Mia stood there clutching her son as an older man walked off the helicopter and onto her front lawn. She’d never seen him in person before, but she recognized him from the pictures.
King Xavier of Calandria.
“Rafael, there you are,” the king said. “You are well?”
“Yes, Father.”
The king glanced at all of them, then settled his gaze on Danny. Mia took a step back.
The king nodded at Danny. “Is that him?”
Rafael took a step forward. “Yes, he is my son.”
“Good. Take him and we will leave.”
19
“Liar!” Mia screamed as she thrust Danny at Brenna, who stood closest, then charged Rafael. “Liar. You sonofabitch.”
She clawed at his face, and when he easily avoided her assault, she pounded on his chest.
“You lied.”
She couldn’t believe it. Again. She’d been a fool again and this time the price would be her son.
“I trusted you,” she sobbed. “It was all lies.”
He grabbed her wrists. “I did not lie. I have no part in this. Mia, listen to me.”
Mia tried to twist free. She looked at Joe. “Don’t let him take Danny.”
Umberto and Oliver hovered in the background, but Rafael didn’t call them closer. However, that didn’t stop the king’s guards from looking menacing.
“Enough of this,” Rafael said. He released Mia and pushed her toward Joe. Her brother caught her easily. Brenna carried over Danny. Joe took the boy.
“No one is taking Danny,” Rafael told his father. “We are not taking him away. Not without the consent of his mother, and she will never give it.”
The king glared at him. “I have been patient long enough. The boy belongs in Calandria, as do you. Come with me now.”
“No,” Rafael said calmly. “Not without Mia, and until the law is changed, she will not set foot on Calandrian soil. I will not allow it.”
“You will not allow it,” the king repeated, obviously furious. “Until I die, I am ruler of Calandria.”
“That doesn’t mean you’re right about this, Father.”
Mia didn’t know what to think. Was it possible that Rafael was really taking her side? That he was standing up to the king for her? Protecting her and Danny?
“The child belongs with his people,” the king said coldly. “He needs to be trained.”
“He needs his mother,” Rafael said flatly. “He needs to grow up knowing he is loved. It is easy to learn a history of a people, but much harder to replace family. He’s only a boy. I will not allow his life to be destroyed because you want to turn your grandson into a miniature version of yourself.”
The king stiffened. “You forget yourself.”
“I remember everything,” Rafael said. “I remember more than you realize. I was wrong to come here and attempt to deceive these people. I was wrong not to speak to Mia in good faith. The law will be changed, and when it is, she and I will come to terms.”
“You allow yourself to be dictated to by a mere woman?” the king bellowed.
“Hey,” Katie snapped. “Watch it. Not just any woman. Not a mere woman. A Marcelli.”
Rafael glanced at Mia and smiled. “She is right. A Marcelli. Smart, funny, irreverent, beautiful, and capable of so much love.” He returned his attention to his father. “She is far too verbal, but it is a flaw I can live with.”
Mia hated that her brain, which so far had been the rational one in all this, instantly focused on the “beautiful” part of his sentence.
“Rafael, everything about this situation is unacceptable,” the king announced
“Then you will need to learn to compromise. Danny stays with his mother and I stay with them both.”
Stay? Mia stared at him. “You’re staying?”
“No, he is not,” the king said, glaring at her. “He belongs in Calandria.”
“I belong with my family.” Rafael took her hands in his. “I belong with you, Mia. With you and Danny.” He stared into her eyes. “I have changed. I know you do not trust me, and I accept that I am the reason. I will have to earn my way back into your good graces. I am more than willing to do so. I will wait patiently and then perform whatever tasks you set out for me. I want you to believe that I am the right man for you.”
She’d spent a lot of the past couple of months in a state of disbelief, but this was certainly going for the record.
“I don’t understand,” she said.
“Nor do I,” the king announced. “You are Crown Prince Rafael of Calandria. You do not humble yourself in front of a woman.”
“You are wrong, Father,” Rafael said, never looking away from Mia. “I humble myself in front of this woman. Have you ever wondered why I refused to marry those others? Did it ever occur to you that the reason was my heart was engaged elsewhere? I didn’t understand until I came here and nearly lost the only thing that has ever mattered.”
She hung on to his hands because the world had started to spin. There were no words, no way to do anything but stare at him and pray this was all really happening.
“I will stand against my father for you,” he said sincerely. “For you and for Danny. I will be there for you, and seek your counsel, and love you for always, Mia. I love you.”
At that exact moment, the helicopter blades shut down and his words echoed in the sudden silence.
“I will not have this,” King Xavier said. “Rafael, take the boy and get on the helicopter immediately.”
Rafael ignored him. “I see doubt in your eyes,” he told her. “I know why. I have earned that doubt. There is no reason for you to believe me now. Just accept that I am staying.”
“You are not staying,” the king said.
“Can someone shut him up?” Brenna asked.
“It’s so romantic,” Grammy M breathed. “Oh, Mia, it’s so romantic.”
“I don’t know,” Mia admitted as she pulled free of his touch and stepped back. “There’s too much happening.”
“You see,” the king said. “She doesn’t even want you.”
Rafael ignored him. “Mia, I understand. No one is asking you to say anything. I want you to know I love you and Danny.”
Mia hated how much she wanted to believe him. He was saying all the right things-especially the part about not going back to Calandria until the law had changed. But what about Danny being the heir? And how was she ever supposed to take that step of faith?
She looked at Katie. “What do you think?”
“That your life is never boring.” Katie held up both hands. “I’m not weighing in on this. Are you crazy?”
“You must have an opinion.”
“I’m keeping it to myself.”
Mia looked at Brenna, who had never been one to stay silent. Her sister sighed.
“He’s not a slug,” Brenna admitted reluctantly. “I thought he was, but he isn’t. He’s standing up to his father and when Daddy’s the king, that can’t be easy. I don’t think he’s lying. Xavier there looks ready to have a heart attack and no one is that good an actor. I say give him a chance.”
The king glared at Brenna, “I will have you arrested.”
She smiled. “You’d have to catch me first, your highness.”
Mia looked at Francesca. “And you?”
“He was great about Kelly. I think being with Danny has changed him. Is it enough? Only you can answer that, Mia.”
Grandma Tessa sniffed. “I still don’t know about him. He hurt you, Mia, but when he thought Danny was lost, he was devastated.”
Mia looked at Joe. He shook his head. “I’m only on your side, kid. Rafael doesn’t matter to me.”
“You will stop this immediately,” the king demanded. “You will not speak of my son or myself this way. It is unspeakably rude.”
Grandma Tessa moved toward him. “What would you call swooping down in the night and trying to steal a child? Good manners?”
The guards took a step forward, then hesitated, as if unwilling to take on a woman pushing eighty.