Page 12 of The Prince (Spy Girl 1)
The Prince nods, reaches out of the passageway, and moves the tail of a hunting dog carved into an ornate piece of art. Another panel within the passageway we are in slides open slowly as the panel to the War Room closes. It's obvious it's rarely used. I take that as a good sign. I also don't remember this being in anything I read, and I'm hoping it's very much a secret.
I hear the sound of boots thumping on the marble floor and then the War Room door bursting open.
The Prince's eyes get huge. I slap my hand across his mouth to make sure he stays silent. If the gunmen were to hear us, all it would take is a machine gun aimed at the wall to take us both out. The only thing between us and them is a thin wooden panel.
Shots are haphazardly fired into the room, so I pull the Prince into the other passageway, relieved to find it made of stone.
While I'm glad the gunmen can't see us, I hate that I can't see them. I feel blind and part of me would rather face them.
But it's imperative that I get the Prince somewhere safe first.
We move quickly down the passage and cover a good distance.
I stop for a moment to take my phone out, hoping to call for help.
Of course, there are no bars.
The Prince grabs me, pushes me against the wall, and kisses me. I can feel his heart racing. I tilt my face and allow my lips to brush across his. I've studied what stress chemicals do to the body: a heightened state of awareness, the fight or flight instinct, and a rush of adrenaline. The Prince responds as many a man who fears for his life might--who fears this might be the last time he touches a woman. His hands roughly caress the length of my body as he tightens our embrace.
In this moment, he's forgotten he's a Prince in danger and is acting like just a man.
As much as I am enjoying it, I can't acquiesce. I press my palm against his chest and push him away.
"There has to be more to the poem. Where is the end and what do you do when you get there?"
He bobs his head, and I can tell he's mentally singing the song again. Finally he says, "I'm supposed to sound the alarm."
I have no idea what that means. The last thing I want to do is sound an alarm that will reveal our exact location, but I'll worry about that when we get there. "Then we must go."
I pull on his hand, but he pulls me back to his lips. "I'd rather kiss you."
"Lorenzo, we need to get you somewhere safe."
"Yes. You are right."
We race through the tunnel, for at least half a mile. Most of it downhill. Like we're heading into town.
Before I can stop him, he pulls a string causing a loud alarm to sound. Shit!
"What happens when you do that?" I yell.
"I'm not sure," he admits. "I've never done it before."
"Is there more to the poem?"
He nods and recites. "Sound the alarm. Call up the Core. Help waits beyond the door."
"And you have no idea what lies beyond the door?"
"No, but we seem to have gone downhill, toward town."
"Do you have any weapons?"
"No," he says. But I do. I'm wearing my father's watch. "How is it that you are so calm? I'm freaking out."
"We're safe right now, Lorenzo," I say softly.
"This isn't the way I wanted our date to go," he smiles and trails a finger across my lips, his confidence returning, "although, there is some thrill in danger. Our kiss in the tunnel was exquisite."
"And that is apparently why the papers say you are a daredevil Prince with no regard for his country."
He kisses me again. "You're strong under pressure. You'd make a good princess."
"Let's see what's behind the door," I tell him.
I'm not about to let him get shot and ruin my chances of being a part of Black X permanently.
I discreetly turn my watch dial to midnight and stand with my back against the wall.
"Wait. I should go first," he says.
"You're the future King. No way I'm going to risk a whole country hating on me. I'm going first."
I open the door, sweep the room, and find that we are safe, inside the bedroom of a home located in town.
He grins. Looks at the bed. Looks at me. Raises his eyebrows. "A bed. How convenient."
I don't bother to reply. I need to sweep the rest of the home.
Once I determine that we are safe and alone, I say, "Now what?"
"I don't know. I need to go back to the castle and check on my parents. I'll make a call." He pulls his phone out of his pocket.
"Don't!" I grab it from his hand, turn it off, take out the SIM card, and smash it into bits. "Sorry, but you can be tracked by that, and we just got you somewhere safe."
"You are very resourceful," he says, curiously.
"Girl Scout." I shrug like this is basic knowledge then use my phone to call Ari, waiting impatiently as the call is routed through an untraceable network.
"Where the hell are you?" Ari yells at me before I can say anything. "There were shots fired at the castle. The Prince is unaccounted for. The Prince's guard is freaking out trying to find him."
"I'm with the Prince."
"Are you secure?"
"Yes. Please let his bodyguard know. Are his parents alright?"
"Yes, they are."
"What happened?"
"Two men apparently were part of a tour group. They broke away and breached a private part of the castle. Had assault weapons. The press was reporting live as they were there doing an interview with the Queen. There are some injuries but no casualties. The guards were wearing Kevlar. That's all I know."
"Thanks, Ari."
"Well?" the Prince says expectantly when I end the call.
"Two men who were part of a tour group got in. Your parents are fine."
"And the assailants?"
"Not sure. But you can use my phone to call and find out."
X X X
A motorcade picks us up and returns us to the castle, which is bursting at the seams with military.
I'm taken away from the Prince upon arrival and placed in a room by myself. It's a gorgeous room, formerly the Queen's study. I know it contains a secret passageway that leads to the kitchen, should I need to escape. But since there's a guard standing watch at my door, I'm feeling a little like the enemy, rather than the girl who saved the Prince.
I still have my phone, which is dangling from my shoulder in a Dolce & Gabbana chain wallet. I open it, pulling out a pair of earbuds and then hitting the eavesdropping app on my phone, which now allows me to overhear the conversation taking place next door.
"You can't just take off like that!" someone says.
"And you shouldn't allow him out of your sight!" an older voice booms. "You weren't doing your job."
"He doesn't allow me inside when he takes women in the bedroom," the man replies curtly. That must be his personal bodyguard.
"Prince Lorenzo, this has to stop. You are going to be the King--God help us--of our great nation. You need to stop putting yourself at risk where women are concerned. Our investigators are researching this girl's background with a fine-toothed comb. I can't help but think she had something to do with this. It's too much of a coincidence."
"She helped me escape," the Prince says.
"And how did she do that?" the deep voice asks, thick with doubt.
The Prince explains that I suggested a passageway.
"How would she even know about them?"
"She's a history buff and had read up on the castle."
"Why was she here with you? Who is she, really?"
"You think she had something to do with this?" the Prince asks.
"Don't you think it's a little odd this girl you just met asks for a tour of the castle and then we are attacked?"
"No, I don't, because she didn't ask for one. She already bought tickets to the public tour. I offered to bring her here."
I hear an audible sigh on the other end. "Lorenzo, women are your weakness. Why don't you run along now while we question h
