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“I think that does it, Nathan. I’m all set if you are.” Jim Manwaring had just finalized his plans with his chief-of-staff for his upcoming visit to a summit of the G-7 in France next week.

“I agree.” Nathan rose to leave when there was a knock on his door.

His SAIC opened it and from the entryway said, “Your secretary wanted me to tell you there’s an important phone call for you.”

“Who is it?”

“The king of Casarina.”

“Alessio is calling me?”

“Yes, sir.” He turned to his chief. “Thanks again, Nathan.”

Jim crossed to his desk, sat down in his chair and picked up the phone. Before he punched in, he reached inside himself for a little perspective, but none came. Had someone treated Sasha like Alessio’s daughter had been abused, he thought he’d probably kill the guy. He punched his phone and sat down. “Alessio, I take it this isn’t a social call.”

“No, my friend, it is not.” Only a year older than Jim himself, the man sounded ancient. “I’m aware you know of Callandra’s issues, why she is seeking asylum.”

“Yes, and I’ve gotten it for her. What I don’t understand is why it came to this. Your actions are not those of the man I know.”

“That is a very long, and sad, story. Right now, I need your help.”

“I won’t let you take her from the U.S.”

“Her sister Gabriella, my third daughter, has been kidnapped. Callandra’s husband is behind it. He says if she comes back, he’ll release Gabriella and give Callandra an annulment.”

Even though Jim didn’t understand the guy’s behavior, he couldn’t be cruel. “This must be awful for you.”

“I am suffering for my poor judgment. As for Bertocchi, I’m freezing his assets in Casarina to ensure he keeps his word, but I discovered he has assets in your country, too.”

“I can look into that. It might take a few hours.” He made a snap decision. “I’ll take care of this for you, Alessio.”

“Let me know when it’s done and then we can negotiate with him.”

“Of course.” Jim hoped he was doing the right thing. “Is Calla coming home?”

“Her mother talked to her this morning. She is. Your agents are trying to arrange private transport. If they can’t, I’ll send my plane. I can protect her when she arrives, and I swear to God I will, but I worry about her getting here safely.”

“Hmm.”  Jim waited. Hell, why not? “I’m going to France in a few days. I can move up my trip and make a stop to see my old friend, the king of Casarina. No one need know she’s on Air Force One.”

A long pause. Then, hoarsely, “Are you serious about this, Jim?”

“Tell me, Alessio. If my daughter was in this predicament in Casarina, what would you do?”

“The same. No matter, though. I will be indebted to you for life.”

“That long, huh?”

Numb, Connor went through all the motions the next morning. Whitney had called to say she’d gotten transport and Agents Duncan and Lewis would accompany Calla back to Washington. He went with them when they left at dawn.

Neither he nor Calla had slept again after the nightmare. Now, they sat in the back seat of the armored vehicle in silence because there was nothing more to say. They held hands, though. He’d given up on her staying and she understood why now, so the contact was bittersweet. When they reached D.C. and turned onto Pennsylvania Avenue, Connor was confused. “Agent Duncan, are we going to the White House?”

“Yes. Our orders are to bring you there directly.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know, sir.”

“I don’t understand, Connor,” she said. “Do you think they’ll keep me from going home?”

“Of course not. Whitney would never lie to me about something like this.”

They pulled up at a private entrance Connor had gone through once or twice when he was invited here. Two agents exited the building when the car stopped. Duncan got out and opened one door, Lewis the other.

“We’ll take over from here,” one of the White House agent said.

Still inside the car, Calla squeezed his hand. “I don’t know what to say.”

He linked their fingers for one last connection. “I think it’s all been said, Calla. I hope you get what you want.”

Leaning over, she kissed his cheek. “Mio caro,” were her last words to him.

They both got out of the car. They thanked Lewis and Duncan, and the agent on the PPD said, “I’m sorry, Dr. Marino. You won’t be coming inside. Your cousin is waiting for you in the lot.”

“Seriously? Why is Calla here?”

“I’m afraid I can’t answer that. Thank you for accompanying her.”

Calla held her head high as she walked to the door. She didn’t look back. He was glad.

When she disappeared into the White House, he heard a car drive up behind him. That would be Whitney. He walked over and slid into the back seat. His cousin sat there waiting for him and Max drove away.

“What’s going on, Whit? Why did we come here?”

“Because President Manwaring is bringing Calla back to Casarina. He volunteered when Alessio Gentileschi called him.”

“Well, it’s about time her father showed some concern for her.”

Whitney took his hand. “I agree, Con. And now we’re here for you.”

On the ride to the palace from the airport, Calla and President Manwaring discussed Casarina and the innovation the country had made in processing grapes from vineyards, how the school her mother had started and how his daughter who had visited was faring, and some innocuous topics. But when they drove through the palace gate, Calla watched the landscape go by. Rolling hills and grass as green as emerald made her long for the simpler times when she’d romped on those lawns with her sisters. The president seemed to notice her preoccupation and let her take everything in. Panic threatened. What if this didn’t work out? What if Lorenzo was lying? She took in a deep breath. Then she’d escape, as she had the last time. What was important now was that she save Gabriella with the only option she had available to her.

The huge stucco structure loomed before her: four stories up, several wings jutting out from the sides and the back, painted a light beige, with a rust-colored tile roof. As they got closer, she caught sight of her mother in front of the large portico which sealed off the main building and had another gate. Beside her was Lexy. They both had long dark hair, and the same slim but solid builds. When the car got closer, Renata Gentileschi bounded down the steps like a young girl.

Before the car stopped, Calla turned to the man who’d helped her get home. “Thank you for the lovely talk. It was very distracting, which I’m sure was your intention. I hope your son does go to medical school.”

“My pleasure. But I’m coming into the palace to see your father. I can spare an hour.”

He seemed to be taking her security personally, and she couldn’t be upset about that. Though fear of what was to come raced through her, she quelled it. She’d do what she had to do. For Brie.

The royal guards gathered behind her mother just before Calla exited the car. They met in a luscious hug. For a moment, she luxuriated in the familiar lilac scent of Mamá, then cuddled into her chest.

“My darling Callandra,” she whispered into her daughter’s hair. “I am sorry for all you’ve been through. And I’ve missed you so.”

“I missed you, too.” She stepped back. “Now, enough. We need to take care of Gabriella. We’ll talk for a long time, Mamá, once she is safe.”

Her mother looked over at the man who had stood beside the car. “President Manwaring. Thank you for returning my daughter safely.”

“You’re very welcome.” To Calla, he said, “Thank you for your company.” Then he glanced around. “Where is Alessio?”

“Yes, Mamá, where is he?”

“He’s in his office. He’s fearful you won’t want to see him.”

Before they could move, Lexy approached them. She was always so polite, so obedient, Calla had wished she’d develop more of a backbone. “Calla, sorella, hello.”

Calla hugged Lexy. She was slimmer now. So many of them had been affected by Alessio’s decisions. “We need to catch up.”

“Let’s get the president inside.” Renata turned and led the way. Escorted by his own Secret Service detail, James Manwaring walked down the long corridor leading to her father’s office, while Calla turned the other way and linked arms with both her mother and Lexy. When they got to the first room, again with stucco walls, white this time, and several groupings of furniture, Renata stopped and took Lexy’s hand. “Darling, I need some time with Callandra. You will get to talk with her soon.”

“Yes, Mamá.” She kissed Calla’s cheeks and left them alone.

She and her mother went through two more rooms, then to the outdoor porch, where Casarina lay before them in valleys below. Calla said, “I missed this view.”

“I would, too.”

They took chairs on the stuffed furniture. Beside her on the couch, her mother took her hand.

“Mamá, what are Papá’s plans?”

“He’s taken steps to freeze Lorenzo’s assets. As king, he can do this. That’s why he called President Manwaring. Lorenzo has considerable wealth in America and he didn’t want it available to that bastardo.”

“The president and I didn’t talk about any of this on the plane.”

“Rest assured, Lorenzo won’t be allowed to return to his vineyard until he signs the annulment papers.”

“And after he signs them?”

“Vittorino will release Gabriella. When she is safe in our home, his assets will also be released.” She scowled. “I hope she isn’t being mistreated.”

“I hope not, too.” She didn’t tell her mother she’d heard Vittorino slap Brie.

“Lorenzo beat you, love. If Vittorino does the same to Gabriella...”

“Father will have him killed.”

“Let’s hope so.”

Calla studied her mother. Her face was youthful, but now lines formed around her mouth and eyes. “This has caused problems between you and Papá.”

“Of course it has. He still has much to answer for to both of us.”

“I didn’t want that.” She sighed. “I always treasured your closeness, as an example of what a relationship could be.”

“I cannot accept what he’s doing with my daughters any longer.”

Calla sat back and sighed. Maybe some good would come of her situation after all. If anyone could change Papá’s mind about adhering to archaic laws and traditions, her mother could.

“So,” Mamá said, “how did Connor take the news of you returning to Casarina? I half expected him to come with you.”

“Not very well.”

“Why?”

“Oh, Mamá, I’ve hurt him again. We were just starting to have hope, that we could be together, and Brie was taken.”

“I want to hear all about that.”

“Maybe sometime. Not now, though.”

They talked for an hour before his father’s staff chief told them President Manwaring was leaving.

After they bade the president goodbye, her mother turned to her. “Would you like to rest after your journey or are you ready to see your father?”

“I’m ready.” Though the thought made her heart gallop in her chest.

“Shall I come with you?”

“No, this is between Papá and me.”

Alone, Calla walked down the long corridor of the wing where the king’s office was located. The guards standing outside, dressed in suits, much like the Secret Service agents, opened the doors and she walked into a place she never thought she’d enter again. It smelled like her father, male smells, like leather, and a bit of musk. She remembered so much that had happened in this space: him letting her sit by while he worked, but how he would always stop to answer questions. Him telling her stories about his travels when she was doing a project for school on the U.S. His counsel on her teen angst, his advice as to which college and medical school to attend.

But she also forced herself to remember his final dictum: that she’d marry Lorenzo.

As she stepped inside, she saw he stood at the window, his back to her. She said in a strong voice, “Papá?”

He turned. As she’d noted on FaceTime, he’d aged in the months she’d been gone. In person the process was more defined. His beard was grayer and his hair, too. “Hello, Princess.” She hardly recognized his gravelly voice.

“Tell me what has been accomplished to help Gabriella.”

“I have taken steps as we speak to freeze Lorenzo’s assets. As king, I can do this. Both...”

“No,” she interrupted, which she’d been taught never to do. “I want to know about Gabriella.”

“My security has confirmed she is in Casarina. In any case, Lorenzo will not be freed until he signs the annulment papers and Gabriella is with us.”

“Shouldn’t your security forces try to find her?”

“They are, little one.”

Calla crossed the expanse that still separated them. “I want to see him and get this settled.”

“All right, but I must say a few things to you, first.”

“No, Papá. I want to help free my sister.”

“Indulge me for a moment.”

They took seats on the couch. He faced her squarely. “I was wrong to do what I did. To make you marry Lorenzo. To insist on arranged marriages for all the girls. Mamá tried to talk some sense into me, but I wouldn’t listen.”

“Papá, I—”

“Let me finish. I will never forgive myself for the misery I’ve caused you. Now, I think back and wonder how I could ever send you back to him. There is no excuse.” His head down, his hands clasped, he whispered, “I only ask you accept my apology.”

Floored, Calla stared at him. She’d never ever seen her father so obsequious. So despondent. What to do? What could she do? There was only one thing. She rose, knelt before him. And placed her hands over his. “I accept your apology, Papá. Our relationship needs mending, and that might take a long time. But I know one thing. I can forgive you.”

When he looked up, unshed tears filled his eyes. She’d never seen him cry. “Why would you do that?”

“Because I’m tired of living with recriminations and grudges. I want to let all that go.” She thought of Connor who could never forgive her for the repercussions of her leaving him. How she longed for him to do so. “And because I love you, Papá.”

He took her in his arms. She let him, because she wanted to be there, too.

Learned muscle memory made Calla tense as she walked into the secure room with her mother and father, the room where her husband was confined. Funny, he didn’t look as big as she remembered from months ago. She controlled the trembling that wanted to overtake her body, but she couldn’t control the feeling of hatred for this man who had nearly ruined her life. 

But he had her sister, and she had to be wise. He stood when she walked in. Something had happened to his face. Angry slashes marred his cheek. Had he been beaten? “Amore mio.”

Instead of shock at the endearment, his use of it enraged her. “Spare me the phony affection, Lorenzo. I’m here for one reason only. I want my sister back.”

“In good time.” The words oozed out of his mouth like venom.

Her father started to speak. “You—”

“No, Papá. This is my fight.” To her husband, she said, “You have no choice in this. We have the power to ruin you,” she added.

He seemed taken aback. He was either surprised at her tone or very stupid. “I’m told the papers are being drawn up. I’ll sign them.”

“I want to know one thing, Lorenzo. Why did you want to marry me? You’ve had a mistress the whole time.”

He arched a brow. “I wanted to be the father of the next king.”

At least she got him to admit that his desire to wed her had nothing to do with his feelings for her.

“That’s what I thought.” She turned to her father and accepted papers from him. “This is the annulment decree. After you sign it, Bishop Cannon is coming out to place the official seal on it.” And she had to be in Casarina for the event.

Lorenzo crossed to the desk. She noticed then he was handcuffed. He angled his chin to the other papers. “Your father must sign these, first.”

She had to move closer to him and the scratch marks looked worse from here. And his scent literally turned her stomach. It brought back visceral memories of the times he’d hit her. Ignoring all that, she scanned the documents.

“It’s a simple waiver absolving me of all prosecution for anything I’ve done up to this point.”

Holding up her hand, she ticked off on her fingers: “Let’s see, that would be assault and battery of a princess, infidelity to a princess, kidnapping a princess, and now extortion.”

His smile was a snarl. “I do not care what you say or think.”

“Well, too bad. Because there’s a lot more where that came from.”

That afternoon, the annulment of the marriage between Lorenzo Bertocchi and Callandra Gentileschi was granted.

Lorenzo was freed of all previous crimes.

And Gabriella Gentileschi walked into her parents’ home.