to my country’s welfare.”
She didn’t like the sound of that. They never had dealt with the accusation the king had made in that first volatile meeting after the wedding.
“So, you were just in Palermo on vacation?” she asked after greeting another guest.
“No. I was on business, I told you.”
“For Isole dei Re.”
“We run many interests to support our island country’s economy.”
“Uh-huh. You took a long break after university before diving into the country’s business though, right? Traveled the world. Dated beautiful women. Played with the other young royals of the world.”
He did another introduction and then laughed drily. “Not a chance. I took over my current position a week after getting my MBA from Harvard.”
“I’d say you’re pretty darn dutiful and committed to the best interests of your country then.”
Mich didn’t reply, but he was smiling when she looked at him.
TWO DAYS LATER, Kiki had her first ultrasound.
They couldn’t tell the baby’s sex, but everything looked good. The doctor questioned the dates, saying the baby and Kiki’s uterus were measuring a week smaller than they should be.
But there could be no doubt on the timing for when she got pregnant, so the due date remained the same on her charts.
Kiki was surprised later that afternoon to be called into the king’s office. Mich was already there, looking as clueless as Kiki about what his father wanted.
Giannetta was also there, and Kiki did not take that as a good sign.
“It grieves me to have this conversation with you, but Giannetta has brought something to my attention that cannot be ignored.”
Showing good instincts, Mich slid his arm around Kiki’s waist. “What is going on, Dad?”
King Claudio’s lips tilted slightly at the familiar address. “Giannetta has informed me that your ultrasound,” he said to Kiki, “measures a week smaller than dates provided by you and my son would indicate.”
“But you already knew—” Mich started, but his father shook his head just slightly.
Kiki didn’t know what was going on, but she did know she was tired of Giannetta being in her business. “Yes. Now, can someone please explain to me why this woman is privy to my medical records?”
“Precisely,” King Claudio said, giving Giannetta a frigid stare.
“But you said you were concerned, too. You can’t believe she’s telling the truth about Vittoro being the father of her child. She just wanted to marry into royalty. You need to demand a DNA test.”
“No one is performing a DNA test on my unborn child,” Kiki said in a tone a lot like her dad’s when he was ready to start taking people apart, or at least their departments.
Huh. Her mom had always said they were more alike than Kiki wanted to admit.
“Of course not,” Mich said, his hold on her tightening. “Our child will never be put at risk, if I can help it.”
“Because you are very protective of your family,” King Claudio said, as if he was trying to give his son a message.
Which Kiki was sure he was. Her own dad sucked at apologizing, too.
“I am.”
“You are a very good prince, and more important, you are a son to be proud of.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
Kiki grinned, but then the smile slipped from her face, and she looked straight at Giannetta. “I’ll leave it to the king to find out how you got confidential information about me, but let me warn you that my family makes very formidable and dangerous enemies. Think very carefully before you make the mistake of trying to take me on again.”
“Precisely,” King Claudio said again. “I could not have said it any better. Kiki’s family is both formidable and dangerous. As the head of that family, let me tell you what is going to happen. Your father’s diplomatic assignment is going to be changing.”
“It is?” Giannetta asked, her face draining of color.
“Sì. He will be assigned to Volyarus. It is another island country, though not in nearly such warm climes. He should do well there. He is a good diplomat. You will accompany your father.”
“You’re kicking me out of Isole dei Re?”
“For your father’s sake, I am not pressing charges for this reprehensible breach of protocol and privacy. However, you will not be welcome back into this country for a minimum of five years. It is entirely your father’s discretion whether he keeps you with him in Volyarus. He will however be informed of your attempt to do harm to my daughter-in-law.”
“But what about—”
King Claudio turned to Mich. “Micheli, do you have any doubts about the parentage of your baby?”
What an odd way to ask the question, but then maybe not. Maybe that was a message from the king to Kiki.
“None.” No doubts in Mich’s voice and Kiki hadn’t expected any.
“Nor do I,” the king spelled it out. “Kiki, you are a welcome and trusted member of our family.”
“Thank you.”
She ignored Giannetta’s continued squawking as the king rose and came around his desk to give her and then his son a tight hug. “Welcome to the family, Kiki.”
She grinned and kissed his cheek. “Thank you. I think you and my father are going to have a lot of fun being related.”
The king gave a mock shudder, and Mich laughed before pulling Kiki from the room.
* * *
Micheli tugged Kiki into his lap on the leather sofa after leading her to their suite. “I’m sorry you had to endure that.”
“I’m not.” Her lovely gray eyes reflected her bone-deep honesty. “I think Giannetta tipped your dad over to our side.”
“He was coming around anyway.”
She shrugged.
“Are you going to be okay?” he asked, not sure how to articulate his worries.
“With being a princess? With facing people like Giannetta, because there’s always someone out there who wants what I have?”
“Yes, that.”
“Tell
