Lorenzo made a quick stop to Liliana’s room. She was still sleeping, but was twisted in the covers, with one foot over the side of the bed. He frowned and wondered if the bed was too high, or if they should fence her in with pillows. He didn’t want her to fall off the side and get hurt. He rearranged her leg and moved her towards the center, and managed not to wake her. He fixed the covers, and put some extra pillows around the edge. He gave her a soft kiss, then left to meet his family.

He knew the family dinner would be coming. He’d expected it, and them, and all that came with it. Though he had expected it tomorrow.

He called the housekeeper on his way downstairs, informing her of the newcomers. He usually gave his rooms, which were the largest in the castle, to his parents, but he didn’t want to confuse Liliana. His parents would just have to settle for staying in the other Royal Wing along with the rest of his family.

His feet faltered as he caught sight of his father. He was better, much better than he had been, but still not the man he was. They all wondered if he would be that man again, at least physically. Only time would tell.

Mentally, he’d never left. Lorenzo had recognized the signs of depression in his father after he’d returned home from the hospital and, thankfully, those signs were rare now. However, Lorenzo still kept an eye out; he knew only too well how quickly depression could turn.

“Papa. Mama.” They turned at Lorenzo’s voice and the happiness he’d hoped to see on their faces was absent; it was like a punch in the gut. He’d hoped they’d be happy for a new grandchild, even if they couldn’t be happy for him. Given Lily’s reaction to meeting his family so soon, he wondered again if his parents had pushed Lily away from him.

He gave his father a hug and a kiss on each cheek, then greeted his mother the same way. His greeted his sisters next – Cat, Carolina, and even Sarah, who usually resided in Rome as Valleria’s ambassador to Italy. Following them were the women his brothers loved: Grace, Marcello’s fiancée and Cat’s longtime friend, and Charlotte or Charlie as she preferred, Nate’s love.

He led them into a large sitting room, calling for coffee again. How many cups had he had already? Too many to keep count, was all he could think.

His brothers and Rebecca entered the room. Eddie moved to greet his parents, then settled next to Cat. Marcello did the same with Grace, and Nate did the same with Charlie. Alex and Rebecca greeted everyone last.

“So, where is she?” Cat said, clapping her hands together. “Where’s my new niece?”

“And where is her mother?” his father asked.

Lorenzo’s back went stiff, and he crossed his arms over his chest. “Liliana is taking a nap. Her mother, Cecilia or Lily as I call her, is resting before dinner. As they moved in this morning, they’re very tired.”

His father quirked one eyebrow. “Does she know we’ve arrived?”

“Yes, she does, but she’ll meet all of you formally tonight.”

His mother kept an even gaze on him. “We are her king and queen. She should greet us the first time we enter your home. If any of the press find out about this, she’ll have to answer for it tomorrow.”

Lorenzo managed to keep his anger in check. Barely. “The press won’t know unless you tell them. Need I remind you that I’m your son, the one who loves both Lily and Liliana, and I’ll do what I need to do in order to protect them? This castle, by the way, is their home now, too. You’ll treat them with respect, or you won’t see them at all.”

“Lorenzo,” his father warned.

“No, Papa. I’m very happy to see you, Mama, and everyone, but my priorities have changed. You’re a father; I thought you, of all people, would understand that.”

“He’s right,” Eddie’s said. “I’m not a father, but I know what it’s like to live without one.” Eddie’s parents had been killed when he’d been only fifteen, leaving him to care for his two younger sisters. “Having helped raise first my sisters, and now my nieces, I can understand what a father goes through without being one. Lorenzo’s priorities have shifted. More than that, you’d expect them to shift. Yet, now you’re chastising him because they have?”

Another punch to the gut. This time, however, Lorenzo didn’t feel the disappointment of his parents, he felt the support of his friend and almost brother.

“You’re absolutely right, Edward.” His father turned back to Lorenzo. “My son, you know this was – is – a shock, but it’s not an unhappy one. Surely, you know we would never hurt our grandchild, and we certainly don’t mean any ill will towards her mother.”

These were his parents. He’d believed them in the past with other things, but he had trouble believing them now. “Lily. Her name is Lily. Or Cecilia, if you prefer.”

“Cecilia, then. We would like to meet her.”

“You will. Tonight.”

“Lorenzo–”

Lorenzo slashed a hand through the air. “No, absolutely not. This will be Liliana’s first time meeting most of you. She’ll be overwhelmed enough, and I won’t have her or Lily upset. This is their home now, and they should feel safe and protected.”

“My son, we wouldn’t harm them.”

“Of course you wouldn’t, not physically. You might emotionally, however, even unintentionally.”

His mother’s nostrils flared. “Did Cecilia say something about us?”

Lorenzo narrowed his eyes. “What could she possibly tell me about you or Papa?”

His mother pursed her lips.

“Will you be civil to Lily tonight?”

His parents looked at each other.

He didn’t want to say it, but it had to be said. “If you find later that you can’t be civil, then be silent or eat in your rooms.”

His siblings collectively gasped, except for Alex. “Let’s all take a breath here.”

Irritation was bubbling underneath the surface. “Alex, I can handle this.”

“I–”

“Alex,” Rebecca said softly and squeezed his hand.

Alex pursed his lips but nodded. “Of course, Lorenzo. My apologies.”

Lorenzo was sure his mouth had fallen open, shocked as he was that someone in his family actually listened to him. “Right. Well, I meant what I said. Now, will you be civil tonight, or do I need to make alternate dinner arrangements for you?”

His mother started to say something, but his father took her hand, silencing her. “Of course we’ll be kind, my son.”

It took a few more moments before his mother sighed. “Of course we can be civil. Lorenzo, we only want–”

“Complete and utter control over my life?”

“No, my son, of course not.”

“You’ve all been treating me like glass since I got out of the army. Sometimes it’s been subtle. Sometimes it’s been overt. Every time you’ve done it makes me feel like shit.”

His mother gasped. “Lorenzo.”

He just shook his head. “It’s the truth. I need your support. However, I don’t need you to carry me, or pester me, or treat me like I can’t even tie my shoes in the morning. Show me a little goddamned respect, will you? In front of my daughter, at least, if you can’t seem to manage it anywhere else.”

“My son.”

Lorenzo held up a hand. “Papa, please. Not now. I think we all need a break. We’ll serve dinner in a few hours. Let’s meet back here at six and I’ll introduce you to the newest members of our family.”

As Lorenzo turned to leave, Marcello called him. “We should take a few minutes to go over the dock meeting tonight. With Alex going along, we need to discuss increased security.”

“Alexander, what is this?” their mother asked. “It’s not safe for you.”

Alex looked as irritated as Lorenzo probably did when their Mama mother-henned him. “I’ll be fine, Mama. It’s not like I haven’t been in tense situations before.”

“This isn’t the army.”

“I was actually referring to our weekly Royal Council meetings. Since various Council members have tried to kill some of us – either directly or indirectly – those meetings are much more dangerous than the meeting tonight.”

Though some of the brothers chuckled, the majority of the room didn’t, including their father.

“My son, this is different. The docks are not as secure as a Council room.”

Alex sighed. “Papa, I need to be seen addressing this problem. I can’t do that from Valentia.”

Lorenzo checked the time, then decided to move things along. Though there was plenty of time until dinner, he needed a break from his family. “Look, Alex is going. It’s his decision and he’s made it.”

Lorenzo pinned Marcello with his gaze. “I’ve already spoken to the security team who’ll be going with us tonight. We’re leaving from the front gate, as there’s no reason to hide we’re trying to avert the strike. I’ll message my contacts at the union to confirm the meet’s still on – it’s possible they want to cancel because of all the press I’m getting today – but, other than that, everything’s set, including security.”

Marcello frowned and his mustache twitched. “I’ll double check things.”

Why was that not a surprise? “Or maybe you can trust that I wouldn’t do anything to harm myself or my older brother who’s Acting King? That maybe I know what the fuck I’m doing?”

Marcello stood up, reaching out for him. “I didn’t mean–”

“You always say that shit, but you always do mean it, even if it is unintentional.”

Marcello took a deep breath. “You’re right. If you say you’ve done it, then you’ve done it.”

Finally. It wasn’t much of a confidence booster, but it was a start.

“Yes, you’re right, Lorenzo” Alex added. “I know you’d never put me in danger, nor would you put yourself in danger, either.

Holy. Shit. His family was standing up for him? Believing in him? “Thanks, Alex. Marcello.”

“It was long overdue.” Alex glanced at the rest of their family. “Long overdue.”

Marcello sat down again, and Grace took his hand. “I did get some more information, things you should know before you go. Do you have a few minutes to discuss?”

He was still reeling from his brothers believing in him. Focus. The strike. Right. “Sure. Let’s bring the others up to speed.”

Marcello gave a brief overview to his parents, sisters, and others regarding the details of the investigation. “Here’s the latest: we followed Field and discovered something interesting. It seems his wife is not the woman we thought she was. It’s true that Field abused her, but we don’t believe that’s the case anymore. Something changed in the last few years, and Eddie found out what it was.”

Eddie nodded. “It turns out that Susan comes from serious money. She’s an American heiress. Her father died a couple years ago, and left most of his fortune to her and nothing to Field.”

“She’s holding the purse strings and the power,” Lorenzo muttered.

“And probably for the first time in their marriage. There’s a clause in her father’s will, too, that keeps the fortune from Field unless she explicitly leaves it to him. I don’t know how that would fly in Valleria – the courts would need to figure that out – but it would give her leverage in their relationship for the first time.”

Nate shook his head. “Do you think she’s behind this? That she orchestrated all of this? If her husband gets more power, as he would through a strike, wouldn’t that be counterintuitive to her ends? She’d want him to have less power, not more.”

Grace, whose past also included abuse, spoke in her refined English accent. “Not all women who are abused respond to it the same way.” Marcello’s arm came around her, and she cleared her throat. “If she felt as though she finally had her power back, she may very well have behaved in this way. On the other hand, perhaps not.”

Lorenzo kept his gaze on Marcello. “So, you think that’s why Field is going after the strike, because he’s trying to take his own power back?”

Marcello shrugged. “it’s a possibility.”

“As if the asshole didn’t have enough already? He ‘allegedly’ beat the shit out of her for years.” At Grace’s wince, he quickly added, “Shit. I’m sorry, Grace. I hope my words didn’t hurt you.”

Grace gave a small smile. “I know your words, though they were perhaps a little…rough, didn’t mean any offense. I know you despise violence against women, and you’ve always been very respectful towards me. Your words didn’t hurt me, just startled me. I’m stronger than you might think.”

Lorenzo attempted to diffuse the tension he’d just created with a wicked smile. “You’d have to be a strong woman to spend the rest of your life with Marcello.”

Marcello narrowed his eyes. “Lorenzo…”

“You sure you still want to marry him? It’s not too late to back out.”

Grace smiled more broadly. “I’m sure.”

“Damn right she is,” Marcello muttered.

Nate chuckled, along with most of the others. “I also have some gossip, if you’d like to hear it.”

“About Field?” Alex asked.

“Sort of. If the latest rumour mill is to be believed, Susan has been having an affair with Paget.”

Eddie whistled. “Jesus. The wife of a union leader sleeping with the Minister of Transportation?”

“Can we confirm this, my son?” their father asked.

Nate shook his head. “Not unless Marcello can do it. It could be just that – a rumour. However, my gut says something different.”

“I’ve heard those rumours, too,” Rebecca added and all eyes swung to her. “Some of the social events I’ve attended recently have had the spouses and significant others of Council members in attendance. I’m not friends with any of them, just friendly, but you hear things.”

“And you’ve heard this rumour?” Alex asked. “You never mentioned it.”

“I hear a lot of rumours at these events, Alex. Most of it’s garbage, which I thought this was. As far as this is concerned, there was a rumour that Paget was having an affair, but no one knew who with exactly.”

Marcello’s phone buzzed and he pulled it out, speaking as he read a message. “And here’s something else. The Election Commission finished their sweep and couldn’t find any tampering of the voting system or machines. They say our next step is to validate the votes afterwards, to ensure that no voter fraud took place.”

“Damn,” Nate muttered. “That was our best shot to take Field down. So, that means the vote’s moving forward. Do we know which way it might land?”

Alex shook his head. “Too soon to say. Let’s hope we hear good news at the meet tonight. Otherwise, we’ll need to wait until tomorrow afternoon, after the vote tabulation in underway and the early results are announced.”

Rebecca leaned against Alex’s shoulder.

“Tired, darling?” Alex asked.

“Yes, sorry. I think I’ll lie down before dinner. Which room are we in now, Lorenzo?"

“I’ll have the housekeeper show you. All of you staying in the other Royal Wing.”

Startled looks all around.

“I know it’s unusual, but I don’t want Liliana overwhelmed by all our family in my wing. I’ll see you back here in a couple hours. Carolina?”

His younger sister’s head popped up. “Yes?”

“Could you come with me for a few minutes? There’s something I wanted to talk to you about.” Without waiting for a response, he left the room and waited outside for her.

Their youngest sister was an artist and a damn good one at that. Her brown hair was cut short and stylish, her dark eyes deep and soulful. She was tall, like they all were, but slender; she’d inherited their father’s straight, slim torso, not their mother’s curvy frame. Her numerous necklaces jangled together as she walked, as did her long, dangly earrings and chunky bracelets.

“What’s up, big brother?”

“A favor, little sister, if you think you can do it.” He draped an arm over her shoulders, and she draped an arm around his waist as they walked away from the sitting room and prying ears. “It’s a favor for Liliana, actually.”

She smiled bright. “I can’t wait to meet her.”

Lorenzo gave her a sappy smile. “She’s beautiful.”

“I heard she looks like you.”

“Like I said: beautiful.”

Carolina laughed and bumped her hip against his. “So, what can I do to help my charming niece?”

“It’s a tall order.”

“I’m a tall person. Now, stop stalling and just tell me.”

He stopped and gave a brief glance down the hall to ensure no one lingered nearby, then turned back to her. “We’re pulling Liliana out of pre-school. While she likes her teacher, the other children aren’t always kind to her. They’ll be less so now that the news is out she’s a princess.”

Her brows drew together. “What does that have to do with me?”

“How would you like to be her tutor?”

“Me?”

“You’d have to teach her more than art, as she’ll be starting proper school next year and both Lily and I want to make sure she’s prepared.”

“But I’m not certified to teach.”

“You don’t need to be certified unless we’re claiming school credit and, as she isn’t in proper school yet, it’s not needed. I know it’s a lot to ask. You’d need to stay here with us through next summer. I know you’ve got your art and–”

“I’d love to.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I would like to be certified, though, so I’ll look into that to see if it’s feasible. It’s funny. I was just thinking today about my plans for next year. I’m just finishing up my most recent piece now, and I hadn’t decided what to work on next.”

She glanced out the window, towards the sea. “I always feel inspired here. I don’t know why, but I’ve wanted to spend a good, solid chunk of time here to paint.”

“You’d still be able to do that. Tutoring Liliana wouldn’t take up your entire day. I could talk to Lily about hiring a nanny–”

“Don’t even think about it.”

“Leena,” he began, using a nickname they rarely used anymore. “There might be days you need a break. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“You see me too clearly sometimes.”

He gestured with his head down the hall. “And the others barely see you at all. I know.”

She sighed. “I was with Arianna until about a week or two ago, helping her with Eloisa. I don’t think she and Finn understood those days I kept to myself, and why it was hard to socialize sometimes. All right. Talk to your Lily. I’ll meet Liliana and, if she’s comfortable with me, we can make some plans. I don’t think I could start right away.”

“That’s fine. Do you want to stay with us through the holidays?”

“You won’t be going to Valentia for Christmas?”

“No, I want to spend our first holiday as a family here in our home. I thought we could go up the day after, and then spend a few days there. I’d want to be back by New Year’s, though.”

“And you wouldn’t mind my intruding?”

“No. I want both Lily and Liliana to get used to our extremely large family. I just want it to happen slowly.”

“I’ll think about it.”

He kissed her cheek. “Good. Now, you can go back in there and tell everyone about my request now, or you can do it later when they badger you at dinner.”

“Tough choice.”

“Isn’t it always?”

“I’ll let them badger me now.”

“If you can, keep a lid on Christmas. I feel guilty for not spending it with Papa, but…”

“He’ll understand. Don’t worry.”

He nodded. Then she smiled and walked back towards their family.

He walked towards his own.