Marco Aussa had failed his family entirely. A foreign invader was living under their roof and he'd never suspected Sophia as a foreign threat. She'd never once crossed his mind. She was always the annoying spider in his family, but he'd thought her harmless. She'd been part of his circle, along with his best friend Victor.

Now he wasn't sure he could trust his friend either and instructed General Babik to find Victor too.

He needed to follow the trail to see how deep this treachery went and who they'd converted.

He could breathe easier knowing that Renee and his mother were safe in the sitting room. He brushed Renee's hair out of her face. "I had Lucio patch your parents through so you didn't worry."

Renee stepped away. "Thank you. What's going on with Greg, our neighbor in Miami?"

The way she'd said the name Greg made him pause, but he said, "He was flown here against his will-they threatened his mother as well—but his mother is still missing. Lucio is at the FBI office and connecting them now."

"Ohh, okay." Renee nodded but hugged her waist. "I'm so confused."

"I will try to clarify later, but right now I have to interrogate Sophia. Don't leave my mother's side, Renee."

"I promise." She locked arms with his mother. "We're friends now."

His mom patted Renee’s hand lightly. "And I'm helping her pick her wedding gown for your wedding, after Antonio's."

Renee’s mouth tightened.

Marco stared at his mother but didn't say anything. Renee wasn't a bad choice for a bride. She'd be rather fun to spend his life with because she was nothing like the women who expected things from him.

Greg, Kristin and Antonio walked in the room. Renee unlocked her arm from his mother's side and hugged Greg around his neck. He stayed away, but her face was red.

His gut twisted and his stomach felt sick all at the same time. The moment Renee ended the hug, he could breathe.

Then he nodded at his brother and left. He'd get to the bottom of Sophia's plan.

And when he walked down the hall toward his office and the cells, he realized every woman in his life had expected something he hadn't wanted to offer. All except Renee. She never wanted anything.

So, the image of Renee in another man’s arms made his skin crawl. The air turned colder when he went to see Sophia, who was already in his downstairs cell.

"Hello." She stood, still in her pearl necklace and purple suit designed for her, probably by a stylist his mother had paid for. "Marco, we both know I won't be in here long."

His favorite witness interrogation technique was when he let the aggressor talk and give themselves enough rope to hang. Most criminals weren't smart enough to keep their mouths shut. It was how Sophia had been caught.

He pulled a chair from the hallway and let himself into her jail cell. She sat on the edge of the bed like she was a queen. He folded his hands in front him on the table and stared at her. "Why do we know that, Sophia?"

She lifted her chin. "Because your friend, Victor, is on my side. Once he's finished with a bang, there will be nothing left of your family."

Victor. Babik was searching for him. He couldn't blink at that confirmation, but instead he smirked and shrugged. "For someone who wanted to be part of my family, you're truly okay with killing my mother and father?"

Sophia crossed her arms. "They shouldn't get what my own parents lost."

Now that was close to a motive. He made an argument, urging her to continue. "We didn't steal from you."

She shook her head. "Building a church a few thousand years ago shouldn't bless a family—and yet the people support your lineage."

True and it was a stupid reason to think his family was blessed eternally. It helped with the tourist industry but that wasn't the point. "I agree."

She looked surprised.

"I think that's rubbish to believe, but then I also believe plotting to overthrow my parents is a bad end game for you. You could have just married another rich man. I'm sure you know plenty."

Her gaze was frosty and her tone derisive. "That won't get me back my throne."

Now that was motive, but he had no idea how her overthrowing his family helped her. He sat back and unfolded his hands, but never let their eye contact waver. "Neblo decided to have a democracy."

She nodded, but leaned forward. "There are some who want me, on the throne."

"What did you mean bang?" He changed the topic. He was sure some in her kingdom did want her as ruler, and Neblo was a neighboring state.

"I'll tell you this because I do like your parents. My initial goal was to be their daughter-in-law." Sophia stood from the bed and towered over him. "Victor has a bomb. You probably have less than five minutes to save your family, if that long, and last I checked your new girlfriend is with the queen. Your father on the other side of the castle. Who will you save? You can’t do both."

His heart stopped. Victor had gone to those training classes with him, learning how to put together a bomb so they could diffuse one. He’d never dreamed Victor would build one against him. He jumped out of his chair. "You're joking."

She slunk into the seat opposite him, a sick smile on her face. "Stay here and find out then. The people of Neblo will accept their queen back and it starts with taking your family's resources. I'm sorry your family will get hurt. I genuinely liked your mother."

Marco ran out of the cell and locked it.

There was no way he'd let anything happen to anyone he loved.

If there was a bomb, he needed his gear. He stopped in the office and grabbed everything he could. Every second he delayed meant his family might still be in danger. He told the guard, "Evacuate my family and Renee from the castle. Victor has a bomb. Help me grab my bomb gear."

The guards spoke on walkie-talkies and his father was the first person they moved while he went for Victor.

Marco's skin felt on fire with pins and needles as he thought about what might happen, but he knew his racing heart wasn't a help to anyone. So he channeled all his years of training and zeroed in on what he knew about dismantling bombs.

The second he opened the office doors, near the prison, guards chatter caught his attention. "What's going on?"

"Victor Amadeus is heading toward your mother, brother and the gathered guests."

Great. He was heading for a reckoning.