The bomb planted just over two years before in the Paris Embassy had been meant for his father. Instead it had killed Seward, a loyal assistant, leaving a woman widowed and three children fatherless. That, too, had been Deboque’s doing.

And in all the years, nearly ten now since Gabriella’s kidnapping, no one had proved Deboque’s involvement in the kidnapping, the conspiracies or the murders. The best investigators in Europe, including Bennett’s brother-in-law, had been brought in, but none of them had proved that Deboque had pulled the strings.

Now, within days, he would be free.

There was no doubt in Bennett’s mind that Deboque would continue to seek revenge. The Royal Family was his enemy if for no other reason than he’d been held in a Cordinian prison for over a decade. Neither was there any doubt that during that decade, he’d continued to deal in drugs, weapons and women.

No doubt, and no proof.

Guards would be added. Security would be tightened. Interpol would continue its work, as would the International Security System. But both Interpol and the ISS had been trying to nail Deboque with murder and conspiracy to murder for years. Until he was gotten under control and the strings to his organization severed, Cordina and the rest of Europe were vulnerable.

Hands in pockets, Bennett strode out to the garden. At least they’d dined en famille that evening. It had relieved some strain, even though little could be said in front of Eve’s new friend. He doubted if anyone that quiet and prim would have picked up on any tension around the table. She had answered when spoken to and nursed one glass of wine throughout the meal.

He would have wished her back to England a dozen times if he hadn’t seen how good she actually was for Eve. His sister-in-law was three months pregnant with her second child and didn’t need the additional strain of talk of Deboque. Two years before she’d nearly been killed protecting Alexander. If Lady Hannah could keep Eve’s mind off Deboque, even for a few hours a day, it would be worth the inconvenience of having her in the palace.

He needed to talk with Reeve. Bennett drove his balled fists into his pockets. Reeve MacGee was more than his sister’s husband. As head of security, he would have some answers. And Bennett certainly had the questions—dozens of them. More was being done than the placing of extra guards. Bennett refused to go through the next weeks blindly while others worked to protect him and his family.

Swearing softly, he looked up at the sky. The moon was cloudless and half full. Another time, with the scents of the garden wafting around him, he would have itched for a woman to watch the sky with. Now, filled with frustration, he preferred the solitude.