The Journalist's Prince Read online

  “No,” Tracy ground out. Lindqvist’s gun was pressed too hard against her throat for her to make much sound, though.

  She grabbed the railing behind her and tried to kick, or at least wriggle free, but the more she struggled, the farther Lindqvist pushed her over the railing. Blood rushed to her head, pounding in her ears. She had a better view of the deck below her than she did of Johan and Marina. If Lindqvist let her go, there was a chance she would survive the fall with only minor injuries. There was also a chance she would break every bone in her body as she hit the railing of the deck below before tumbling into the sea. And that wasn’t counting the possibility that Lindqvist would just shoot her and end everything.

  As she debated her chances if she fought back and let Lindqvist push her over the edge, a new sound hit her ears. It was distant, but thrumming ever closer. Helicopters. More than one. They were coming early.

  “I’ll let you go,” Marina said, “but not this little snoop. Her meddling has cost us too much already.”

  “If you hurt Tracy, I’ll never forgive you,” Johan argued.

  “As if you’ll forgive me at this point anyhow,” Marina scoffed. “You and your noble brothers and my oh-so magnanimous sister. Do you really believe for one moment that everything will be all tears and forgiveness after this?”

  The pressure of Lindqvist’s gun against her jaw lessened. Tracy strained to get a look at what was happening. Lindqvist had turned his head away from her and was watching Marina. His attention had drifted, which was her chance to break free.

  “You’re not above the law,” Johan said, “but you’re still family. Mother will always love you, but no, you won’t go unpunished.”

  “Then what’s the point?” Lindqvist asked. “It’s flee or spend the rest of our lives locked up.”

  Tracy saw her chance. With as big of a push as she could manage with her awkward leverage against the railing, she shoved Lindqvist. Her move came as a surprise, and instead of firing, Lindqvist dropped his gun. Tracy twisted, curling herself into a ball to regain her balance—although she was so grateful to be safe on the upper deck instead of bent over the railing that she could have kissed the metal.

  Halfway through that thought, Johan charged Lindqvist. A dull pain hit Tracy’s side as Lindqvist stumbled against her. The next thing Tracy knew, Lindqvist was tumbling over the railing himself. There was a loud thunk, then a splash. It took a few more seconds to realize Johan had lifted the man and shoved him over the railing, just as he’d been threatening to do with Tracy.

  Marina screamed. “Herman!” She dashed to peer over the railing. “Herman, no!”

  Tracy scrambled to her feet as fast as she could, panting, dirty, and sweating. Johan threw his arms around her the moment she was on her feet, and Tracy wasn’t too proud to cling to him, shaking as the sound of the helicopters drew nearer.

  “Herman!” Marina shouted again. She pushed away from the railing, running for the stairs.

  Tracy jerked to run after her, but Johan held her fast. “She can’t go anywhere,” he explained. “I still have the keys to Mack’s boat, and the police are here.” He nodded to the skies.

  Sure enough, the helicopters that were closing in fast were painted with the emblem of the Aegirian police force. Tracy glanced out across the water—lit by the early-morning light now—and spotted movement on the horizon, like boats racing toward them. It was enough to make her relax and sag into Johan’s arms. They were both panting and shaky, but they were together and they were alive.

  Slowly, they made their way down to the lower deck. Marina was still calling out for Lindqvist, dashing madly around and leaning over the railing, searching for him in the water. All too soon, they spotted his lifeless body, floating face-down under the lower platform. Johan did his best to calm her down, but she was beyond paying any attention to him.

  In the end, the only thing that kept her from jumping into the water was the arrival of the police. Several officers were lowered down from the helicopters to assess the situation. A few words from Johan, and Marina was subdued and declared under arrest. Johan explained the situation and sent a few other officers to the office to collect and safeguard the evidence. A short time later, the police boats arrived, taking Marina into custody. The also gave Johan and Tracy a ride back to Solrighavn, since neither of them were up to driving Mack’s boat back. The police said they’d take care of that as well.

  It wasn’t until several hours later, after Marina was taken to Solrighavn’s central jail and both Johan and Tracy could shower, change clothes, and get something to eat, that the royal family came together again in the family’s central room.

  “If I’d known what you’d face out there,” Viggo said with a grave expression as Tracy and Johan shoveled down sandwiches and coffee, “I never would have let you go alone.” In fact, Viggo had given him such a gigantic hug once they’d made it home safe and sound that Tracy had gotten all teary at the sight.

  “After you left, we found a note that made it look like Marina and my father were going to leave from the south side of the island,” Marcia said.

  “That’s where the police were concentrated overnight,” Viggo added. “When we realized it was a red herring, we sent the police out after you.”

  “Thank God you’re all right,” Marcia added.

  “And if you need anything,” Emma said, sitting beside Tracy at the table and rubbing her back, “just let us know. We’re here for you.”

  Several of the others expressed their support and love as well, but all of the warm-fuzzies shifted to tension when the queen and Dr. Hayes entered the room.

  “Well?” Alek said, rushing to his mother’s side. “Did you get a chance to talk to her?”

  The queen nodded, but it was clear she was on the verge of tears and beyond speech. The focus of the family’s sympathy switched to her as Dr. Hayes led her to the sofa under the window. Even Tracy and Johan got up to join them there.

  “Marina confessed to everything,” Dr. Hayes said on the queen’s behalf. “It seems that she really did care for Lindqvist, and she’s taking his death hard.”

  “It’s like she doesn’t even care what she’s done now,” the queen added in a thready voice. “And she’s done so much.” She ended with a squeak, bursting into tears. Dr. Hayes hugged her tightly, showing more strength and sense than Tracy had ever seen from him.

  After a brief pause, Dr. Hayes continued. “The evidence the police found in that office on the rig is thorough and damning. They’ve only just begun to look into things, but it appears as though Marina could spend the rest of her life in prison because of it.”

  The queen burst into a sob.

  “It’s all right, Mother,” Alek said, sliding onto the sofa beside her and taking her free hand. “We’ll get through this, as a family and as the monarchy. We’ll stand together. Our people will see our commitment to justice and to each other. We’ll be okay.”

  “You will,” Tracy whispered to Johan, reaching for his hand.

  Johan glanced to her, his smile fond but exhausted. He slid his arm around her waist. “Coming from you, I believe that.” He glanced back to his mother, brother, and Dr. Hayes. “We’re a strong family.”

  “You are.” Tracy hugged him sideways, resting her head on his shoulder.

  “What’s this ‘you’ thing?” Johan asked, a hint of teasing in his voice. “I’d think after the last twenty-four hours, anyone here would say you’re as much a part of this family as anyone else.”

  She laughed, straightening and grinning at him. “I think there are a few technicalities that would say differently.”

  Johan shrugged. “They’re just technicalities. They’re easy to get around. A few quick words by a priest, signing a piece of paper….” He shrugged. “Then you’ll be one of us.”

  A thrill as potent as any of the adrenaline that had pulsed through her in the last day filled Tracy. “Are you proposing to me?” she blinked.

  He grinned. “Somethi
ng about this conversation sounds familiar.”

  She giggled. “Yeah, but are you?”

  He shrugged, then kissed her lightly. “Maybe. We’ve got plenty of time to think about that later.”

  She made a happy sound and went back to resting her head on his shoulder, her arms around him. “I’m in no hurry. We’ve got all the time in the world.”

  Epilogue

  “Do you, William Hayes, take this woman, Viktoria Magnusson to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, ’til death do you part?” the minister asked, beaming at the happy couple.

  “I do,” William answered.

  Johan felt a surge of pride and relief. He would enjoy having a man as surprisingly emotionally stable as William for a step-father. In the past couple of weeks, the man had truly stepped up, not only to support Viktoria and the rest of the family as news of Marina’s treachery broke on an international level, but in the government as Viktoria’s chief advisor as well. He might still spill something on himself at every meal, and he’d knocked over and shattered a thousand-year-old figurine from the Viking era on his way to his first cabinet meeting, but he’d been just the rock that the queen had needed in the wake of the royal scandal.

  “And do you, Viktoria Magnusson, take this man, William Hayes, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love, honor, and cherish as long as you both shall live?”

  The queen glanced to William with a look of such adoration that Johan got a little choked up. “I do,” she said from the heart. “I absolutely do.”

  “Then by the power invested in me by God and the Kingdom of Aegiria, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your—”

  William threw his arms around Viktoria and kissed her more passionately than Johan would have liked to see. Then again, the two of them deserved it after everything they’d been through. He joined his brothers, their fiancées and girlfriends, and William’s family, in applauding, then laughing as the kiss went on and on.

  “They’re so adorable,” Tracy said, leaning closer to him.

  Johan grinned at her. She looked amazing in her simple sundress, the afternoon light around her and the sparkle shimmering across the water around them. “You’re pretty adorable yourself.”

  She blushed and slapped his arm, which was the best reaction she could have had. “If you’re trying to butter me up and convince me to say yes to your proposal, you’ll have to do better than that.”

  “Should I ask you again?” he teased her.

  “You’ve already asked me a dozen times.”

  “And you’ve asked me about two dozen,” he murmured, dipping closer to kiss her cheek.

  She laughed deep in her throat. The sound did things to Johan that definitely weren’t appropriate for public. “Why don’t you try wooing me with food this time.”

  “An excellent idea.”

  They moved out of the sunlight of the deck into the interior of the royal yacht. A grand, buffet feast was set up on tables that lined the walls, though only the immediate royal family was present to enjoy it. The public believed the royal marriage had taken place weeks ago, before the scandal over Princess Marina’s horrible criminal activity had broken. It had taken all that time to settle things on a legal and national level, and for Johan’s mother to feel right about going through with the ceremony.

  In the end, the queen got what she wanted when it came to an intimate celebration with just the family. She and Dr. Hayes looked glowingly happy now, not only for themselves, but for the wealth of joy that they were all experiencing.

  “We have to start planning your wedding next,” she said to Alek and Toni as they came inside to grab a bite to eat.

  “I don’t suppose we could get away with a small wedding like this,” Toni said, sending Alek an adoring smile.

  “He’s the Crown Prince of Aegiria,” Arne teased the two of them. “You’re not going to be able to get away with anything less than an international gala.”

  “Whereas the two of you think you’ll be able to get away with a small wedding?” Alek teased right back. “A prince and a former rock idol?”

  Emma, who clung to Arne’s arm, grinned at him. “The press made a way bigger announcement of our engagement than I thought they would.”

  “It seems as though even after you put aside Fuchsia, the press still loves you,” Gloria said as she and Mack joined the group.

  “That’s because she’s so loveable,” Arne said, kissing Emma right there for everyone to see.

  “They’re so cute,” Tracy said to Johan from the refreshment table, where they still stood. “Between the two of them announcing their engagements, I guess the rest of us will be able to get away with keeping things under wraps for a while.”

  Johan laughed, adding a few open-face sandwiches to his buffet plate. “Considering Viggo married Marcia right under all our noses, that only leaves three of us to keep the press wondering ‘will they or won’t they’.”

  “Oh, I’m pretty sure we all will,” Tracy said, nudging his arm. “Eventually. But my money is on Kristoff and Cassandra announcing their engagement next.”

  “Really?” Johan glanced over to where his brother and—well, technically she was his sister-in-law now through William and his mother’s marriage—were still out enjoying the sun and stealing kisses. “I would bet Mack and Gloria would make things official first.”

  Tracy shrugged. “Maybe. But like another royal couple I know, I think they’re having too much fun just being together to rush into all the formal stuff. Especially if two other royal weddings are already being talked about.” She pushed up to her toes to kiss him quickly.

  Johan wanted to put down his plate, sweep her into his arms, and kiss her into oblivion. He wanted to do a lot more than that. But there would be time for everything, and he was hungry.

  “Nobody has to rush into anything,” he said, loading more food on his plate. “We’ve got all the time in the world.”

  “We do,” Tracy agreed. “And besides, I feel like I need to propose to you at least a dozen more times, just to be thorough.”

  “Exactly,” Johan agreed. “We have to do it right, after all.”

  The two of them shared a laugh as they moved away from the table. There was no escaping the happiness that surrounded them. The past was behind them, and the future glowed in front of them, full of promise and joy.

  That’s it for The Royal Wedding! But stay tuned! There very well might be more stories from Aegiria that need to be told, both by Merry Farmer and Caroline Lee.

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  About the Author

  I hope you have enjoyed The Journalist’s Prince. If you’d like to be the first to learn about when new books in the series come out and more, please sign up for my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cbaVMH And remember, Read it, Review it, Share it! For a complete list of works by Merry Farmer with links, please visit http://wp.me/P5ttjb-14F.

  Merry Farmer is an award-winning novelist who lives in suburban Philadelphia with her cats, Torpedo, her grumpy old man, and Justine, her hyperactive new baby. She has been writing since she was ten years old and realized one day that she didn't have to wait for the teacher to assign a creative writing project to write something. It was the best day of her life. She then went on to earn not one but two degrees in History so that she would always have something to write about. Her books have reached the Top 100 at Amazon, iBooks, and Barnes & Noble, and have been named finalists in the prestigious RONE and Rom Com Reader’s Crown awards.

  Acknowledgments

  I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my awesome beta-readers, Caroline Lee and Jolene Stewart, for their suggestions and advice. And double thanks to Julie Tague, for being a truly excellent editor and assistant!

  Click here for a complete list of other works by Merry Farmer.