From Enemy's Daughter to Expectant Bride (The Billionaires of Blackcastle 1)

Unable to wait to tell her how proud he felt to have it, he took her into the ballroom so they’d conclude this business with her boss and he could have her all to himself again.

A few feet in, it was as if he’d hit a force field head on. And...of course...what but that living storm he had for a partner would cause such a disruption?

Richard was striding toward them. He couldn’t wait to brag how right he’d been about Eliana. Not that he expected anything but castigation and scorn. With his brothers seemingly heartless, just like he’d thought he was before finding Eliana, Richard was the one who was truly merciless. As his friend zoomed closer, Rafael saw he wasn’t attempting to hide the demon believed to share his body. Not wanting Eliana to see him the first time with it manifested, he shot Richard a warning glance before turning to Eliana with a smile.

“Eliana, please meet my partner, Richard Graves.”

Temporarily distracted from searching for her boss, she graciously extended her hand toward Richard. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Graves.”

Richard didn’t take her hand, didn’t even look at her as he stepped toward Rafael and hissed, “I need a word—now.”

“Oh, please, go.” Eliana spooled away from him, flashing him an exquisite smile even when it was clear Richard’s incivility had rattled her. “I’ll go finish my own mission.”

Before he could stop her or tell Richard what he could do with his word, an erratic movement caught his eye. Ferreira. He was on a collision course with them.

Before any of them could move, Ferreira was pulling Eliana into his arms.

Aggression erupted, almost burst Rafael’s head.

He was her boss. And he was on hugging terms with her?

Then the words Ferreira kept saying as he clutched Eliana sank into his mind. Then exploded like depth charges.

“Ellie, a minha menina, você está bem.”

Ellie, my baby girl, you’re okay.

Rafael stared at the woman he’d lost his mind over, in the arms of the man he was here to destroy.

And everything crashed in place.

Eliana was Ferreira’s daughter.

Four

Ellie wished it were true the ground split and swallowed people up. She

could have used a vanishing act right now.

First, Rafael’s partner ignored her—after a split-second glance that had made her feel that if he ever got her alone, no one would ever find her again.

Then, just as she was trying to pretend to Rafael that his partner’s barely leashed aggression hadn’t knocked the breath out of her, her father pounced on her out of nowhere.

He was now squeezing her breath out. And swamping her in “baby girls,” something they’d agreed he’d never call her in public.

She’d taken the job with his agency over other positions only when he’d promised he’d never give her preferential treatment. But lately she’d been feeling she’d soon be forced to leave, even if she loved her job and was perfect for it. The moment they discovered her boss was her father, no one took her seriously. It was why she hadn’t told Rafael. She’d feared he’d reach the same conclusion everyone invariably did. She’d thought this particular bit of info could wait until he got to know her better.

Too late now. She’d been outed in the most embarrassing way. That taught her to get major stuff out of the way first. Not that she considered that major. Nothing about her was. It was Rafael who had the market cornered on humongous stuff.

Needing to see his reaction, she struggled to turn her head, but she was inescapably mashed into her father’s shoulder. All she could see in her compromised position was Richard Graves. He was striding out of the ballroom, without having that “word” he’d almost dragged Rafael away to have.

At least that reduced the awkwardness. He was one scary dude. She wouldn’t wish to meet him in a dark alley, with fewer than the three hundred people around. And Rafael at her side.

Then another thought hit her, pushing her dismay to the maximum.

What could Rafael possibly be thinking about what was happening right now?

“Daddy, oxygen alert.”