“What is being displayed?”

“Your future.”

“My future?”

Alejandro hesitated a moment before he shared more details. “The exhibit in Meridia includes our portion of the succession agreement as well as six of the founding jewels.”

“Why would you put those out in the public, and where are the rest of the founding jewels?” Cassie asked.

“Six of the gems were stolen the night of the shooting. The others have been lent out to various museums in Europe for safekeeping,” Alejandro said. “The succession agreement will make its rounds to each of the museums to be displayed.”

“Why?”

“Because someone in the Escobar family is trying to take over the throne.”

“Do you know who?” Cassie asked.

“Yes. And I think I know where.”

CHAPTER 38

The tightness in Levi’s chest increased until he could barely breathe. The guard who had escorted him from the king’s apartment had thankfully allowed him privacy in his own quarters to pack.

Levi pulled his suitcases from his closet and tossed them on the bed. One bounced twice and tumbled to the floor. Levi left it where it lay and closed his eyes as he fought against the despair that threatened to drown him. He loved Cassie. He hadn’t realized how much until the moment their possible future had been ripped away from him.

Levi looked around the bedroom he had come to think of as his own. He knew when he arrived, he wouldn’t stay here indefinitely, but he had envisioned moving to another section of the palace once the security enhancements were complete. Now he knew the palace would never be his home.

Mentally, he went through the checklist of the remaining items to be completed for the security upgrades. The new fencing would arrive early next week, and the motion detectors on the beach would be installed tomorrow. Five more days were all he needed to complete the latest round of upgrades.

Darius had proven to be a good man, quick to incorporate the improvements, but that didn’t change the fact that Levi was being forced to entrust Cassie’s safety to another. If only the king hadn’t discovered his true identity.

Levi opened the suitcase on the bed and removed his weapon cases. Systematically, he collected his belongings and packed them. He completed his task and stacked his luggage by the door before the question surfaced: How did King Alejandro know Levi was CIA?

Levi’s cover story had been in place so long, no one should have been able to penetrate it, at least not without the Agency seeing some significant red flags. Had King Eduard told King Alejandro, or had Cassandra’s father learned some other way?

His phone rang, and Director Palmer’s number lit up the screen. Maybe those red flags had been flying and no one had managed to tell Levi in time.

Levi answered the phone. “Did you already hear the news?”

“If you’re talking about an Escobar living in Sereno, yes.”

“A member of the Escobar family is here?” Levi asked. “Who? Where is he?”