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He would have to say it. In order to quell Rafe’s suspicions, he would have to say it. “She loves me.” Uttering the words was even more painful than hearing them. Because it meant a part of him, however small, believed them.
“You sound quite certain.”
But youwereloved. By me.
And I love you still.
Alec swallowed hard. “I am.”
Rafe held his gaze. “And yet you never told her the truth. How her uncle essentially blackmailed you into service.”
Alec’s eyes widened. It was all a trick, but before he could speak Rafe held up a hand.
“Please don’t hit me again. I’m only trying to make a point.”
“Yes, I canseethat,” Alec groused and turned away. “I told her what she needed to know. To ensure she left.”
“I can’t imagine she went willingly.”
You were so lonely, so desperate, you would have been friends withanyonewho paid you the least bit of attention.
“After the things I said to her, she had no desire to stay.”
Then he had stormed out of the flat and skulked in the shadows across the street, telling himself it was only to make sure she and Valentina left in time to catch the train. Not because he was so pathetic that he craved to see her just once more.
“She will be safe now,” he insisted. “If it means she must hate me, so be it.”
“I’m not certain she’s safer in England.” The slight note of foreboding in Rafe’s voice sent a chill through Alec.
“The leak.”
Rafe’s eyes held the answer:Sir Alfred.
Alec let out a foul curse. “Whatever he has done, Lottie isn’t involved. I will swear on my life—”
“I know,” Rafe nodded. “I thought it could be a possibility, but not after this morning.”
“And yet, you let me think the worst.”
“Only so you would see that you have the chance for something more. Don’t let your pride get in the way.”
“You think this is pride?” Alec let out a bitter laugh. “I’ve no pride to speak of. I’m the boy whose ownparentsdidn’t even want him.”
Rafe tilted his head. “Is that all that’s stopping you? You can’t let your parents’ mistakes rule your entire life. Even I know that.”
Alec bristled again. Rafe was making far too much sense far too early. “A mistake would indicate they felt some kind of regret.”
“I was going to tell you this right away until youhitme, but I learned something rather interesting last night about Sir Alfred. In addition to the possible treason, of course. What do you know of his time in Venice?”
“When he was here decades ago?” Alec tried to recall what he knew. “Only a little. He frequently wrote about his travels, and Venice was among them. I believe he stayed with my parents for a time.”
Rafe’s grave expression was unsettling enough, but then he spoke. “Sir Alfred was already a spymaster by then. And, according to my London contact, your mother was working for him. I’m not sure your father even knew.”
It was as if Alec’s very blood had frozen in his veins. He couldn’t make his mouth move.
“Last night I was introduced to a man who worked in the same ring,” Rafe continued. “This fellow was shocked to learn that you would have anything to do with Sir Alfred after, as he put it—” Rafe paused to clear his throat “—after what he did to your mother.”
“Didwhat, exactly?”
