Claiming His Secret Heir

“How long did you spend there?” She smoothed her hands along the folded leather gloves on her lap, her wedding rings glinting in the dull winter sunlight.

He’d been glad to see the bands back in place today when she’d awoken from a long rest. Damon had kept his word where Lucas was concerned the night before, walking the baby around the house when he cried and settling him down after the midnight bottle. He’d enjoyed the time to study the boy’s features and get to know him even though the feeding had interrupted one hell of a moment with Caroline. There would be more heated moments. Soon.

“I only stayed there for a few days last month after my grandfather’s private investigator found me over in Europe.” He’d been in a dark place at the time, convinced Caroline had either left him or was being held against her will. “My brother, Jager, had been looking for me. I’d saddled him with the responsibility of overseeing Transparent while I was away and he was beginning to have trouble explaining my absence to investors. I threw out my cell phone though, not wanting to deal with any of it.” A foolish act. “If only I’d kept it, maybe we would have been together sooner.”

The car slowed for another light. A few heavy snowflakes began to fall, lightly brushing the windows on their way to the ground. The city was expecting major winter weather tonight, and he would be glad to get his family settled for the night.

It still floored him to think about having a family of his own.

“At least we’re together now, and Lucas is safe.” Her dark gaze landed on the baby as the little boy stretched and sighed. “Thank you for making sure Victoria got to school safely, too.” She checked her phone and then set it aside. “I told her to text me if she heard from Dad, but she said everything seemed fine at her apartment.”

Damon nodded. “I’m receiving updates from her protective detail, as well. They retrieved a few books and personal items from the building on campus, and moved her temporarily to a spot with more security. Just until the police finish investigating your father’s role in this.”

They could only do so much to hide Victoria if her father wanted to see her, but at least she wouldn’t be easy to find.

“I’m more concerned about protecting her from whoever kidnapped me. My captors threatened to come after my siblings if I didn’t cooperate.” She turned her attention back toward the sleeping infant. “I want them safe, and Lucas, too.” She tugged at the green striped quilt she’d laid over the car seat to keep him warm, lifting it higher.

Damon wanted to tell her to prepare herself for the possibility that her father was more involved in her kidnapping than she realized. But perhaps Caroline herself had asked for her father’s help in freeing her from marriage to Damon and simply didn’t remember. Better to keep his misgivings to himself and let the police work on it.

And his private investigators. He’d called Bentley—the PI who’d located Damon when he’d been wandering Europe looking for Caroline—with an update the night before when he’d been pacing the floor with Lucas. Like Damon, Bentley was suspicious of Stephan’s role in Caroline’s disappearance.

Until he had proof, however, Damon’s revenge against Stephan would wait. He’d spend his time assembling all the pieces necessary to ruin him so he would be ready to act when the time came.

For now, Damon would focus on solidifying his relationship with his wife. After last night’s heated kiss, the plan was very, very appealing.

* * *

Two hours later, Caroline wandered through the sixth-floor solarium of the stunning house that belonged to Damon’s grandfather. Snow fell in a dizzying haze on the glass roof, which was illuminated by the ambient light from Central Park on the opposite side of Fifth Avenue. The building faced East 76th Street, but she could see the park from here.

Lucas had already been settled in his own bedroom across from hers on the fifth floor. She was touched to see the steps the household staff had taken on short notice to ready the room for a baby. They kept a crib in storage, apparently, and had set it up for them. It had been in use often as of late, since Cameron McNeill, one of Damon’s half brothers, had recently adopted his wife’s daughter.

Caroline had gotten the full scoop from two fresh-faced staffers who were pursuing advanced degrees in early childhood education—young women recently retained to work part-time whenever Malcolm McNeill hosted the grandchildren he hoped would soon fill his home. Like the Mercedes limo he’d sent to the airport and the home he’d opened to Caroline and Damon unconditionally, the extra caregivers were another way Malcolm proved extremely generous and thoughtful.