“I wasn’t trying to get away from you. I had a lot of work to do.”

She considered Levi’s long hours and their constant time together. “I suppose you probably wanted time to yourself too.”

“It wasn’t that.” Levi stared out at the water. “I work in a profession that is filled with questions. I’m always preparing for the future, no matter how scary it might be. It’s difficult to do my job well when I’m emotionally involved with the person I’m protecting.”

Cassie didn’t know whether to delight in his comment that he was emotionally involved with her or fear a coming change between them. “How have you handled this sort of situation in the past?”

“I’ve never had to, at least not with someone I was tasked to protect,” Levi said. “I guess protecting Janessa is the closest I’ve ever come to being attached to someone I was assigned to help.”

A flare of jealousy surfaced. “How is it that you and Janessa became so close?”

“I told you before. We work together sometimes,” Levi said. “She and Garrett probably know me better than anyone outside my family.”

“I envy you that friendship.”

“You can have that too.”

“It’s not easy in my position.”

“Nothing worth having is ever easy.” He laced his fingers with hers.

She looked down at the connection between them. “I suppose you’re right.”

CHAPTER 23

Levi was grateful the surveillance tapes of the Sereno attack didn’t arrive until after he had said good night to Cassie. The violence of what had happened during the assassination attempt wasn’t something he wanted her to relive anytime soon.

The display of violence was bad enough, but what disturbed Levi more than anything was the methodical way the assassins had gone about their task. Deliberate, controlled, with no show of emotion. They were well prepared, the attack well planned, and they knew exactly where their target would be when they arrived.

That last fact repeated through his mind. He agreed with the security forces that Cassandra had been the target. If he were to guess, her sisters would be next if the next attempt succeeded. Levi had no doubt there would be a next attempt. The question was, When and where?

The precision of the assassins’ timing raised the possibility of an insider from the palace leaking information, but an interception of communication was also within the realm of possibilities. Had the downed guard been the source, or was someone else working within the walls of the palace in Sereno?

Levi spent two hours replaying the surveillance tapes and then got up early the next morning and watched them twice more. Every viewing brought him to the same conclusion. The timing was perfect. The assassins knew when Cassie would pass by the entrance within seconds of her arrival.

After Levi showered and dressed for the day, he went in search of Cassie. When his knock on her door went unanswered, he wasn’t surprised to find her sitting downstairs on the terrace.