His Forbidden Princess(7)

Sofie looked around. Right now there were several of New York City police officers

patrolling her floor, and there were two Americans from one of their law enforcement agencies stationed in the room with her. They were very polite, big men in dark suits with ear pieces, and she felt safe with them close by, but there was no getting around the fact that she’d been moved swiftly from her shopping trip and was now a prisoner in her suite.

“You’re upset.” Ella, who had been a constant presence in her life, sat on the sofa next to her. “What’s running around in that head, my girl?”

“Other than questions? Nothing. I wish someone would talk to me. I don’t know what happened; why there was sudden danger…it’s upsetting.”

Just like when she was a child, Sofie pulled her knees to her chest. She’d shed her official clothes the minute they arrived back at the suite. Her preference when she didn’t have to go out in public was always the same—well-worn blue jeans, a long sleeve tee shirt and soft, thick socks.



She had a blazing headache and like she told Ella, many, many questions.

There was a knock at the door and the two agents moved to answer. That was Sofie’s cue—she was on. Even wearing jeans, having no say over her movements, being told where to go and what to do, she was still a royal and represented her country, so self-pity and hysteria were not allowed. There was no doubt that members of her entourage were upset. But no matter what she felt, she kept her emotions tightly wrapped.

Since she'd awakened that morning, she couldn’t stop thinking about her brother.

Philippe was two years older than Sofie and was raised from birth to be the next King. He'd strong, fair-minded, and kind. He'd been so very kind. His life had been cut short when the cowardly terrorists bombed a new school he was touring in a small, quiet mountain village.

Fortunately, no children were in attendance, but if it had been an hour earlier, the incident could have been even more tragic than losing her brother.

What it did show was that the insurgents could strike anywhere, at any time, and would do so to make a point.

“Princess Sofia,” Her head of security, Jasper, was white as a sheet. He’d been dealing with the increased threats and suffocating security measures for the past five years. Truthfully, she didn’t know if he was up to it anymore.

“Jasper. Is there any news? What’s happening? Why did I have to return here?”

“We have little information, Your Highness. However we do know that something

happened with your family. We’re awaiting word.”

Her family? Had the bastards attacked her family again? God, she couldn’t bear to lose anyone else. Not after Philippe. “You don’t know anything?”

“Not yet. I’m waiting for word from the FBI. One of their people has been in touch with the palace.”

Jasper breathed out. He didn’t like having to relinquish control to the local authorities.

He felt he knew his job better than they ever could, but today proved, once again, that Jasper was unable to keep up with the ever increasing threats.

“Thank you, Jasper. I appreciate being kept informed. I want to know the second you hear a word. I don’t care if it’s good or bad.” Folding her arms and pacing the room, Sofie thought about how her life had changed since she’d been invested as the Crown Princess. It wasn’t something she ever wanted or ever planned for. When she was in university, she actually thought she might relinquish her title.

There was another knock at the door, which she hoped meant there was news, and Sofie wondered if she could convince her American keepers to let her talk to the Ambassador. She should be allowed to do anything she wanted, that was the way things were in her world, but in the United States, where barely anyone knew her, she had to follow a different set of rules.

However, that wasn’t going to stop her from trying.

“Gentlemen, I’d like to be taken to the Embassy. I need to see the ambassador so I can find out exactly what happened with my parents and my sister.”

The two agents who had just entered the room looked at each other, obviously baffled at her demand. “Never ask, Sofia,” her mother always said. “You’re a princess, you tell people what you want.”

“Ma’am, we have orders to keep you here at this time,” said one of the Americans.

“You will be fully briefed, ma’am. We’re sorry for the delay,” said the other.

“I beg your pardon.” Sofie put on her best royal air. “You may have orders, but I don’t.”

“Please be patient, ma’am. Our supervisor will be here shortly, and he’ll have all the information you need.”