I lifted a brow, my expression stoic. “Her tears?” I knew she’d hung onto her tears and assumed it was just with me.
He nodded. “In all the time he kept her, she never cried, no matter what he did to her. Using her tongue as her shield until it bled. He saw that as his weakness and vowed to concur her devotion to him.”
Earlier, Luke had divulged why Kabir kept Mikaela prisoner and never gave her up like all the other children. Now, I understood his obsession. “Her tears,” I shook my head. “Unbelievable.”
“Sir,” Luke drew my gaze. “Cinder has the maturity of a child only because the world was alien to her, but she possesses the understanding of a strong-minded woman. She’ll amaze you with her prowess—”
“She already has.” I’d never doubt her ability to comprehend just about anything.
He took a step closer. “Then you alone should trust her to not only make the right decision but to confront Kabir will also bring her the closure she needs.”
“I agree, sir.” Wilkes neared me.
Silently, I studied the two men in front of me, my mind in chaos, my heart in a blender. Could I put her through that turmoil again? “What are you proposing,” I asked Luke, not yet ready to commit.
He took a deep breath as if his next words would invoke my wrath. “We use Cinder as bait.” I tensed but waited for him to go on. “I’ll send a message to Kabir telling him I found Cinder and that I’m taking her to his house, demanding my daughter’s freedom to make it believable. The house is empty now, so your team can set up surveillance there. I wouldn’t advise leaving men in the house. The gardens, however, would be ideal. Your men can rush in if I can’t handle him alone.”
“Works for me,” Wilkes said, shifting his gaze to me. “You want Kabir, don’t you, sir?” I hesitated until he added, “once Mikaela wakes, we’ll bring her to Luke under the pretext that he is our enemy. If you’re happy with how she responds to Luke, let her decide the next course of action.” He looked at Luke. “No offense?”
“None taken.” He shrugged. “I’ll gladly wait for her. I just need eyes on my daughter if this goes south.”
“Sir?” Wilkes waited for my agreement.
“Let me think about it. Fair?” Both men agreed. “Wilkes, please make sure we have eyes on Luke’s family and get him into a hotel.”
“Will do.”
“Thank you, sir,” Luke said.
“I’m a man of my word, Luke. Let’s hope you’re one too?” I tipped my head at him and walked out. Once behind the wheel, I drove straight to Juliette’s office, needing to speak to her face to face.
“Xavier, how’s Mikaela?” Thirty minutes later, Juliette flew around the table in her office, embracing me with unconcealed worry and why it pained me to question her.
“She’s good. The bullet missed vital organs.”
“Thank God,” she sighed heavily and gestured to a chair.
I declined. “I need to go check on Mikaela, but I need your help on something.”
“Sure.”
Watching her face, I asked, “I’m trying to piece together how Kabir got wind of my outing with Mikaela. Did you mention it to anyone?”
She didn’t hesitate. “Suman.”
“Why?”
Juliette, being my usual challenger, punched me in the arm. “Old age,mon chérie?” I frowned, and she snorted, a sound of irritation though her eyes twinkled. “The dress Mikaela wore to the dinner. Remember I picked it up from Suman for you?”
The memory came flooding back. “Fuck.” In all the ensuing commotion, it slipped my mind. The day before the dinner, I’d called Juliette, told her about the plan, and asked her to pick out a new dress for Mikaela, something she’d want to wear.
“I had to give Suman the size. She asked what the occasion was. I told her.” Juliette clasped her hand to her chest, her eyes going wide. “Oh, was I not supposed to tell her? You think she...” she trailed off, her brow pinching into a frown. “Wait. You didn’t think I had something to do with this, did you?”
I attempted to lie, but the truth came out in my apology. “Sorry, Jules. Given the shit I’m going through, everyone looks like an enemy to me.” I grasped her arm lightly. “Forgive me?”
“Only because I love you,” she pouted, returned my smile then sobered. “If it helps, Suman’s husband was there that afternoon.”
“Tahir,” I hissed, remembering Mikaela’s reaction to him the day Suman introduced him to me. “How the fuck did I miss that?” I snorted.
