A piece of his heart chipped away as he faced the truth: in order to protect her, he might very well need to put up the emotional walls between them that would take away everything that was most precious to him.

Levi took a deep breath and blew it out. He tried to pretend he had control over his emotions when he picked up his office phone and dialed the security office.

“Rachelle.”

“Did you see the news?” Levi asked with more sharpness than he intended.

“It was hard to miss,” Rachelle said. “I thought your girlfriend looked familiar, but I didn’t realize she was a princess.”

Levi absorbed the pang that speared through him at her use of the word girlfriend. “Have the paparazzi already shown up?”

“They’re lined up along the south gate,” Rachelle said. “We had a perimeter breach along the cliffs, and a boat came into the chateau’s private waters.”

“Were they both intercepted?”

“Yes. No one was apprehended, but someone has been pushing the boundaries. At least Prince Garrett and Princess Janessa don’t have any pressing engagements in the village today.”

“That’s good.” Levi went through his mental checklist of how to best heighten security. “I assume you heard about the attempt on Cassandra’s life a couple weeks ago.”

“I did. I already sent extra guards out to do a perimeter check this morning, and we’re keeping an eye on the motion sensors and security cameras,” Rachelle said. “Everything’s been quiet for the past couple hours.”

“Do you need an extra set of eyes?”

“That’s okay. I already reworked the schedule so we’ll have enough staff,” Rachelle said.

“Good. That’ll let me work on some other security issues.”

“One more thing I thought you should know. We picked up the paparazzo who was outside the chateau yesterday.”

“Who was it?”

“His name is Oscar Laxmi.”

“Does he have any connection to Sereno?”

“Not that we can tell, but this is the first time he’s been picked up here in Meridia,” Rachelle said. “He said he’s been living in Italy, but that’s all we got out of him. In fact, this is the first time he’s ever been picked up with anything to do with infringing on someone’s privacy.”

“Is he still in custody?”

“He’s being released in an hour and will be escorted to the airport. Prince Garrett said he would inform King Alejandro of the man’s identity in case he tries to follow Cassandra home when she leaves here.”

“Thanks.”

“I’ll keep you updated.”

“I appreciate it.” Levi hung up the phone and saw Janessa in the doorway to his office. He stood and waved her inside. “Janessa, I’m so sorry. Cassie and I left the beach as soon as I saw a boat coming into photography range. Obviously, I didn’t move fast enough.”

Janessa walked in and closed the door. “Levi, everyone can get distracted now and then, especially when you spend so much time with someone you find interesting and attractive.”

“I know better.”