"Please don't ask me to keep this a secret" She whispered as she wiped at her eyes and nose with a tissue.
Rupert looked at her imploringly.
Clarisse refused to look at him.
"Not safe" He said trying to talk. It was becoming harder and more painful.
"And when it is safe? Then what" She asked getting upset as she looked at him, her eyes reflecting the immense hurt she felt?
Rupert sighed as he looked up for a long moment and after another moment looked back at her and shook his head no.
"Pierre has the right to now as does Phillippe" She spat upset. Clarisse stood intending on leaving him. She was so angry with him for not just hurting her and their family but for also turning his back on his son. That little boy deserved better.
"Clarisse" He begged as she walked away from him without a word.
Clarisse did not stop or turn back to look at him.
"Clarisse…please" He called out again and then suddenly he groaned in pain.
She ran to him instantly worried that she caused him pain when she knew he was recovering.
"What is it? Rupert" She asked panicked?
"Pain…chest…" He managed to choke out.
Alarmed, Clarisse ran to the door and screamed for the doctor and nurse.
The doctor, nurse, security and Pierre ran inside.
"He has pain in his chest" She shared as she stood by worried that she caused this. If something happened to him now, she would never forgive herself.
The doctor and nurse began to check his vitals and connect him to an EKG.
"What happened before he told you he had chest pain" The doctor asked wanting to know everything?
"We…she sighed…had a disagreement" She admitted.
Pierre looked at his mother in surprise.
Clarisse walked over to Rupert touched his hand and softly whispered, "focus on getting well everything else can wait" she reassured him.
"Don't…leave…me" He managed to say although he was in pain. She could see the fear in his eyes.
"I'm not going anywhere" She promised as she squeezed his hand.
Pierre observed them quietly. He wondered what the disagreement had been about.
Hallway….
Joseph heard Clarisse admit they had a disagreement. He wondered what the disagreement had been about.
"How is he" Shades asked interrupting his thoughts?
"He has pain in his chest" Joseph admitted.
Shades looked on worry evident on his face.
"Thank you Shades for keeping everyone in the Palace safe. Clarisse is extremely grateful" Joseph said hoping this would be an opportunity for them to speak.
"I serve at the pleasure of the Crown" Shades replied formally once again surprising Joseph with his use of words. This was not the normal way Shades would have spoken to him.
"I would like for us to meet before dinner time and discuss some things" Joseph said deciding he would have to force this conversation to happen.
"I will be there" Shades replied since he knew he could not get out of it. Joseph was his boss.
Charlotte approached both men. "How is he" She asked?
"Pain in his chest" Shades replied.
"I am going to check on the Commander. I will see you both later" Joseph said as he looked one last time inside the room, noticed Clarisse was beside Rupert and was satisfied that she would be in safe hands.
"Alright Joe. See you later" Charlotte replied as she stood anxiously waiting for news.
Shades simply nodded his head.
Joseph made his way down the hall his mind distracted by Clarisse, Rupert and Shades being angry with him.
"Everything okay with you and Joe" Charlotte asked concerned by the weird feeling she got when she arrived?
"No but we apparently are going to talk about it later" Shades replied.
"Whatever is bothering you just tell him. Joe is a nice guy and if he did or said something that bothers you, I am sure he did not mean it" Charlotte said hoping the two men worked things out since they had a close friendship and work relationship.
"He meant it" Shades replied certain.
"Shades come on" Charlotte challenged him.
"I can not discuss it here but trust me Charlotte, he meant it" Shades replied.
Pyrus….
Helena awoke feeling better than she had been in some time. Hans was safe at the hospital and although she did not know where Alex was, she knew Leo made sure he was safe. Leo, she thought worried. She thought about calling the Palace to inquire but thought it was best to give it some time. Getting out of bed she walked into the bathroom, freshened up and then went downstairs to get tea. She was shocked when she entered the kitchen.
"Long night" Antoinette asked as she stood drinking coffee?
"What are you doing here" Helena asked still shocked?
"Visiting my mother" Antoinette replied as she looked her in the eyes.
"What are you really doing here" Helena asked more sternly? She walked over to the stove and put the kettle on.
"How is Hans" Antoinette asked? She could not deny she was curious about her mother relationship with this man.
"Why do you ask? You don't even like him" Helena replied defensively.
"No, I don't but I know that you care for him" Antoinette admitted.
"Antoinette, what is it that you want" Helena asked annoyed? She did not want to play this game of nice with her daughter when she knew her daughter was not here to play nice.
"I want to know where Alex is" Antoinette admitted.
"I don't know where he is. You stopped us before I could find out" Helena admitted.
Before Antoinette could reply both women turned their attention to the television when they heard a reporter say, "Live from the Palace. We are awaiting comment from the Palace on the reason why the Royal family now has armed military escort." The reported then played recorded footage of when the Commander and his team arrived.
Antoinette mouth fell open in shock.
Helena found herself feeling relieved finally this was all coming to an end. She suddenly felt a sense of dread, this was going to be the beginning of the end of her family.
"I have to go" Antoinette said abruptly as she placed her mug down and walked out of the kitchen.
"If you go there, they will arrest you" Helena replied. Everything in her told her to stay silent but the mother in her could not just let her daughter walk out.
"What" Antoinette turned and faced her?
"I told them everything" Helena admitted.
"You what? Mother" Antoinette screamed angrily as she approached her!
"What your father is planning with Arthur and God knows who else is wrong Antoinette. Can't you see that" Helena asked desperately?
"What I see is a woman that sold out her family for a man that is a mere security guard" Antoinette spats vindictively.
"How dare you speak to me in that way" Helena voice dropped dangerously low as she looked at her daughter in a way that told her she was on very thin ice?
"How dare I? How could you? I'm your daughter" Antoinette spat, angrily, tears sliding down her face.
"That is why I am warning you" Helena replied confused.
"I wouldn't need warning if you had not implicated me" Antoinette hissed as she wiped at her face.
"I have asked you to stop, and you won't. You continue to do what your father and Arthur are telling you to do. Arthur Mabrey does not care about you. He will sacrifice you to get what he wants. I am trying to protect you" Helena said trying to reason with her.
"No mother. You are protecting yourself as always" Antoinette spat as she stormed out slamming the door behind her.
Helena stood staring at the door tears fell down her cheeks.
Mabrey manor….
Arthur watched the television his anger rising more and more as he watched the scene unfold. Military escort. How dare she call in the military without the approval of Parliament? He would be sure to turn everyone in Parliament against her. He had enough. It was time to take control. Determined he stood up and walked across the room grabbing his phone and calling Baron Von Troken.
"Have you seen the news" Baron Von Troken asked angrily?
"Yes, I have. I will be requesting an emergency Parliament session. It is time" Mabrey said simply and then hung up. He was not in the mood to listen to the Baron complain or try to weasel out of the plan. He walked out of his sitting room and headed toward the foyer as he grabbed his coat and keys.
Across the city….
Leo sat trying to figure out how he could escape out of this room and apartment? Suite? House? He was not sure where he was. Not knowing where and how many armed guards were outside that door did not deter him from thinking of a way out. He had to get to Alex. He now realized there was no one he could trust. Everyone had their own agenda. It was time to make some difficult decisions.
The door opening distracted him from his thoughts. James stood in front of him with another man.
"This is your last chance tell me where Alex is" James asked?
"I guess my time is up then" Leo replied as he played out in his mind how he could get past these two men.
"Wrong choice" James warned him as he nodded giving the other man approval.
The man approached Leo quickly pulling him up out of his chair. Leo took the opportunity to throw his body into the man knocking him off balance as he turned trying not to fall. Leo quickly put his arms around the man neck since his hands were tied and crossed his hands so he could choke him.
James stood in shock as he watched the scene play out.
The man struggled but Leo leaned back forcing them both to fall onto the floor. Leo tightened his hold. Then man now gasping for air.
James saw the man lose consciousness. He left the room deciding he would not win if he stayed.
Leo shoved the man off him, stood up and approached the door cautiously. As he stood by the door, he tried desperately to get the tie off that bonded his hands. Not hearing any noise or movement from the other room Leo peeked out and saw the room was empty. He slowly went in and looked around. He found a glass of alcohol. He knocked it over letting it shatter. He picked up a sharp piece and began to cut at the tie.
Outside…
James did not stick around to see what Leo was going to do next. He was already driving down the path and headed back to the city. His only regret was he did not know where Alex was. With that thought in mind, he picked up his cell phone and called Antoinette.
"Dad" Antoinette said still in tears.
"Are you crying" James asked?
"Yes. Mother told the Palace everything about us and Arthur" Antoinette admitted.
James gripped the wheel tightly. That bitch, he thought furiously.
"Dad" Antoinette called out?
"I'm here. Plans have changed. Meet me at the dock" James replied.
"Alright" Antoinette agreed.
James hung up, slamming the wheel at the thought of Helena betraying them. Angrily, he picked up his cell phone and called her.
"Hello" Helena answered.
"You turned your own daughter in" James said accusingly.
"You should have kept her out of this" Helena replied.
"If you think I am going to let you have your happy ending with Hans you had better think twice. If we go down, you are going down. I promise you" James threatened right before he hung up.
Furiously he sped up heading toward the city.
Back at the abandoned house, Leo walked his way through now that his hands were free. He realized he was alone. Something was not right. He walked outside then realized he was in the middle of no where and there was no neighbor in sight. Damnit, he yelled out as he began to walk.
Palace…
At the security hub, Joseph and the Commander spoke about the severe security risk they were under.
"How was it possible that someone got this far into the Palace that they were able to spread a virus through your entire security system" The Commander asked?
"It must have been someone in the inside" Joe replied honestly.
"Who has been acting differently or disappearing for gaps of time" The Commander asked?
"Hans, Head of Palace Security but he is in the hospital right now. He was attacked here in the Palace and has a head injury" Joe admitted.
"Anyone else" The Commander asked as he made a list?
"Antoinette. The Crown Prince x-fiancée. She has not been seen recently and she was very disgruntled at the royal family" Joe said honestly.
"Anyone else" The Commander asked?
"No, I don't think so" Joe replied.
"Any visitors" The Commander asked?
"The Prime Minister was here. Antoinette and her mother were here… Wait a minute, the garden party" Joe blurted out.
"Who was here" The Commander asked?
"Antoinette, her parents, and Arthur Mabrey" Joe said as he clenched his fists in anger.
"A party is a good opportunity for someone to plant a device" The IT tech chimed in.
"But I don't' think any of them would know how to infect our system with a virus" Joe said not quite sure if it was one of them.
"They don't have to be. They only need to plant the device. Someone else may have infected the system" The IT tech stated.
"The question is who" Joe asked?
"I would say someone with IT experience" The tech answered back.
"Someone who knew your system" The Commander added as he looked at Joe. Both realizing that someone could very well still be in the Palace.
Shades walked into the security hub to meet with Joe and over- heard the talk between the Commander and Joe. Instantly he knew what he meant. There was a traitor with inside knowledge. Someone most likely close to them. His mind began to think of possible suspects.
"Shades, what do you think" Joe asked wanting his input on this since he had been at the Palace when the system went down?
"I think the traitor is still here" Shades said expressing his concern.
Joe looked at the Commander.
"We lock the Palace down the way Shades has been doing since the system went down" Joe suggested.
"I agree. I also think we need to question everyone in the Palace" The Commander added.
"I will inform Her Majesty" Joe informed him as he motioned for Shades to follow him.
Shades followed Joe into his office. Shutting the door behind him as Joe faced him.
"Shades, who do we know that has access to the security system" Joe asked?
"The security staff, us, and Hans" Shades said without much thought.
"We know Hans was injured and found most likely a day or so after. What are the chances that he staged the attack to cover up his involvement in this" Joe asked as he began to pace?
"I don't think so Joe. His injuries are pretty bad" Shades replied.
"Who could it be" Joe wondered?
King suite…
Clarisse sat in the chair across from Rupert bed as she watched him resting, his eyes closed and his breathing steady. Her mind kept flashing back to the fear in his eyes and the way his voice sounded when he told her he had chest pain. She had upset him. He was recovering from a gun- shot wound that was meant for her. He saved her life. Why did she choose today to argue with him? She instantly, knew the answer. She was hurt, deeply hurt that he fathered a son with another woman. More than that she was hurt because it was Antoinette, and she knew he cared for her more than he was willing to admit. Even to himself.