I expect her to jump to her feet. Pace the room. Wring her hands.
“Well now that makes sense,” she says.
I’m so taken aback by her response that I laugh out loud. “I tell you that my family is mafia, and you say thatmakes sense?”
“Well, yes,” she says with a smile.
I want to gather her up in my arms and kiss her from head to toe. “I mean, I knew you didn’t make your money selling shoesor something.You don’t take me for a fool, do you?”
I shake my head.
“I knew that you at least hurt the man that assaulted me. I knew you were wealthy and powerful and of enough importance that someone may have tried to bring your plane down. So no, I’m not surprised and no, I won’t run.” A frown creases her brow. “Are there rules I should know about?”
This time, I do reach for her. I drag her to me and embrace her.
“The only rules you need to worry about are mine.” I kiss each cheek before I release her. When I let her go, she gently strokes my cheek.
“Fabien. Did you think I’d run that easily?”
“There’s more,” I whisper.
“Go on,” she whispers back.
“I hired you for this wedding, yes. But I want more from you. I have another purpose, another goal, and I won’t force this one. But if you agree, I’ll pay you so well, you’ll be set for life, Nicolette.”
It’s time. It’s time I tell her.
I love the way her eyes spark with interest. “Tell me everything.”
I swallow hard. “We’re keeping this quiet.”
She nods and holds my gaze, unblinking. “Yes?”
“My brother Lyam was taken hostage. We were given conditions to meet for his release. And I needyouto help me.”
Staring at me with wide eyes for long seconds, she finally responds. “Is that all?”
I hug her to me fiercely.
“Fabien, you’re smooshing me?—”
I let her go. She stares at me. “So how amIgoing to help you find your brother?”
I tell her everything. When I’m finished, she shakes her head. “So I’m… going to be your slave… so we can go to The Underground and retrieve something worthtwo hundred fifty million euros.We’ll give it to the people who have your brother, and they will let him go.”
“That’s the plan.”
“Only…” Her voice trails off and she gives me a curious look. “You won’t actually give them the talisman, will you?”
“Of course not, not to keep, anyway.”
“And once you locate them, you’ll…dealwith them, as well?”
I nod. “I have no choice.”
“I see. Well, then, it’s time.”
She surprises me more and more.
