20
As Marisa entered her changing room for the last time, she felt a presence inside and readied herself for whatever she might find. She slinked around the corner to find Christy sitting at her desk staring off into space.
Marisa sagged then. “Christy.” Christy turned to her and smiled. “I thought you’d gone.”
“I wanted to talk to you.”
Marisa’s heart raced. Was Christy going to offer her a job with Division? If she did, she might just be able to cope with the loss of knowing she would never be part of the personal guard.
“I wanted to tell you how amazing you are and that I’m sorry you lost your job. I know how important it was to you.”
The knowledge that Christy had read everything that had ever been written about her and probably what anyone anywhere had ever written about her, made her appreciate the words even more.
“I’m sure your head must be spinning right now with questions about your future. Think of it as a time to rediscover yourself.”
“I’ve never wanted to be anything but a royal guard.” She fiddled with the uniform in her hands.
“But that’s not really true, is it?”
Marisa sat on the bench and set the uniform to the side. “I guess not.”
“You once dreamed of being like your brothers and making your dad proud of you.”
Marisa winced. “I did.”
“What changed that? It was more than the incident with the personal guard. It started way before that when you were just a little girl, didn’t it? What was it you told that reporter that one time about aspiring to be someone else?”
“That it was the surest way to find disappointment and unhappiness.”
“So why was it you wanted to be the best royal guard ever?”
“I wanted to excel in a way that didn’t have anything to do with my father or his connections.” The realization startled her somewhat. “Something that he couldn’t claim. Something that no one else had ever done.”
“And you’ve done that.” Christy grinned. “You’ve done that. It’s probably time to set a new goal.”
Marisa nodded, realizing Christy was right. Her heart raced with the realization.
Christy stood. “Good luck, Marisa. I hope we run into each other again sometime soon.”
So she wasn’t offering her a job. Marisa stood and hurried over to Christy, giving her a big hug. “Thank you. And you were right. You are way older than your years give you credit for.”
Before Christy rounded the corner to leave the room, Marisa called to her, “Christy?”
“Yeah?” she turned back.
“You and Jeremy…are you like…you know…”
“Relationships are hard to have when you’re a spy. Probably just as hard as when you are a royal guard.” Christy gave Marisa a knowing look.
“It’s awful, that’s what it is,” Marisa said. “But there are more important things in life than romantic love.”
Christy huffed. “Are you sure about that? A life without love is harder than you may think.”
Marisa thought about the way Jeremy and Christy talked and worked together. How it seemed effortless and like they’d been together forever, like they were a part of a choreographed dance. If only she could have that with Christian. At least Christy got to spend every day with Jeremy.
“That may be true, but what do you do when the person you love isn’t allowed to be with you?” She suddenly realized that Jeremy was Christy’s superior. She was sure that meant they could not be together either.
Christy said, “Tell him how you feel. Let him make a choice. If he doesn’t even know you’re an option…” Christy’s phone vibrated. “I’ve got to go.” She winked and disappeared behind the wall.
“Bye,” Marisa whispered. She continued to collect her things as she pondered what Christy had said. Did she dare tell Christian how she really felt? She couldn’t imagine him ever sacrificing his job as captain of the guard for her or for anyone for that matter. Christy and Jeremy had made it work somehow within the rules. She hadn’t had to give up her whole life for him. If Christian were to be with her, he would have to give up his. It hardly seemed fair. Her heart ached with longing.
Someone rapped on the wall, and Marisa startled. “Yes?” she blurted.
“Can I come in?”
Her heart pounded hard against her ribs. It was Christian. “Sure,” she said, standing up and pretending to be calm.
“Hey, I wanted to stop in and—”
“Wait!” she said, seeing him had made her realize she had to tell him how she felt or she’d regret it forever. “Can I tell you something first?”
He nodded.
“I understand that your position as the captain of the guard is your life, and that there are rules you have to live by, but I just need you to know how I feel about you and how amazing I think you are and that it is going to be harder than you’d ever imagine for me not to see you every day. I’m so sorry for this, but,” she moved toward him, “I have to.” She stood on her tippy toes and kissed him, fast, rushed, and she turned to leave.
He called after her before she could disappear behind the wall. “Wait. I have something to say, too.”
She froze.
“I’m quitting.”
She turned around, and it was like everything slowed down. He took her in his arms and lifted her up, their lips meeting as if for the first time. Fire rushed from her toes to her head, and a joy she’d never before experienced filled her. He kept holding her up, her feet off the ground as she whispered in his ear, “I’d rather be with you than be in the personal guard and go to America.”
“And I’d rather be you with than do anything else in this world.”
Her body was a buzz with excitement. “I have an idea.”
“You do?” he said, leaning down to kiss her. “Tell me I’m involved.”
“Oh, you are.” She waggled her eyebrows. “I think we should start the very first independent protection agency in Monterra.”
His head jerked back and then he smiled. “I like that idea. A lot.”
She laughed and picked up her bundle of guards articles and handed them to Christian. “I’d like to turn these in.”
“Well, that needs to be done in the captain’s office. I don’t think anyone is in there anymore.”
“I bet it’ll be Elia or Abelli that replaces the old captain of the guard. Although no one will ever be quite like him.”
“You could be right,” Christian agreed. “They’re both quite capable.”
“So long as Barsetti doesn’t get the job I’ll be happy.”
“I’ll put a word in with the king.”
“That’d be good.” She grinned mischievously. “And Zack Laterza should probably be off the list, too.”
“Noted.”
“You know what the craziest thing is?”
“What?”
“I think the king, his queen, and all the royals will be just as safe, just as secure with Elia or Abelli leading the way as with us.”
“I think you’re right about that.”
“You did train them after all.”
“I did. One thing, Ms. Donati.”
“Yes? Mr. Di Stefano.”
“How do you feel about basing our business out of France?”
Marisa grabbed Christian’s hand. “I think I wouldn’t be the only one happy about that.”
“And I think that other someone is really going to like it, too.”
He leaned down and gave Marisa the most tender, feather light kiss she would ever have.