“Clever.”

“It works anyway.” A knock sounded on the door, and Levi called out, “Come in.”

Janessa entered. “I spoke with King Eduard. King Alejandro agreed to let you revise their security plan.”

“Excellent.” Levi stood when Janessa held out a file. “What’s this?”

“The crime scene photos after the shooting and the current images of the palace grounds in Sereno.”

“Thanks.” Levi tucked the file on the far side of his laptop. “What about security footage?”

“It’s in your email.”

“Perfect.”

“Garrett also wanted me to remind you that tomorrow night we’re hosting the French ambassador. He thought you both might want to join us.”

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” Levi said. “Sereno has a lot of dealings with France. I don’t think it’s worth the risk in case someone recognizes Cassie.”

“I figured you would say that, but Garrett wanted me to offer.”

“It was a kind gesture,” Cassie said. “Please thank him for me.”

“I will.” Janessa took a step toward the door. “I’d better get going. I’m off to the museum to discuss the upcoming gala.”

“Good luck,” Levi said. He waited until she left the room before he sat back down. “Now, where were we?”

“We were looking for the people who are keeping me from being able to wear pretty dresses.”

Levi’s eyebrows lifted. “You like wearing pretty dresses?”

“Actually, I do.”

“Hmmm.” Levi slid her computer back toward her. “We’ll have to see what we can do about that.”

“Let me revise that statement,” Cassie said. “I like dressing up when I don’t have to worry about anyone shooting me.”

“Noted.”

* * *

Levi had done it. Sort of.

The firewalls installed on Cassie’s laptop would have immediately detected the spyware, but he had taken the precaution of loading his location app that would run in the background undetected. That brief moment when Cassie had looked away to retrieve his notepad had been all the time he had needed to add it.

Levi should have been disappointed that he had failed to fully complete an assignment given him, but his sense of duty couldn’t quite overcome the idea that he would be betraying Cassie by following through. He could justify the tracking program. After all, he would be the only one who could access it to find her computer if she or it disappeared. With his plan to stay with her through this security threat, he doubted he would ever need to use the tracker, but he preferred to take precautions when possible.

A phone call from Franco had given him a handy excuse to pull him away from his office and to provide him time to come to terms with his actions of the past hour. He should have been able to compartmentalize his work life and his relationship with Cassie, but the lines were blurring, and he didn’t know what to do about it.

His phone rang, a blocked number indicated on his screen. He answered with a simple hello.