Cassie watched the other guard collect the shooter’s weapon and check for a pulse. “This one is dead.”

He moved to where Levi now lay.

“Call another ambulance. He’s got a leg wound.”

The guard beside her made the call.

“What about Darius?” Cassie asked.

“A medic is with him now.” The guard motioned toward the pasture. “Please, Your Highness. I insist you let me take you back to the palace.”

Levi rolled his head toward her. “Go with him, Cassie.”

“But . . .”

“Go with him. I want you safe.”

Cassie pressed her lips together and nodded. Her body trembling, she turned away from Levi and followed the guard toward the transportation that would take her home.

* * *

Levi watched Cassie disappear through the trees, a tangle of worry knotting in his stomach. Would he ever see her again?

He turned to the guard beside him. Levi flipped through his memory for the man’s name. “Arturo, how is Darius?”

“Alive. He took a bullet to the back, but he was conscious when we got to him.” Arturo motioned to Levi’s leg. “Is that the only place you were hit?”

“Yeah.” Levi struggled to sit up. He looked down at the small hole in his pant leg, the bloodstain barely noticeable.

A cell phone rang. It took Levi a moment to remember he had lost his in the grass. “My phone fell over there. Can you see if you can find it for me?”

“Sure.”

The phone stopped ringing, then started a moment later. Arturo followed the sound, locating Levi’s cell within seconds. He looked at the screen. “It’s someone named Janessa.”

Levi took the phone from Arturo as it stopped ringing a second time and pressed the screen to call Janessa back.

“Hey, Levi. Sorry I missed your call earlier. Our phones were out.”

“I think someone was scrambling the cell signals,” Levi said. “Are you at the museum?”

“I’m heading there in a few minutes.”

“I need you to get ahold of Pierre. I think there’s a robbery happening tonight.”

“Do you know what the target is?”

“I’m pretty sure it’s the exhibit on loan from the royal family here in Sereno,” Levi said. “Jeremy and Noelle are heading your way. They found out Dimitri Breuer arrived in Meridia today.”

“The art thief?”

“That’s the one.”

“I’ll get the word out and talk to Pierre.”

“Thanks.” Levi glanced at the bloodstain on his pants. “I’m a little tied up here, but keep me informed.”

“I will.”

Levi hung up. He hated feeling helpless, and at the moment, he wasn’t capable of doing anyone any good. As much as he despised it, for now, he had to trust Sereno’s royal guard to keep Cassie safe, and he had to trust Janessa, Jeremy, and Noelle to protect Sereno’s national treasures.

He looked down at his leg again. Getting shot was extremely inconvenient.

* * *

Alejandro sat on a ridiculously uncomfortable bench beside the window in the front hall. When the gunshots had started again, the guards had ushered him inside to safety, and his anxiety had been rising with each passing minute.