Later that evening, we sat in the lounge area after dinner and keenly listened as the three narrated how they had escaped. Alexander was a man of few words and so Mariana took the stage to tell us how he had saved her life. Having witnessed Mario giving orders to get rid of her, Alexander had made the snap decision to go rescue her from her captors. After she had regained consciousness, she had given him the full layout of the mansion. They had then snuck back into Mario's house and freed Joe. Sneaking out unnoticed was a tricky affair but one that was eventually successful.

"Once Mario realizes Joe is gone, we loose our surprise advantage." Said Alexander.

"That may take a while though. Mario doesn't accept failure. Once the guards notice that Joe's gone, they will try and solve the situation themselves without informing their boss. Hence giving us some time." Said Mariana.

"We however need a solid plan on how to take him down." Said Joe as he squeezed my hands in his. "Now that all the people who might have been in harms way are safe, I can think straight."

"Not everyone is safe," I interjected. "My mother is still with that lunatic!"

"My family is coming to stay at the palace soon in preparation for the coronation. They will be in harms way too." Said Giovanni.

"True," said Joe, "what if you called them and warned them to stay away. We should be able to get some new phones and cell service out in the town."

"I guess that would work if I sold them a really convincing story. I'll go with Alexander." Said Gio as he rose to his feet.

"Now, we need a plan that doesn't put anyone in danger. Mario's a psychopath, he will stop at nothing when he feels cornered. We need to tread cautiously." Said Mariana.

"First things first, we need those cellphones, maybe there are people in the palace who can still help us. I have a few contacts in the police force who will help. Then Alexander can work his magic on that last guard so we can find out all he knows." Said Giovanni as he pulled on his hood and baseball hat.

"Be careful," I stood giving him a hug.

"Always," he patted my back. "You have some catching up to do," he whispered.

"Yeah lots." I said pulling back.

"All will be well cuz, my aunt will be freed from that man and then well take him down. Get some rest, I'll see you in the morning." He turned around and followed Alexander out of the room.

Halima rose to her feet, pulling Ryan with her, "it has been a long evening, we need to get some rest." She said. "We'll check on Khalid and Freya first. Good night guys. Joe it's really nice to have you back." She pulled him up for a hug.

"It's good to be back. Give a kiss to my beautiful Freya." Said Joe as he returned the hug.

"Goodnight buddy," said Ryan.

"Goodnight."

"I'll head out too." Said Mariana when only the three of us were left in the room. "Goodnight guys."

Joe walked behind her and closed the door. He turned and sauntered to me, "well, they are horrible at being subtle, its barely eight o'clock, and suddenly everyone is sleepy. But I'm not complaining because we are finally alone." He said.

"Yeah, I still can't believe that you are here right now, with me."

"Me neither, it's been too long!" He wrapped his arms around me.

His warmth and scent brought back memories of our time in Kenya. The place we'd fallen in love, the place I'd finally given my heart to a man. Many had tried before him, yet he didn't have to lift a finger to get my attention. In the days we had spent together in that shared tent, I'd finally done more than give him my heart.

Now, standing in his arms again, feelings only he could rouse out of me were igniting. I pulled back slightly only to whiteness the same emotions swirling in his chocolatey orbs.  My breath hitched as the revelation of what would come next dawned on me. A part of me wanted to give in, let it happen, like old times, but another part of me protested.

"Wait!" I said before his lips landed on mine.

"What?" He whispered.

"I need to tell you something." I pulled him down onto the couch.

"Okay, what's up Princess?" He asked solemnly.

"I have been going through a lot lately, the weight of the world on my shoulders, well, make that the weight of Garviland. Getting involved with Mario just made everything worse. So when I couldn't take it anymore I sort Gio out and told him everything I knew. It wasn't much but it was enough to raise alarm and so we came here. First, my intention was to apologize to Ryan and Halima, because they had tried to warn me about Mario, but I wouldn't hear it. I stormed off and didn't speak to them for two weeks..."

"You fell in love with him?" He interjected. The pain in his tone sent a cold shiver through me.

"What? No! Never. I was attracted to him, at first. He was kind and fought my battles." I let go of his hand and stood ambling towards the French windows. "I started feeling guilty after a while because he acted so gentlemanly, he was so good towards me and I'm afraid I bought the rouse and let him kiss me a couple of times. I felt nothing each time but it kept him satisfied so I went on with it."

"Did you sleep with him?" The tremor in his voice had me turn on my heel to look at him.

"No!" I said sharply. "I didn't sleep with him and even though I had, what crime would that be given that he was my husband after all! Unlike you, who was cozying up to Mariana and sharing hot make out sessions!"

"Whoa! Calm down Princess." He stood and came to my side. "Where did you get that from?"

"Mario was kind enough to send me footage of the two of you, making out!"

"Of course he did! Same way he sent me footage of every time you guys were kissing, I thought I lost you to him. Mariana then told me most of that footage was doctored to make me think you had finally given yourself to him...The footage you saw of me kissing Mariana happened once, and I was having severe allergic reactions to this medicine she was giving me to reverse the ones Mario had been using on me. Hallucinations, I thought I was kissing you. If you watched the whole clip, you'd see her slapping me back to reality."

"What?"

"Yeah, Mario has been very busy trying to make us hate each other. But he didn't succeeded, at least, I never stopped loving you."

"Me neither." I smiled.

"We'll, so all's forgiven?"

"Certainly, but there's more." I reached up to cup his face. "I gave my life to Jesus Christ... I don't know what you feel about that but we can't do the things we used to do before." I said expecting to see disappointment, instead his face lit up in a bright smile.

"That's awesome my love because I did too!" He said.

"What?"

"Yeah! After Mariana was taken away that day, I was alone in that room for more than twenty four hours, all I had to keep me occupied was a Bible she had given me. Remembering how much Ryan changed, I decided to put my trust in his God. So I prayed and surrendered all to him. A few hours later, Alexander and Mariana broke me out." He finished with a chuckle.

"Oh, honey. I'm so proud of you!"  I wrapped my arms around him. "Congratulations!"

"You too love." He pulled back slightly, "well, is there a reason why I shouldn't kiss the woman I love?" He asked.

"I know it's a bummer but, I'm still married to him. Until that's settled, we should probably keep some distance between us."

"Yeah, about that... What's Garviland's policy of marrying two women at the same time?"

"Uhm, not allowed, why?"

"Because Mario's already married!"

"What?"

"Yeah, to Mariana's sister. They've been married over a year now.... Her name is Gina, she's the one who has been calling the shots. She's pure evil and wants the crown for herself hence the reason he married you. So he could slowly take over Garviland and make her Queen!"

"Again, what?!" 

"Most of your misfortune isn't even by him. In fact she's the one who thrives on the blood shed. Mario just enjoys the power and since he hates the royal family for what they did to his grandfather, he'll do anything to avenge him..." He paused for a minute, sadness clouding his face.

"What is it?" I asked brushing a palm across his cheek.

"I have some bad news for you..."

"Yes?"

"They killed your father."

"I already figured that out. Papa was being poisoned, he said so in a letter he sent me."

"He was being poisoned?"

"Yes, but he found out too late. He had no real fighting chance."

"That's weird, then why would they struggle him?"

"What do you mean?"

"Mario, sent me footage of that crime. Gina killed your father Princess, but through strangulation!"

"What?"

"Yeah, it's weird... Who commits crimes then keeps the evidence?"

"People who thought that they'd get away with it!" I said through clenched teeth.

"Am sorry sweetheart," he pulled me closer.

"Its okay, you are here now, and we can take them down together!"

"Yeah, now you are talking!"

"I love you..." I whispered.

"I love you more..." He leaned in and encased my lips with his..."marry me!" He said, breathless.

"Whaaat?"

"I'm serious... Marry me. Your marriage to him is null and void which leaves you free to do as you please. Preferably with me." His lips curled into a pleasant smile.

I returned the smile.

"What do you say?"

"Yes! Yes, I'll marry you!"

*********************************

Thank you for reading.

God bless you all my lovelies!

June.