AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I turn away from him and open it, and my vision blurs as I regard the first one. My mother is naked and sitting on top of a man. They are obviously having sex and as I turn it over, the next one reveals the man is my uncle Lucas. As I flip through them, there are more. Different rooms, different places and it’s as if I’m seeing their lives flash before my disbelieving eyes as they age through the photographs. This tells me it wasn’t one time only and is a snapshot through the ages. It’s obvious they do this regularly and my hands shake as I stare in morbid fascination at the two people in the pictures who could be strangers.
“Does my father know?”
I whisper as I sift through the evidence and Shade replies, “No.”
“But how did you get these pictures? It’s disgusting. They must go back years.” I’m appalled and Shade says gently.
“My grandfather.” He shrugs. “He has been monitoring the situation ever since your father/uncle became a member of the society he runs.”
“What society?”
“The Dark Lords.”
I stare up at him. “What?”
“The Dark Lords. It’s an organization where powerful men like to play. They protect one another and the rewards are great.”
“Is my father one of these, um, lords?”
“Not Richard Powell, but Lucas Stevenson is.”
“This is sick.”
I stare in disgust at the photos, and Shade merely shrugs. “There is nothing my grandfather doesn’t do to protect his organization. This is his guarantee, and he is cashing it in.”
“But why?” I still don’t believe him. My uncle is not my father. He can’t be.
My hands are shaking so hard I’m surprised when Shade takes the photos from my hands and says gently, “It must be a shock.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Because secrets have a habit of getting out and it’s obvious that I’m not the only one who knows this. This is going to destroy your family, Allegra, and it appears that may not be down to me. We need to discover who else knows, and I’m guessing that will reveal the identity of the person blackmailing you.”
As I stare into two turbulent pools of malice, I see my own reflection staring back at me. Gone is the innocent sorority girl who lived life in a pink bubble. The woman staring back at me has had a rude awakening and, far from being upset, I am angry. So angry with the two people in those photographs.
My entire life has been built on a lie, and they have been carrying on a sordid affair behind my father’s back the entire time. I hate them so much I feel the rage consuming me. Now I am no different from the man watching me with interest. I understand what drives him. I love the power it gives when you hold a secret this explosive, and I have the desire for revenge consuming my entire soul.
Yes, Shade Vieri has just pushed me over the edge, and I am holding his hand as I fall.
CHAPTER10
SHADE
Another successful day at the office.
It was a harder battle than most, which makes the victory sweeter somehow. Now it’s time to claim my reward.
Allegra is stunned as she holds the damning evidence in her hand and I reach out and carefully prise it from her fingers and whisper, huskily, “What is your answer now to my request?”
She lifts those gorgeous green eyes and stares at me with no fear.
“Yes.”
Her breathing is erratic and her expression wild and right in this moment, she has never looked so beautiful.
