Bennett set his cup down and stopped pacing. “In what way?”

“Three other agents have been killed trying to do what Hannah has nearly succeeded in doing. The last was butchered.” He watched Bennett’s face pale. He would have spared his son this, as a father. Now, as prince, he could spare him nothing. “By bringing her here in this way, letting you, all of you, believe what Deboque wanted you to believe, Hannah had the only protection we could offer. If she’s discovered, even the ISS can’t protect her. Now that you know all that you know, her risk is greater than ever.”

In silence, Bennett crossed the room to sit across from his father. Though the turmoil was building all too quickly inside, his face was calm. “I’m in love with her.”

“Yes.” Armand sat back. “I was afraid you were.”

“I will not stand still and watch Deboque hurt someone else I love.”

“Bennett, there are times, too many times, when our personal feelings can’t influence our actions.”

“For you.” Bennett’s voice was still calm, but slightly colder. “Perhaps for Alex as well, but not for me. I prefer to kill him myself.”

Armand felt a ripple of fear, a tingle of pride and controlled both. “If you do anything to interfere with the operation at this point, you could be responsible for Hannah’s death, not Deboque’s.”

Pushed to his limit, Bennett leaned forward. “Do you understand, I’m in love with her? If you were in my position, could you do nothing?”

Armand studied his son’s face and remembered the only woman he’d ever loved. “I can only say that I would do whatever was necessary to keep her safe. Even if that meant doing nothing.” He rose and went to his desk. “Read these.” He lifted a small stack of files that carried the stamp of highest security. “These contain background information on Hannah, some of her own reports concerning certain assignments and most recently, her progress with Deboque. I’ll leave you so that you can read them here. They mustn’t leave this room.”

Bennett rose to accept the files. “Where is she now?”

He had hoped the question wouldn’t be asked. “She received a message early this morning. She’s gone to Deboque.”

*   *   *

She had to play this one very carefully. Hannah sat with her hands folded on her lap in the elegant salon of Deboque’s rented villa. Though the meeting was on land this time, she knew if her cover hadn’t held up, she was just as much alone as she had been on the yacht.