Chapter 11 - THE PRICE OF A CROWN
Alina looked at her brother.
“You set me up.”
Leo couldn’t meet her eyes.
Stefan smiled.
“Family reunions are always emotional.”
Alina reached for her weapon.
Three rifles lifted.
Leo whispered, “Don’t.”
She looked at him.
“You told them?”
“I had to.”
“No. You chose to.”
Stefan stepped closer.
He had aged well.
Perfect silver hair.
Perfect suit.
Perfect smile.
The same smile he wore at her mother’s funeral.
“You look like her,” he said.
Alina’s eyes hardened.
“Don’t talk about my mother.”
“She was my sister.”
“And you murdered her.”
Stefan sighed.
“Still dramatic.”
“Did you order the bomb?”
Leo looked at him too.
For the first time, Stefan didn’t answer immediately.
Alina saw it.
So did Leo.
Stefan smiled.
“Yes.”
One word.
Leo staggered.
“You told me it was Vale.”
“I told you many things.”
“You said the bomb was supposed to scare them.”
“Leo.”
“You said nobody was supposed to die!”
Stefan’s smile disappeared.
“Your father would never abdicate.”
Leo rushed him.
Soldiers grabbed him.
“You used me!”
Stefan slapped him across the face.
“I made you useful.”
Alina lunged.
A rifle struck her stomach.
She fell.
Leo screamed.
“Don’t touch her!”
Stefan crouched beside Alina.
“Tomorrow, Leo becomes king.”
“He’ll expose you.”
“No.”
Stefan looked at Leo.
“Because thirty minutes after his coronation, his beloved sister will attempt to assassinate me.”
Alina understood Project Crownfall.
“You’re framing me.”
“Exactly.”
“And then?”
“You die resisting arrest.”
Leo shouted, “No!”
Stefan ignored him.
“Leo declares martial law. The opposition disappears. Vale receives his contracts.”
“Vale will betray you.”
“He already tried.”
Stefan smiled.
“That is why Mr. Vale will also suffer a tragic accident tomorrow.”
Alina almost laughed.
“You think you’re smarter than everyone.”
“I’ve survived this long.”
“You survived because everyone around you trusted you.”
Stefan grabbed her chin.
“And look how well that worked for me.”
They dragged Alina beneath the palace into the old royal prison.
Leo was taken elsewhere.
Her cell was cold.
No windows.
No phone.
No weapons.
Nothing.
She sat on the floor.
For the first time since New York, she felt truly afraid.
Not of dying.
Of failing.
Hours passed.
Then footsteps approached.
A guard stopped outside.
Alina stood.
The cell opened.
Marcus stepped inside wearing a military uniform.
She stared.
“What are you doing here?”
“Rescuing a princess.”
“How?”
“I bribed three guards.”
She blinked.
“That’s your plan?”
“I’m American. We monetize problems.”
Despite everything, she laughed.
Marcus unlocked her handcuffs.
“Rovan and Darek are inside the palace perimeter.”
“What about Leo?”
“We don’t know.”
Alina grabbed the guard’s pistol.
Then an alarm began screaming.
Marcus looked at her.
“That wasn’t me.”
A voice came over the palace speakers.
“Security alert. Prince Leo has escaped custody.”
May you like
Alina smiled.
“That was him.”
