“At first, he was suspicious because he didn’t understand how she knew where to find the remote for the gate. I distracted him...” he trailed off, his expression apologetic. “I told him I saw you taking Cinder away. Andrew only informed Kabir, a man asked about Cinder, he never mentioned your name, and why Kabir tried to kill Cinder, he wanted to know who you were.”
I winced, aware of the harm I’d brought on Mikaela. “You told him I was that man, the same man who took her away?”
“I’m sorry, sir.”
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my thighs, and cupped my neck. My body still ached from the impact of hitting the floor at the restaurant. I didn’t think it likely I’d get much sleep any time soon. “You did it to protect your daughter, Luke. As a father, I can’t hold it against you—”
“I only did it because I knew Kabir wouldn’t be able to get to her.” At my arched brow, he continued, “once you left with Cinder, I did a quick search on you. A well-armed castle was exactly what Cinder needed to escape him.”
Silently, I commended his efficiency. “Clear something up for me, Luke. Given his position, I’ve seen Kabir around, just not dealt with him. The man at the restaurant was Kabir Shah?”
“Yes, sir.”
I fished my phone out of my pocket, scrolled a bit then showed him a photo. “Then who’s this?”
Luke looked at the photo, his frown matching mine. “That’s Kabir, sir”
I took the phone and slipped it back into my pocket, crossed my arms and leaned back in my chair, studying the man. “The man in the restaurant wasn’t the man in the photo, Luke and why I didn’t recognize him, but Cinder did. Care to explain?”
He stared at me for a second before a light bulb went off and he slapped a hand to his brow. “Fuck, fuck, fuck. I’m sorry, sir, I should’ve mentioned this earlier. Kabir always wore a mask when he visited Cinder. One of those life-like silicone masks that slips over the entire head. It feels and looks authentic, giving the wearer a new identity.”
That piqued my interest. “Let me guess. If Cinder ever escaped, she’d never be able to identify him?” I asked. Luke nodded. “Jesus.” I shook my head, my gaze drifting between Luke and Wilkes. “The man’s a cunning bastard who’s thought of every fucking thing to cover his arse. I’m not sure if I should be impressed or worried.” I dragged a hand down my face. “It’s no wonder he’s a prominent figure with a normal family.” I looked at Luke. “How did he know I’d be at the restaurant today?”
“The day you took Cinder shopping for dresses, someone called him. They told him she was out and about. They—”
“Who?” I barked, leaping to my feet.
Luke shook his head. “Sorry, sir, I have no idea who the person is. Just before the call ended, I heard Kabir say, ‘finally, the kitten has come out to play.’ After, he said it was time to earn my daughter’s freedom...” he paused, his expression apologetic again. “He had me stake out the castle before he got another call advising him that you’d be at the restaurant. I was the driver keeping the engine running for him while he came in dressed as a waiter.”
Every atom in me fired up. I looked at Wilkes. Only three people knew where I planned to take Mikaela to dinner. Two of them were right here with me now. That left...
Juliette.
Slowly, I shook my head, not wanting to believe she was Kabir’s spy. “Want me to call her, sir?” Wilkes asked, reading my mind.
“No.” I needed to do this because, in my heart, I knew it wasn’t true. “Luke, how did Kabir get into a restaurant that is strict on the people they hire?”
“As I said, he has secrets just about anyone. He probably threatened the manager, a waiter, or someone who could get him in at short notice.”
Slipping a hand into my trouser pocket, I rubbed the pad of a thumb across my bottom lip, my mind working on possible solutions I had no answer to. “Where’s Kabir?”
“Not sure. After Cinder left, he calls when he needs me. In the interim, I’m not allowed to work for anyone else. While he still pays me, I can only contact him via a specific email address which he routes through various servers that tracking it is virtually impossible.”
“How do we find him, Luke?”
Leaning back in his chair, he stared at me for a moment. “You don’t. You let him find you.”
I gripped the back of the chair I’d been sitting on and studied the other man, trying to figure out if he’d been playing us all this time. I decided to bite. “How?”
“Cinder,” he said, his voice barely audible.
“Never,” I barked, my tendons fighting my restraint to punch the man for even suggesting it.
“Sir.” He stood, and Wilkes took a step forward. I raised my hand, waving him back, looking at Luke, my expression expectant. “Kabir has only one obsession. Cinder.”
I took a breather to ponder his statement. “Why? What’s the hold over him?”
“Believe it or not, her tears.”
