Catharine & Edward (9 page)

When he saw her phone flash with a message, he thought she’d wake from the notification sound, but no noise came. Realizing she’d put the phone on sleep mode before she went to bed, he lifted it and illuminated the screen.

Philip.

He was sending a message in the middle of the night, demanding she call him.

Catharine deserved better than Edward.

She sure as hell deserved better than this asshole.

Edward contemplated deleting the message, erasing Philip from her phone if he couldn’t quite do it from her life. In the end, he left it be. He remembered Philip’s call earlier, and how frustrated Catharine was becoming with him. It was better she saw his continued asshole behavior firsthand, and broke up with him herself.

Edward was ready to step in and do it for her, if need be.

Right now, however, he needed to leave.

He picked up the book and the small light, closing them both and placing them with her phone on the nightstand. Then he brushed a loose lock of hair from her face. Her body shifted slightly at his touch.

“Edward,” she breathed.

He froze. After holding his breath for several long moments, he realized she hadn’t seen him.

She had dreamed him.

She was dreaming about him.

Not only that, she may have recognized his touch.

Fuck!

He couldn’t think about this right now. He had a job to do.

He brushed a knuckle over her cheek and she sighed. “Goodbye, My Lady,” he breathed into the dark.

Then he walked away, locking the door behind him as he left.

C
at was disoriented
when she woke the next morning. As she was used to slim streams of sunlight through her curtains, the total darkness threw her until she remembered.

Threats against the royal family.

Or maybe the crown.

Or maybe even Valleria itself.

Likely, all three.

She checked her phone for the time, then scrunched her nose at the sight of six – six! – messages from Philip in the middle of the night. She avoided those to check her other messages and decided, even though it was early, she may as well get up.

She frowned at the sight of her book and light on the nightstand. Had she put them there? She shook her head as she realized she must have done so.

After taking a shower and getting dressed, she frowned once again at seeing the door locked, then her eyes widened. She staggered back until she hit the foot of the bed and sat down. Had someone come in last night?

“I don’t understand. I’m deep in the bunker. No one but the family and security know I’m here.”
Security
. “Edward?”

But that had been a dream. She’d imagined him visiting her last night. That hadn’t been real.

Had it?

“Oh God.”

Suddenly, she had to see him, had to know if he’d come to her.

If he had, then maybe he wasn’t ready to give up on them.

She leapt from the bed and bolted through the door. After a quick scan of the empty hallway ensured no one would see her, she ran down the hall. She headed straight for the control room, bypassing the kitchens where she heard some of the family gathered.

Marcello was near a bank of monitors, his tired, red eyes and tousled hair indicating his lack of sleep. Their father, also looking weary yet very alert, was talking quietly into the phone, his head nodding intermittently.

Alex sat in one corner, absently staring at the monitors, taking in none of the flickering images on screen. Her twin radar said that something was bothering Alex. She could usually weasel things from him – he had a very hard time keeping things from her – but, with everything else going on, she wondered if needling him would help or hurt right now.

She turned to Marcello. “Any news?”

Marcello nodded. “We had some developments overnight. I’m waiting to hear back from one of my men, then we’ll update the family.”

Her gut clenched. She had no way of knowing, but she was sure before he even said the name. “Who? Who are you waiting for?”

“Bash ran some missions for us last night. He got a few minor injuries, but he’s fine and he’s on his way in now.” One of the agents called for Marcello and he walked over to another set of screens.

Edward was injured.

Oh God.

She couldn’t think about it, not yet. Marcello said he was fine, though she knew she wouldn’t believe him until she saw it for herself.

Needing a distraction, and also needing to cheer up her brother, Cat made her way to Alex and took a seat beside him. He was leaning back in his chair, one of his index fingers absently rubbing his top lip. “Alex? Are you all right?”

“Hmm? Oh, Cat,” he said, straightening in his chair. “How are you? Did you sleep?”

“It doesn’t like you did. Are you worried?”

“About all this?” he asked with a wave to the screens. “Only because we don’t know what the threat is, but we’re all leaving the bunker today. Rebecca’s happy about that.”

Cat pursed her lips, then decided to ask. “Is she? She hasn’t seemed very happy lately.”

Alex’s eyes sharpened. “How do you mean?”

Cat shrugged. “Nothing really. I’m sure she’s just overwhelmed by everything going on, and the wedding dress and preparations. I’m sure it will pass.”

Alex looked as though he wanted to ask her something, but decided against it. “I’m sure that’s it. She likes her work at the hospital, at any rate, so I’m sure she’ll cheer up once she’s there on her visit today. She was really upset at the thought of cancelling.”

Cat smiled and reached over to give Alex’s hand a sympathetic squeeze. “Are you feeling overwhelmed by everything, twin?”

The corner of Alex’s mouth quirked up. “Well,
younger
twin, I’m just fine.”

Cat made a face. “I’m only younger by thirty minutes.”

“Yes, and that’s thirty extra minutes Mama was in labor, in pain, because of you.”

Cat rolled her shoulders back and put her hands on her hips while still sitting. “Those were the most exciting thirty minutes of Mama’s life, I tell you.
I
was the surprise, you know. Everyone knew
you
were coming.”

“Children,” Gabriel said with a stern tone, even though a smile graced his face. “Thirty-five years and you’re still arguing about this?”

“It’s Alex who can’t accept the truth, Papa. I really think you ought to speak to him. It’s not good to dwell on things for so long, don’t you think?”

Alex and Gabriel laughed. Since Cat’s goal had been to make Alex stop brooding, she considered herself a success. “Well, if you men can’t see reason, I’m going to find everyone else.” She rose and gave her father a kiss on the cheek. As she turned to go, the door opened and Edward entered.

As his eyes came to rest on her, she froze.

Marcello – and she may, in fact, kill him for this – had clearly downplayed the ‘minor injuries’ Edward had. Bandages crisscrossed both arms and half of his neck. Butterfly bandages dotted his forehead and large bruises marred one eye and the opposite cheek.

Who knew what more damage lay unseen underneath his clothes?

She took a few discreet deep breaths while Edward greeted her father and brothers.

Then he turned to her.

“My Lady.” He gave her a brief nod, then turned to Marcello.

Gabriel came over to her. “Catharine, why don’t get something to eat? I’m sure we’ll update everyone shortly.”

She nodded and gave Edward once last glance before she left the room.

If only she’d woken at his touch last night.

If only she’d pulled him into bed with her.

If only.

Cat reminded herself that Edward was alive and whole, despite the bumps and bruises.

For now, it would have to be enough.

* * *

E
dward stood
off to the side while the royal family entered the conference room, his expression impassive. Outwardly, he ignored the pain from the injuries he’d received. Inside, however, he ached at the sight of Catharine. He’d lost focus for one minute last night, one minute where he couldn’t help but think of her, and that minute had almost cost him his life later that night.

But it may have saved hers.

So, it was completely worth it.

“All right,” Marcello said once everyone had settled. “Good news: everyone can leave the bunker once we’re done here. We also think we’ve got a better idea what these people are after.” His fingers tapped the large screen in the room and several images were brought up.

“This is the headquarters for the
Vallerian Star
. I should say it was the headquarters because last night there was an explosion.”

Edward didn’t even have to turn to know Catharine’s eyes were on him.

“It’s true Bash broke in last night, but we didn’t cause it. Bash was actually caught in the blast when it went off; it’s how he became injured. He got knocked back and lost consciousness for a few minutes, so didn’t see who may have set it. Lucky this was his final stop last night, or he wouldn’t have gotten the intel we found at another location.

“As for the explosion itself, prelim reports say faulty wiring, but my gut says something else. This corner of the building,” Marcello pointed, “was where the editor, Vinnie’s, office was located and it received the greatest damage. We believe this was where the explosion was centered. Vinnie’s safe was damaged, and none of the items he said were inside have been recovered.”

Another tap of the screen. “This is Vinnie’s house. We broke in there, too, while Vinnie was out. Another safe, which we did crack open, was empty.”

A swipe across the screen. “This is our favorite socialite Muffy’s house. Muffy was not alone when my man went to visit. She was, let’s just say, entertaining Vinnie along with two other gentlemen, both of them quite elderly.” Varying degrees of disgust flitted across the faces in the room. “I’ll spare you the details here, but my man managed to break in, even with all that going on. This time, we actually found something useful. Bash? Why don’t you take over from here?”

Edward stepped forward and swiped the screen, bringing up a set of photos inside Muffy’s house. “Yes, Sir. I found several disturbing items at the Kori house. As you can see, the house itself is quite extensive. Her father, Sir Walter Kori, purchased it for her and, while the deed is in her name, Sir Kori is fiscally responsible for its upkeep to this day. The only reason I mention this is because Sir Kori is known for his privacy. The RPS investigated him some time ago for an unrelated issue and we discovered that he had secret rooms built in all his homes. Not just panic rooms, which we’d expect, but rooms completely hidden from all but him and likely Muffy. And now us.”

Edward tapped on a photo onscreen. “I was able to locate and break into this room while the occupants were otherwise engaged. These are some stills from the camera I wore. You should prepare yourselves before seeing this.”

“We won’t have nightmares, will we?” Cat asked him. Edward knew that she, in particular would bear the worst of it, but there was no choice.

Gabriel, sitting next to Cat, squeezed her shoulder. “It will be difficult to see these, my child, particularly for you. As I’ve already seen them, I know of what I speak. If I thought shielding you from this would help you, I would. We’ve just discussed it, however, and we think it’s best if you stay. If you feel the need to leave the room, either now or when you see the photos, none of us would ever think less of you. Do you understand?”

Cat tentatively nodded.

“Good. Go ahead, Agent Bashiera.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Edward swiped across the screen and brought up a series of images, each more disturbing than the last. Edward’s eyes were on Catharine.

“Oh my God,” she whispered, her voice heard even over the gasps in the room.

Edward had reacted differently when he’d stepped foot into that room: his blood had boiled and his hands had shaken with a need for vengeance.

It was the same reaction he saw in Gabriel, Marcello, and Alexander’s eyes when they’d seen them a short time ago.

It was now becoming the reaction of everyone in the room, except for Catharine, who focused on the still images with fear.

Each still was a view of the hidden room.

A room that was plastered with pictures of his Catharine.

Images of her on official royal visits, other pictures of her shopping or out with her sisters, mother, friends, and more. There were several pictures of her with Philip at the Holiday Ball or even out to dinner since.

Some of the pictures were crossed out with a thick, black ‘X’.

Some of the pictures went as far back as Catharine’s childhood. Her shining, youthful face, circled in a brown, flaky heart.

Edward could have sworn the heart was made of old, dried blood.

Besides the pictures, there were other items. Outfits Catharine had worn, originally borrowed from designers, and even used plates and silverware. By the looks of it, all of the items had been hers at one time or another.

Edward had barely restrained himself from hurtling every plate and glass against the wall, and setting fire to the whole damn room.

“I took several of the smaller items there – which will hopefully go unnoticed, at least initially – and brought them back for analysis for DNA, fingerprints, and more. We’re hoping to get the results soon.”

“I barely know Muffy,” Catharine said, her voice trembling. Edward once again ached to hold her. “I don’t understand why she would do this.”

“We don’t believe she’s involved in this, at least not this sort of obsession, My Lady. Women who typically obsess over another woman tend to emulate their obsession in some form, such as their clothing, mannerisms, or hairstyles. Muffy has never done that. Not only that, based on other things we found in the room, we believe a man is behind this obsession. And we believe that Muffy’s working with whoever that may be.”

Cat wrung her hands together. “What sorts of things?”

Edward glanced at Marcello; he wasn’t sure how much to reveal.

“Sexual things, Cat,” Marcello said. “Toys and the like. It’s better if you don’t know more than that.”

“What about the man Muffy was with at the dinner, Sir Brighton?” Genevieve asked, one hand clasping Cat’s, the other fisted on the table. “What about the other leads you were pursuing? Someone is after my daughter and I want them found. Now.”

“Of course, Your Majesty, as do we,” Edward said evenly. He didn’t add he’d find the fucker first and rip their goddamn face off. “We’ve found an indirect link between one of the men Muffy was with last night and the Vallerian Patriots, who are the most vocal anti-monarchist group. Obviously, we’ve been following their actions for quite some time.”