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“I’ll stay here and help you with your mission, as long as once you get the keys to the kingdom, I can take my crack at killing Gavin Crude. But I have one mission that matters more than Gavin or any other target.”
Dominic leaned forward, his eyes curious. His desire to help was written across his hard features, and it was strange to reconcile this man who was so dangerous with the one who sought to protect and care for me.
Before I could chicken out on asking for help, I blurted out the words. “I need help tracking down the people who killed my parents.”
CHAPTER10
Aiden
Rage filledmy chest as I thought that someone had hurt Selena. But I could tell from the look on Dominic and Xander’s faces that they needed me to be the cool voice of reason. As usual.
“Tell me what you need,” I said, leaning back in my chair. I pulled a pad of paper and a pen from inside my jacket and clicked my pen open.
“Hold on,” Dominic began, but I could tell from the stubborn look that had come over Selena’s face that she was not ready to talk about her loss. It was hard to get her to open up. “I want to know the rest of the story.”
“The rest of the story doesn't matter now.” I'd be the bad guy and take the heat off Selena, because these two idiots would keep pushing her to talk about her feelings. I could tell Selena was a kindred spirit in some ways. She was not going to just open up. “I need her to be convincing when we meet my father in a few days. So whatever she needs to get her head in the game... I'm listening.”
I turned my gaze to her, indicating that it was her turn to speak.
“I need internet access,” she said. “I was working on a code to follow a lead about my parents. The trail's been cold for quite a while until recently. I don't want to lose it again. I need to check my code.”
“And what else are you going to get up to with internet access?”
Her gaze met mine evenly. “If I don't get in touch with home, the Belladonnas are going to come looking for me. And I don't think you're going to like that very much.”
I nodded slowly. “How long do you need with internet access?”
“A couple of hours.”
I clicked my pen shot. “Sounds like a date. But I'm not bringing any technology into the house. I'll take you to one of my offices.”
Dominic’s eyebrows had arched at the mention of the worddate, and they arched further at the mention of taking her away from the house. But I wasn't interested in discussing it with him.
“And you can contact home,” I said. “As long as you're going to tell them that you've taken on an additional contract.”
I’d run into professional assassins before whose livelihood was based on their adherence to contracts. I wasn't sure how it worked for someone like Selena.
“I see,” she said. My arm was still wrapped around her waist, and I could see the suspicion flare in her eyes.
It felt like a constant cat and mouse game between us, and I loved it.
I slid the contract out of my notebook and unfolded it. Dominic put his head down into his hand, clasping the bridge of his nose with two fingers. Dramatic bastard.
I smoothed the paper on the mahogany table. “This outlines my responsibilities and yours.”
She picked it up and read it, then snorted. “I see that you decided to write that you wouldn't interfere with my career. That’s bland wording given I get your blessing to try again to kill your father.”
“Just in case.”
“Just in case? If Gavin Crude was to find it, surely your dad would wonder why you signed a contract with someone for a fake marriage.” She tapped the paper with her fingernails. “I do like that you included a minimum cost of the ring, which is mine to keep. I don't really care about money, Aiden.”
“How admirable.”
“And what's going to be the rush for this wedding?” It was clear from the look on her face she had a limited tolerance for playing fiancée.
“Well, an unexpected pregnancy often results in a hasty wedding.”
“So you want me to fake a pregnancy too,” she said, sounding exasperated... and intrigued. I had the feeling she was the type of woman who never backed down from a challenge. “I'm not exactly the maternal type.”
