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Chapter 20 - Shane
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2024-10-29 19:42:56My fingers hoover over the laptop’s keyboard as my mind runs through all the possible ways that I can take this story. Unfortunately, I can’t bounce things off my co-workers. With the threat of Chris sneaking around and trying to talk to me, Blane has given me permission to work from home for a while. However, he doesn’t know that I’m not actually at home. I’m somewhere where no one will find me.
Luckily, he hasn’t asked me to go into detail about why I need to work from home, but I think he kind of has an idea. Afterall, he is the one that had to go down to the lobby and shoo Chris away from the front of the building.
All I had to do is tell Blane that Chris is trouble and that I’ve already told the guards and reception desk not to let Chris into the building.
I sigh and glance around the large living room. This is so different from my apartment, which feels like hom
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“DEE!! WE GOT SOMETHING!!”I whip my head up from my computer monitor towards the door. Trevor rushes in pushing his glasses up his nose. What could it be?As I turn my chair towards him, I gasp, “What? Anything that is good?”Trevor plops down in the chair in front of my desk and, once again, pushes his glasses up, as he frantically nods his head. He flashes me a big smile, as he lays his tablet on the desk in front of me. “Look at these.”I glance down at the tablet and my blood begins to boil. A group of men wearing all black and even masks are standing behind the crowd. I can’t see much of the surroundings, but I can already tell that it is the day of the attack.As I pick up his tablet and look closer at the image, I ask, “Where did you get this?”Trevor slides to the edge of the chair and swipes his finger across th
To Protect the Crown Chapter 22 - Shane
I sigh and glance at my old phone sitting in the middle of the dining room table just out of my reach.The reporter side of me is itching to turn it on again and see if anything else has come through. However, I know that is a bad idea. No. It is a really bad idea.I can’t have my little hideout blown because of my own curiosity.I turn my attention back to my new phone, as I continue to type in my contacts. I can’t have anything linking this phone to my old one, even though it would be so much easier if I could download my contacts from my online accounts. This is almost like déjà vu from when I had originally left my family and ventured out on my own. My family still doesn’t understand me, but that’s all right. I don’t understand how they can’t quite see how snooty they are. Well, my parents aren’t that bad, except for my moth
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The limo stops in front of the venue, while I sit in the back seat and scan the crowd. I would rather be dressed in my black company issued outfit, instead of this dress. At least I’ve been able to find one without all the sparkles and sequins. Still this dress is not me.I hope I don’t have to go running after someone. I guess if things go bad, I’ll just toss my shoes off and still run in the dress. I know that my mother will shake her finger at me and probably roll her eyes too, but my priority is the safety of the family first.The flashes of the camera make me squint even through the tinted windows.Ugh… Reporters…. Besides the bad guys, reporters are the one group of people that make my job hard. Some of them are so good at getting things before we can put a tight lid on stuff.Page’s calm voice halts my growing desire to tell the driver to k
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I can’t believe that I’m actually here at the gala. Regardless, I know better than to cross my mother. She would have marched right back to the family’s city apartment and would have dragged me here kicking and screaming.I do have to admit that it is better than staying tucked away from everyone and being afraid to walk down the street. I’m confident that Chris or his ‘little birdie’ wouldn’t look here for me. If the royal guards or the royal’s security company can’t find me at my family’s apartment, I don’t think that Chris or his ‘little birdie’ can find me there either.I do have to admit that my hand has been itching to turn on my old phone and see what else has been sent to me. However, I know I can’t.My life is more important than knowing what, if any, more pictures have been sent to me.I glance around the venu
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I don’t why I’m doing it, but I’m avoiding Shane. There is something about those hazel blue eyes that has me shaking in my boots.No. I’m not afraid of him, but there is something about him that I can’t quite put my finger on.I take drink of champagne and glance around the ballroom. I think the coast is clear for right now.From beside me, Page nudges my arm. “What has you all antsy? Usually, I would assume that you have seen something that could be a threat, but that isn’t the look that you usually give. No.” She moves her hand around in front of me. “This look here is something completely different. I almost want to say there is a look of fear in your eyes, but that can’t be right. You don’t fear anything.”Well, I normally don’t fear anything, but right now, I’m not so sure. I still can
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I don’t know if I should be happy or not. Without really trying to coax it out of him, Shane has told me the truth, while, on the other hand, I’ve lied to him. I know that Uncle Charles will be happy, but a part of me hates not revealing the truth to Shane. Unfortunately, telling the truth goes against my top priority of protecting my family. Plus, he is a suspect in an on-going investigation.I take a deep breath while my heart beats frantically, and my mind lingers over Shane’s last words. He isn’t going to leave the gala without me.His hazel blue eyes beg me to not reject him, while I fight to keep my own desire for him hidden.A heat slowly builds up along my cheeks and neck, while I internally wage a war between my heart and my mind. I’m thankful now that this corner is a little dark. Hopefully, he won’t be able to see my flushed face.My mind tries to pu
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I look at my reflection in the mirror. I want everything to be perfect.I have to admit the fact that her uncle is Charles Elliott is very daunting. He is one man who can find anything and everything about an individual which has me shaking in my boots.It wasn’t until I had gotten home last night when the reality of the situation finally sunk into me. I’m sure that Charles’ security company already knows about the pictures and the threatening messages. However, the security has never come to my parent’s apartment, so I can only assume the security company doesn’t know where I’m staying. After questioning my mother this morning, I also have discovered that the building has multiple layers of protection for the noble families. One of those protections is a blocking system that doesn’t allow anyone’s phone to provide a GPS location to anyone trying to trace it. I’m not r
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I bite my lower lip as my fingers fidget with my pants. My eyes are glued up front at the judge as he turns to the jury box and the jurors. “Have you reached a verdict?” The court room falls into complete silence. A lady stands up and announces, “Yes, we have, your honor.” My breath catches. This is it. I silently pray that this is the end of this chapter of our lives. The judge nods. “On the first count of attempted murder regarding the attack on the King, what is your verdict?” I hold my breath as I lean slightly forward. “Guilty.” YES!! I turn to my side and huge my husband, Shane, as tears stream down my face. I have so many things I want to say, but I can only manage to mutter a few words. “Yes. Finally.” His strong arms wrap around me and hold me tight. His voice cracks as he replies, “Yes. We finally have justice.”
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As I bite the inside of my mouth, I take a deep breath. I need to stay focused. My eyes jump from one video to the next, hoping to spot my boyfriend and my uncle. However, I can’t find them anywhere. I bite down harder as my heart races. Please make sure Shane and my uncle are alright. Even though my mind is in a whirlwind and my heart is racing, I force myself to stay on task and finish what we have started. I keep my eyes on the various videos while I bark orders into the microphone. Each passing moment seems to stretch on forever. Periodically, I glance back at the video for my father’s hospital room, making sure my parents are still alright. My heart wrenches as my eyes stop on the various videos of people running and screaming. Even though I have the sound turned off on them, their screams still echo in my head. Several injured people are being helped away
To Protect the Crown Chapter 73 - Dee
I look at the solid door for a moment as my heart squeezes.Thoughts rush through my head, imagining all the various things that could have happened to Shane.Please tell me he is alright. I can’t lose him now. I just found him.I take a deep breath.I’m surrounded by complete silence, which amplifies the banging from the earlier bullets which is still ringing in my ears.I have been around gun fire before, but this time seems to be different. However, the only difference is I’m now the queen instead of the head of security.A loud bang against the door reminds me that even if the room is a safe room, if Irene’s gang really wants to get me, they can find a way through the thick steel door no matter how many locks are on it or how much security is around.I take a deep breath.My mind goes back to our plan. I must follow the plan.&nbs
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To Protect the Crown Chapter 69 - Irene/Dee
Irene POVMy stomach sinks as I stare into Charles’ crazy eyes. His anger radiates off him and slams into me like a ton of bricks, along with the table.However, that doesn’t affect me. No. He is trying to bring my parents into this. He can’t do that. They have nothing to do with this.I did this all on my own. My rightful place is next to my husband as the country’s queen. I did this all on my own.Robert is so much better than Brandon and my husband desires to be the king more than his brother does. But because Brandon is older, he gets to be the king first. That is so unfair.Shouldn’t the better leader be the one to lead the country? Of course, I would be the queen then. Everyone would continue to look up to me instead of Katherine. She is nothing compared to me.The throne is meant for us, not th
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I march into Dee’s office and take a seat behind her desk, which is now my office and my desk. I didn’t think in a million years I would be back here. I thought once I retired, I would only be brought on the rare occasion something like what has when my brother has occurred. However, now, I’ll be back here every day. A small part of me is disappointed I’m coming back, but another part of me is happy, not because of the events which have brought me back, but because I can stop moping around the house. I hate to admit it but retired and I don’t work well with each other. Before I even turn on the computer, I yell out, “Page! I need an update! You better have something for me!” I’m not even done with my command when Page, Max and Trevor rush into the office. Max stops and stands in between the two chairs, while Page and Trevor sit in the chairs. Max clears his throat. “The agents a
To Protect the Crown Chapter 67 - Shane
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