Beautiful Seduction

Okay, none of this was making any sense.

“Are you trying to insinuate that he faked his death?” I finally asked.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

I watched his reaction, the heat between us entirely different. He was distraught, his anger reaching a new level. “Why did he do this?”

“I don’t have that answer. Do you realize I could be his next target?”

“Why?”

“That’s what I’m going to find out, Cassidy. However, that’s why you were targeted. Not your goddamn newscast or the belief that you betrayed them. Lazor Adamos was hunting for Christopher, if that’s even his real name. If I had to guess, he was the man responsible for the death of Lazor’s son as well.”

I put my head in my hands, trying to make sense of what he was telling me. I’d lived more than just a lie. I’d spent years with a man I didn’t even know. “Why did he steal from me? Why disappear?”

He laughed again, the sound sending chills down my spine. “Because he’d gotten too hot. He needed a quick escape. I’ll venture a guess his bank accounts had been frozen. He assumed another identity, Cassidy, but in doing so, he placed both your life and that of your daughter’s in danger.”

I jerked to my feet, moving toward him quickly. “Then bring her to me. Here. Now. He can’t touch her. I’ll kill him myself.”

There was a sudden change in his demeanor, a different look in his eyes. That’s when I knew. A wave of emotion rushed into me. Then it stopped cold, the realization that hitting me hard. “That’s why we returned. She’s gone. She was taken. Right?”

My God. The bastard didn’t answer me. I closed the distance, smacking him across the face. “You fucking tell me the truth.”

Exhaling, he lifted his head. “She was taken by Casimine Adamos. Your friend was bound in her home but unhurt.”

I didn’t hear him correctly. I couldn’t have. “What did you say?”

“He has your daughter but there is a way to get her back. In exchange for my life.”

There was no way of processing everything I’d just heard other than putting it in a neat box until I could pull it out thread by thread. I pulled away from him, turning toward the window. “He’d kill a child for revenge.”

“Yes, Cassidy. I believe he’s capable of doing something so reprehensible.”

I was lightheaded, uncertain how I remained standing. “Then what are you doing to get her back?” I no longer recognized my own voice. I gasped for air, trying to find a way to focus.

“What am I doing? I’m going to honor his wishes.”

My world had been turned upside down. There was no light in the tunnel I’d been shoved into, no understanding of what could happen other than the loss of the most precious creature in my life. My knees finally buckled, and I slipped to the floor, everything around me moving into slow motion.

Then I felt his arms around me, holding me against him. Moaning, I was frozen for a few seconds. Then I fought to get free from his clutches. “No, just leave me alone. Let me go!”

“I will never let you go, baby. Never. I promise you that I will get your daughter back no matter what I need to do.”

“You’re willing to die for her?” I sobbed, hating the fact I’d broken down in front of him.

“If that’s what it takes, yes.”

Shaking, I couldn’t seem to stop the tears or the hard thudding of my heart. Images of my sweet baby flashed into my mind. Why hadn’t I trusted him earlier? I almost laughed, choking instead. I’d had no reason to trust him. And now? He was the only man capable of bringing my baby back alive.

“Why would he take her? She’s just a baby! Why?”

“Because he knew I wouldn’t allow her to be killed.” As he rocked me against him, the warmth and comfort weren’t normal reactions. There was something wrong with me.

“I can’t lose her, Valentin. I just can’t.”

“I’m going to do everything in my power to get her back. I’ll move fucking heaven and hell if that’s what it takes.”

“Does that bastard of a man Christopher or whatever the hell his real name is know his own daughter is in danger?”