Cassie stood, and immediately, her father gripped her arms, checking for himself to make sure she was indeed okay. Then he swept her into his embrace.

Keeping her close, her father motioned to the foyer. “What happened here? How did those men get past our guards?”

“We don’t know yet, Your Majesty.”

“Find out.”

The guard bowed. “Yes, sire.”

* * *

King Alejandro paced his office, his phone to his ear as his palace manager gave him the update on their dinner guests. Despite the shooting, the meal had been served, but instead of dining with royalty, those present had been joined by several local police detectives.

Alejandro finished his call, but his restless pacing didn’t cease. What he wouldn’t give to have his wife’s calm presence beside him, to have the fresh perspective a woman’s eye could give.

The thought of discussing tonight’s events with Cassie surfaced only to be pushed firmly away. His daughter had suffered enough trauma. Even now, she was locked in her room with two guards posted outside her door. He wasn’t taking any chances with her safety or the safety of his other two daughters.

Deep down, though, he knew extra guards wouldn’t be enough. They wouldn’t be safe until he understood what the assassins wanted. If he gained understanding, he could mount a defense. Until then, his entire family was vulnerable.

Questions rolled through his mind on repeat. Was this attack on him because of some decision he had made, or had it been an attempt to force a change of power? Was the hostile force from within his sphere of influence, or had it come from another nation? And who would have benefited had the assassination attempt been successful?

The last question lingered in his mind.

He circled his office again, his gaze drawn to a seascape that had graced his wall for the past three months. The painting had been a gift from the Meridian royal family, given to him when Prince Garrett had visited with his new bride.

The two countries had been allies for centuries, but those relations had strained when King Eduard had allowed the Americans to build a naval base on his coast, ultimately increasing the military traffic in the area. Despite the recent challenges, Alejandro had hung the painting in his private workspace as a reminder of the constant battle between land and sea, a battle that man often recreated.

The thought that the Americans could be behind tonight’s attack rooted in his mind. Although several countries had expressed interest in partnering with Sereno to harvest the rich fields of natural gas in their territorial waters, the Americans had also tried to home in on his small island country, eager to explore and exploit.

More questions rose within him, but he fought them back. He didn’t need speculation. He needed details, both on how the assassins had made it past his security and on the condition of his injured guards.

A knock sounded on his door.