lorenzo’s name pops up on the screen.

“How’s Ibiza treating you?” he asks.

“Ibiza is one big party.”

“It has quite the club scene. Have you been relaxing, as well?”

“Hard not to on your beautiful boat,” I reply, glancing around at the sheer luxury of the place. Amazing how quickly I have become accustomed to it.

“Have you thrown any parties? I’ll be honest, I was hoping to get an invite.”

“No parties. Daniel is up early training every morning. The Olympic tryouts are a few weeks away, so he hasn’t really—” 

“Wait. Did you just say that Daniel is on my boat? With you?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Why?”

“Because you sent him here to be my party?”

“Lee,” he says, his voice sounding strained, “you and I—you know how I feel about you.”

“And you know how I feel about you.”

“Yet you suggested I call Elizabeth,” he counters.

“Did you?”

“No, Huntley, I did not.” He sighs. “Even though I was upset to learn the truth about you, I’m certainly not over you. And I could never offer you up to another man.”

A quick glance over the railing confirms that Daniel is still training in the pool a deck below. Knowing I won’t be overheard, I say, “I’m sorry, Lorenzo. If I weren’t who I am, if I didn’t have to do this—”

“Things would be different,” he says, finishing my sentence. “I know. I’m a King and you’re—you. It would never work.”

“Right.”

“But what if it could?” he asks.

“The only way it could is if one of us were willing to quit.”

“I can’t quit my country.” 

“So you want me to quit?”

“I’m not sure. I have so many unanswered questions.”

“What were you told about me?”

“Very little. The man who called simply stated that your training and cover had taken years to put into place. He then requested I not tell a soul, for your personal safety.”

“Lorenzo, it’s one thing to know what I do. It’s another thing to have witnessed it.”

“While I will admit your talents are slightly unusual, it doesn’t make them any less spectacular.”

“You saw me kill people. I’m good at it.”

“And thank goodness that you are, or I’d be dead.”

“And I’m a liar.”

“I watched you work the crowd to perfection at both the Queen’s Garden Party and Her Majesty’s Royal Ball. Where I come from, we call that being diplomatic.”

I laugh out loud. “You almost make me feel like a normal girl.”

“Will you tell me how you ended up in this profession at such a young age?”

“Can I be honest with you?”

“Of course.” 

“I’m not doing this for my country.”

“Good, then it will be easier to convince you to live in mine.” 

What he says tugs at my heartstrings, but once he knows everything, I know he won’t feel that way. “To answer your question, I ended up in this profession because my parents were spies.”

“That was not in your dossier. Were they really killed in a car accident?”

“Lorenzo, what’s in my dossier is what they want people to see, and what I’m about to tell you is probably going to make you hate me more.”

“I don’t hate you, Huntley. I don’t think I ever could. I’m sorry I reacted so badly, but there was so much to deal with at once—being kidnapped, discovering I was your mission, my father’s passing, and then becoming King. I’m known as the Playboy Prince. Women flock to me. The idea that I was your job was so foreign to me that it’s taken a bit to sink in. But I keep coming back to one thing. Do you remember what you said to me after our mermaid bath?”

“That when you drop all the prince shit and be yourself, I really like you.”

“Tell me the truth, Huntley. Were those your true feelings?”

“Yes.”

“See, I feel the same way. Your job is not what enthralls me about you, you do. Not to mention that I will never be able to look at a chess game and not think of—”

“I’m doing it for myself,” I interrupt. I can’t let him think we have a chance. Because we don’t. In no world can I envision being lucky enough to be with a guy like him. Besides, once I tell him the truth, he’ll see me as the hardened assassin I was trained to be.

“Because you like killing people?”

“No, because my mother was murdered in front of me.”

He audibly sucks in his breath. “Oh, Lee.”

“I managed to shoot and wound the assassin and then escaped.”

“How old were you?”

“Twelve. A few days later, my father’s car exploded. I got out. He didn’t. I was sent to a very private school and trained for this.”

“So you seek revenge?”

“Yes. I’m going to find the assassin.”

“Then what?”

“Kill him.”

“Huntley, revenge won’t change anything. It won’t bring your mother back.”

“It’s my fault she’s dead. If I had been better trained, I would have killed the assassin before he killed her. I had a gun—I knew how to use it—but I was scared. I’m not scared anymore.”

“You were only twelve. It’s not your fault. You can’t just go kill the man.”

“Yes, I can. He deserves to die. You told me it was okay that I killed the bad guys in order to rescue you. You said they deserved to die. That makes you a hypocrite. Killing people is fine when it saves your life, is that it?”

“Maybe you are right. How about we agree to disagree?”

“This is why we could never be together, Lorenzo. I was trained to kill bad people. What if an assassin had killed your father? Would you send your army after him? The Montrovian Secret Forces? Would you want revenge?”

“Yes, I probably would,” he says with a sigh. “It’s just that I wouldn’t be the one pulling the trigger.”

“And that makes it any better?”

“No, you’re right. It doesn’t. Lee, I care about you. I worry about you. Look, just promise me, from this moment forward, we will both be completely honest with each other. About what we’re doing and about our feelings. Can you agree to that?”

I hesitate. I was trained to lie, but those lies are meant to both protect me and further my mission. Lorenzo already knows the truth about me, so I’m not sure quite how to respond. “I can sort of agree.”

“I’m afraid I need more of a commitment than that.”

“Some of the things I may be asked to do will have to be kept secret.”

“Fine. Then can you at least agree to be honest with me about your feelings?”

“Yes, that I can do.”

“Very well. I hope that means you will be able to handle what I’m about to say.” 

I brace myself for it. I’m so torn emotionally when it comes to him. Part of me wants to tell him goodbye forever. The other part of me wants to never let him go.

“Daniel’s being on my boat does not make me happy. Did you really believe I am so gracious?”

“I will admit, I was surprised, but I assumed it was because you no longer had feelings for me. When you kissed me after the coronation, it felt like goodbye. You gave Ari girls. I thought you gave me Daniel.”

“I’m far from over you.”

“I’m not sure I will ever be over you,” I say, kicking myself the second the words come tumbling out of my mouth.

“But yet you and Daniel have been together.”

“Not as much as you would think.”

“Anything is too much, and I am typically quite liberal sexually. Was Daniel part of your mission, too?” 

“You were my only mission, but we were purposely seated with him and Peter Prescott at a gala. The plan was to befriend both of them in the hope that they would give our cover validity.” 

“And our encounter at the tailor’s shop? That was also somehow set up?”

“Nope. That was completely by chance. I was shocked when you walked in.”

“So the fates brought us together regardless of your plan?”

“I guess, maybe.”

“You played very coy with me. I was crushed when you didn’t come to my party.”

“Had I gone, I would have just been another notch on your bedpost.”

“Perhaps.”

“Definitely.” I laugh. 

“It feels good to hear you laugh. Now, please go tell Daniel to get the hell off my boat, otherwise I may be forced to have the Captain throw him overboard.”

“Be sure they take his trainer, too.”

“You are sleeping with him, as well?”

“No, of course not. But since he arrived, I haven’t slept with Daniel. His training exhausts him.”

“I like the man already. So, when are you coming home?”

“Home?”

“To Montrovia. It is your home now, Contessa Von Allister, and I would very much like you back in my country where I can keep an eye on you. How would you feel about me sending the chopper to pick you up? Rescue you from boredom.”

“You’re going to rescue me?” I can’t help but laugh, especially considering I’ve saved his life on numerous occasions. “Any chance you could wear shining armor, ride in on a horse, give me the full fairytale treatment?”

“If that’s what it takes. Although, the Queen’s Ball felt like a fairytale to me. Did it not to you?”

“Part of it.”

“Which parts?”

“In your office. When I first saw you dressed in full military garb. It was easy to forget you were a prince sometimes. That night, you definitely looked the part. Then there were the shoes. And the dress. And the jewels.”

“But not the dance?”

“Not the dance. I had to constantly be vigilant. You were so exposed. I was stupid to take Allie to the restroom. I should have never left you. I screwed up and let my guard down.”

“In retrospect, it’s a good thing you did. Otherwise, you would have gotten a dart to the neck, and Ari and I would have been shark bait.”

I consider this. “Maybe you’re right.”

“So when we were alone, we felt like a fairytale?”

“In most fairytales, the girl doesn’t lie to the Prince.”

“Cinderella did.”

“She didn’t lie. She just omitted a few details about herself.”

“Does Daniel know what you do?”

“No.”

“Are you going to tell him?”

“I can’t.”

“Do you love him?” 

“I care for him—but I’m not supposed to have feelings for anyone. It was part of my training.”

“You can’t train people not to love—” The sound of a door banging open causes him to stop mid-sentence.

I hear the voice of his trusted guard, Juan. “Sorry to interrupt, Your Highness, but I thought you would want to know. The President of the United States has just been shot.”

“Um, hang on, Huntley.” He says to Juan, “Can you repeat that?”

“The President of the United States was shot, possibly fatally. It happened only a few minutes ago.”

“Did you hear that?” Lorenzo asks me. 

“I did,” I say, getting up and slipping into a robe. How could this be? They send me to save the Prince of a teeny country like Montrovia but allow our own President to get shot? 

I rush down the stairs to the salon, grab the remote control from the bar, and flip on the television. 

And there it is running across the bottom of the screen: Breaking News:  The President of the United States has been shot. 

“I’m turning on CNN,” Lorenzo says. The sound on his end is a few seconds ahead of mine.

An anchorman is discussing law with a White House correspondent. “Our twenty-fifth amendment was put into place for situations such as these. The Vice President will submit in writing to Congress that the President is unable to perform his duties and will become the Acting President.”

“And if President recovers?” the anchor asks.

“The Vice President stays Acting President until the President himself can submit in writing his ability to run the country.”

“And do we know if this has taken place yet?”

“We do not. We’re awaiting a press conference.”

“Can you tell us what you think is happening behind the scenes?”

“Based on protocol, the Vice President, who was in route to the Summit, would have been diverted and taken to a secure location.”

“How does the Vice President determine the President unable to serve?”

“I imagine he is being updated on the President’s condition.”

“Let’s run that footage now,” the anchor says, cutting him off. “We have Dr. Saul Penchant on the phone. Doctor, can you please watch this video and give us your professional opinion as to what condition you expect the President to be in?” He pauses and looks directly at the camera. “To our viewers, please note that this footage is of a graphic nature. Viewer discretion is advised.”

I mute the sound, wanting to see what happened with my own eyes and not be swayed by someone else’s opinion.

The President, surrounded by Secret Service, gets out of his limousine and turns to wave at the crowd gathered, who are being held back by construction barriers. Most are there to see the dignitaries as they arrive, but some are protesting the Summit. Just as the President turns back toward the entrance to the Summit, his body lurches. I pause the footage, rewind, and then watch it again in super-slow motion. The bullet appears to have entered the back of his neck. Most likely effective, but lower than I was taught to aim. 

“They’re saying he’s been taken to the hospital,” Lorenzo says into my ear, causing me to set down the remote. “What’s your professional opinion?”

“A sniper, obviously, but based on where the President was hit, I’d say the shooter wasn’t up very high. The trajectory of the bullet appears flatter than I would expect. For a kill shot, ideally you hit the brainstem, which controls all body functions. However, this shot didn’t have optimal placement. If the President was lucky, the bullet may have passed clean through his neck.”

“And if he was unlucky?”

“It hit a major artery or the spinal cord.”

“How could someone do that? Security around the President is so tight.”

“Same way they almost got you. There’s no possible way the Secret Service can control every single window in the area. All it takes is one spot. One shot. Not that hard to do.”

“Are you saying you could do it?”

“I could definitely do it. Quite frankly, shooting him wouldn’t be that hard. Getting away with it is another story.”

“So you think they will catch the assassin?”

“Depends on how good he is.”

“Would they catch you?” he asks, a smile in his voice. 

“The plan would be to not get caught.”

“So you were trained to shoot like that?”

“I have very good skills with all types of weapons from varying distances, but I’m a much better shot at close range.”

“Thank God for that,” he says.

I hear Juan speaking to him again then Lorenzo says, “I’m afraid I have to go now, Huntley. I’m being called into an emergency meeting. Take care, my love.”

 

After we end the call I sit at the bar, processing. I should be worried about our President and what it means for our country, but my thoughts are on Lorenzo. Two things he said took me by surprise, the first being that he still cares for me. The second being that Daniel somehow found out about me being on the yacht by myself and managed to convince the crew he was to join me. 

“Would you care for a drink, Contessa?” Marco, one of the stewards asks, joining me in the salon.

“Got anything for a hangover?” I laugh. “How are you feeling today?”

“Remind me not to party with you,” he says, relaxing his stiff posture. “You’re an instigator.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means you encouraged us to do shots, but did not partake in them yourself.”

“I most certainly did, but I am not stupid enough to think I can match shots with someone of your body weight.”

He looks down, patting his very firm stomach, and gives me a smile. Marco is funny, a great dancer, and likes to party. “Are you saying I’m fat?”

“I’m simply stating that you weigh more than I do.”

His eyes move slowly down my body as his smile curls upward. “True.”

“Can I ask you something in confidence, Marco?”

“Of course, Contessa.”

“When did Daniel arrive on the Royal Yacht?”

“Just before you did. We were not notified in advance of his presence, but were ordered by the King to accommodate your every desire.”

“And what made you think I desired Daniel?”

“He said he was to meet you aboard,” he replies, as he moves behind the bar to make me a drink.

 

The fact that Daniel lied concerns me, and I wonder what that says about his character. Considering I’ve lied to him repeatedly, I shouldn’t really judge, but I do. I have good reasons to lie. He doesn’t.

With a concoction Marco calls “Hair of the Dog” in hand, I make my way down to the pool deck and spend a few minutes drinking it while watching Daniel carve through the water. 

“Look at that,” his trainer says as I approach. “The butterfly is the most physically demanding of all strokes and purely competitive, but when well executed is a thing of beauty. Daniel’s perfect body movements are poetry in motion.”

I can’t argue with that, but I’m probably not focusing on the same thing he is. I’m focused on Daniel’s perfectly formed shoulders and his sheer power. 

“He holds the world record in the 200-meter butterfly,” the trainer continues, “but I think he could break it at the Olympics this year.” He looks directly at me. “If he’s not distracted.”

I ignore his comment, walk to the end of the pool, slip off my robe, and jump directly in Daniel’s path. 

Then I realize it was a stupid move because he’s coming at me fast and doesn’t appear to see me.

As I prepare to jump out of the way, he dives down, grabs me around the waist, kisses my stomach, then pops out of the water.

“My trainer is going to be pissed you interrupted my session,” he says, pulling off his goggles and lowering his lips to my shoulder. “But I love it.”

“Daniel, we need to talk. In private,” I say, then I extricate myself from his hold and climb out of the pool. 

As I step onto the pool deck, Marco is there, holding out a fresh robe for me to slip over my bikini.

Daniel gets out of the pool, wraps a towel loosely around his waist, and follows me to the owner’s suite where I’m staying, ignoring shouts from his trainer to get his butt back into the pool. 

“What’s up?” he asks, sliding the towel off his hips and running it through his wet hair.

“How did you know I would be on the Royal Yacht?”

“Ellis told me when I went to your villa. Ari was having a party with only beautiful women on the guest list.”

“So why didn’t you stay there and party?”

“Because you were the only beautiful woman I was looking for. I needed to see for myself that you were okay, and I wanted to apologize for the bathroom.”

“You never apologized.”

He gives me a grin. “Well, I’m really not sorry for the bathroom. I wanted you. Now I have you.”

“I just spoke to Lorenzo. He wasn’t pleased to learn you were on his boat.”

Daniel unties my robe and slides his hands inside, gripping my hips and bringing them toward his. Normally, I love his cockiness and find his take-charge ways appealing, but not now. I back away from him and readjust my robe over my bikini.

“You’re mad?”

“I don’t like to be lied to.” 

“I never lied to you.”

“You told me you were my party.”

“And I was,” he says, flashing his dimples. “And it was one hell of a party. We spent the entire first twelve hours in my bed. If my trainer hadn’t arrived, it would have been longer.”

I knead my fingers into my eyebrows, calming myself down. It’s clear that I am not well trained on one thing: relationships. No surprise. I’m supposed to avoid them. I’m only supposed to have meaningless sex—which is all this gorgeous man in front of me was ever supposed to be. 

And how I need to keep it.

“I’ll talk to Lorenzo,” he finally says. “Is he mad at you? I assumed that you two were over since you weren’t together after the kidnapping. Do you need to talk about it? Were you badly traumatized?”

“Isn’t that something you should have asked me earlier? I didn’t even hear from you after the kidnapping. You didn’t even seem to care I was still alive.”

“Of course I cared, but I’m the Vice President’s son. I got shot with a tranquilizer dart and knocked out. I was either in the constant care of doctors or being asked a million questions.”

“Like what?”

“Like what I remembered.”

“And what was that?”

“Why are you asking me all these questions?”

“Because it happened to both of us. Wouldn’t it be normal to talk about it? Were you at all worried about me? I was kidnapped, threatened at gunpoint. I saw people get shot. Yet, for four days, there was no word from you. Not even a single text.”

“I’m sorry,” he says, putting his head down. “I wasn’t allowed.”

“By who?”

“You came onto the scene quickly. There were some people in the government who were questioning you and Ari.”

“So they took your phone?”

“They advised me not to have contact with you until they cleared your background.”

“Maybe they should have done that before we had sex,” I say, smarting. I’m mad. Worked up in the same way I was that night at The Casino when I was upset with both him and the Prince. Mad at people I’m not even supposed to have feelings for in the first place.

That’s it.

My mission in Montrovia is over. 

My relationships with both Lorenzo and Daniel should be as well. 

He reaches out to touch my face, but I bob my head to the side so that he misses.

“I can’t deal with drama right now, Huntley. I have to focus on my training.”

“And I’m a distraction. I know. Your coach already told me so. Maybe you training here isn’t a good idea.”

“You are mad.”

“It doesn’t really matter, Daniel.” I throw my hands up in the air, wondering why I’m even fighting with him when there is something more important I need to tell him. “That’s really not even what I wanted to talk to you about.” I grab the remote off the nightstand and flip on the TV. “The President of the United States was just shot.”

“Jack was shot?” he asks, calling President John F. Hillford, Jr. by his nickname.

“Do you know him well?”

“Pretty well. What did Lorenzo say about it? Does he know anything?”

“We were talking on the phone when he was informed of the news. He didn’t have any details.”

“Turn it up!” he yells out, as the picture flashes to the White House Press Room, and his father steps behind the podium.

I do as he asks and watch as he backs up and slowly sits on my bed. I may be spending time with Daniel on the boat, but I insisted on separate living quarters. I couldn’t bring myself to sleep with Daniel in Lorenzo’s suite. 

His father speaks. “As most of you probably have already heard, the President of the United States was shot outside the entrance to the International Summit. We’re still awaiting details on his condition, but we know that his life is in grave danger. I ask that you pray not only for your President, but for his wife, Blair, and his daughters, Cara and Isabelle. And for his parents, the former President John Hillford, Senior and his wife, Betty. Although he is the leader of our great nation, he is, first and foremost, a husband, a father, and a son. 

“It’s too early in the investigation to know who is behind the shooting, but rest assured, we will find those responsible and bring them to justice. May God bless the President, and may God bless the United States of America,” he says, concluding his speech. 

“Mr. Vice President,” a reporter says. “Are you the Acting President?”

Daniel’s father closes his eyes and nods. He’s visibly upset. “Yes, while the President is incapacitated, I am Acting President.”

“What about the shooter? Has there been an arrest?”

“I can’t comment on the investigation, other than to say it is open, and I’ve received no definitive judgment on the shooter’s motive or identity.”

“Mr. Vice President, does that mean the shooter is still at large?”

“Yes, that is correct.” The room breaks out in slight hysteria, reporters teetering on the edges of their chairs, eager to dissect this news on air. The Press Secretary steps in front of the podium as Daniel’s dad moves away and says, “No further questions.” 

“I need to talk to my dad.” Daniel runs into his stateroom to get his cell phone, comes back to sit next to me, and dials.

“Dad!” he says when his father answers. Because I’m sitting close, I can hear their conversation. “Are you safe?”

His father replies, “I’m in the White House. One of the safest places in the world.”

“I just saw your press conference. How is Jack?”

“Not good, son.”

“And do you really not know who the shooter was? Has no one taken credit?”

“The shooter was an assassin. And a very good one, since we can’t find a single shred of evidence. Are you at your training facility?”

“No, I’m on Prince Lorenzo’s yacht in Ibiza.”

“You mean King Vallenta?”

“Yeah, whatever.”

“I want you back in Washington,” his father says as I hear a chopper off in the distance.

I go outside to investigate. 

The chopper lands on the yacht’s helipad, and Lorenzo gets out looking sexy as ever in an all black suit, black spread collared shirt, and shiny Italian loafers. 

“What are you doing here?” I ask, greeting him with a tight hug. It’s only been a few days since I’ve last seen him, but it feels like much longer. 

“I’m told Daniel needs to get back to the States,” he says, giving me cheek kisses.

“Are you sure you don’t just want him off your boat?” I whisper.

He winks at me in reply.