“So how did he get the position at TMBC?” Marco asked.
“He had a fairly decent resume, lots of crime footage, courtroom drama. He tried his hand working with starlets, mostly trying to encourage them to do skin flicks, but he was not really making money, so when Shannon got the part-time position at the station, he went in and got hired. I guess he had talent, and lots of experience. But he was more of a tabloid guy. Probably missed his calling.”
“We think that’s where his obsession blossomed,” added Kevin. “He sort of had her all to himself right under everybody’s noses.”
“And I never noticed him.”
Art nodded her way. “He sure knew a lot about you. We found all kinds of photos and notes and had probably been stalking you for some time. Got some racy bedroom scenes, Marco. I’m sure they’ll come up at trial.”
Marco tried to smile but felt his blood pressure start to shoot up as the pain level rose to an alarming level. “Doc. I need those meds now.”
He was given something in his drip line which didn’t take more than a few seconds to calm him down and all was right with the world again.
Nigel stepped forward. “I got some beautiful surveillance photos with the drone, of course, I was following the wrong girl for half a day. You didn’t tell me Rebecca was now a red head.”
“Oops.”
“Well, sir, we’ll be more than ready next time. My drone worked like a charm. I’ve got some features I can’t wait to show you. I’m hoping to be able to use it when we lift off for Africa.”
Marco was nodding his head, noticing the enthusiasm from the brothers. “Our father says perhaps the trip has been moved up to Spring?”
“I don’t know. We have work to do here, obviously. I have a bit of a bone to pick with you two about your behavior.”
The princes wiped the smiles off their faces.
“Just because we are living in the United States right now doesn’t mean you forget your noble birthright. Remember that you are an example of your father’s kingdom, and as such, you can wear bright clothes and go out dancing and drinking if he allows it, but you must always think of your mothers. Consider that they are sitting to the side watching you.”
The news wasn’t greeted warmly, so Marco decided to do one more rub.
“If that doesn’t work, of course we could always bring them over and do it real-time. Understood?”
“Yes, sir,” hey both said in unison.
“Where is—” Marco spotted Pete and Ron, who had become their babysitters for two days, leaning against the hospital room wall. They quietly shuffled over to the bed. Pete pointed a finger at Marco.
“You owe us big time.”
“So I’ve been told.”
“I haven’t had so much alcohol since I was a freshman in high school,” said Ron. “I’m off the clock for at least seventy-two hours, man.”
“Duly noted. And where’s the young lady?”
The tiny dancer was beautiful, with dark skin, long black hair, and bright blue eyes. She was barely five feet tall. She took Marco’s hand and bowed, with gold bangles and anklets that tinkled delicately. “Sir.”
Marco looked at Ron and Pete. “You sure about her?”
“What? Her age? She’s twenty-five,” said Ron. “She has a passport now, but it was verified with her mother.”
“Somebody’s looking for her. That’s what I meant. No more of this,” Marco barked. We don’t—”
“I am of the age of consent. I was already a widow at sixteen years of age, sir,” she said in perfect English.
Ron and Pete shrugged. Ron added, “They’re here, they’re legal now, permissions secured where necessary, and everyone’s happy. They’re ready to work, Marco. Pete and I talked about the jobs they’ll be doing, helped them get things for their condo, the one their father bought. We showed them the beaches, some of the places we ate and drank. What was left of the office, bought them both a computer and a new cell phone and dad paid the bills. They’re set. I think they’re ready.”
“And so are we,” added Pete.
The room laughed.
Marco smiled back at the young girl, Selima. “Welcome to Florida. We hope you like our paradise.”
“Thank you, sir.” She gave a slight nod and retreated to the back of the crowd with her two companions.
Marco thanked everyone. Shannon had tried several times to give Marco the use of his hands by letting go, but he grabbed her back each time. This time he winked at her and threw her an imaginary kiss, mouthing I love you.
“Okay, I’m afraid showtime is over ladies and gentlemen. Marco needs rest, and he can’t do that with an audience.” He turned to Marco. “I’ve been told that Shannon now has your cell phone.”
“That’s fine by me.”
“If you would like to stay, my dear, you can sit over there while we do a little dressing change and check out his vitals.”
The crowd disbursed into the hallway. Marco still had so many questions to ask, but he lay back, staring at Shannon’s shining face before him. He was going to set things in motion to make sure that if anything like this happened again, no matter how unexpected they may be, that there was a protocol to follow that neither of them deviated from. This time they’d been lucky, and due to the skill of his team and her quick thinking, the outcome was a happy one.
But next time, they’d be prepared. He had a lot of making up to do, and he couldn’t wait to get started.
Chapter 17
Four Months Later
Shannon arranged the table with fresh frangipangi blossoms floating in shallow bowls, candles lit creating a cascade of warm light nearly as bright as the sunset at the horizon, which tonight was flaming a deep rose and purple.
The first floor of the house was built, raised on concrete stilts to withstand hurricane force tides and winds. The structure would be concrete block but would be covered in a warm light green stucco they’d picked out. Framed in white painted pine, with plantation-type shutters, and Hawaiian gingerbread trim along the upstairs decking, it was indeed going to be the house of her dreams. But right now, it was just a floor on stilts, with partial walls on one side, overlooking the perfect sunset and beach at Indian Rocks.
Shannon still loved coming home to her little bungalow, and never planned to do a thing with it, except clean it up after storms and occasionally rent it out. She planned to keep it as a reminder of where she started, the simple life she adopted when she first came to Florida after the death of Emily.
At the top of the walls, iron bars extended another fifteen feet up into the air, looking like an antenna on a spaceship. They were wrapped and tied off to hold them in place until the concrete blocks were set around them. The upstairs platform was to be the huge master bedroom suite with views nearly one hundred and eighty degrees wide and a gingerbread deck as wide as the entire house to sit by candlelight and watch whatever the gulf gave them.
But tonight, they were in the living room, getting ready for the gourmet meal prepared by a private chef downstairs in the dunes. Marco was talking to the gentleman about all the places in the world he’d traveled, and what brought him to Florida, always interested in people and their pasts. Beyond the two men were a team of guards, well-hidden in the dunes and along the beach here and there. It was a necessity that had to be, but it was their admission price to living the lifestyle they wanted here.