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Pulling off a piece of bread, I stuck my nose in the air and popped the pastry into my mouth. “It is not my fault you misunderstood.”
“Maybe not, but I’m still going to wear my belt out on your ass when we get back to the apartment.”
Letting myself sink into my role, I pushed my bottom lip out in a pout. “That is not fair!”
“Agree to disagree. And who makes the rules?”
Heat blossomed on my cheeks, and I glanced around to ensure nobody could hear us. “You do, Daddy.”
“Good girl.” Breaking off his own piece of the pastry, he took a hesitant bite. “Holy shit, this is amazing.”
“I told you.” We fell into a companionable silence as we ate, and for a moment it was easy to believe we were just lovers enjoying the city, with no secrets or lies between us.
But the weight of my responsibilities sat like lead on my shoulders and what I needed more than anything was information. “So, ah, how much longer will you be in Paris?”
Some of the amusement faded from his eyes, but his smile never faltered. If I hadn’t been well-trained in the art of reading people as well as the art of deception, I would have missed the subtle shift.
“A few days longer, at least. I have some business to wrap up, and then we can be on our way.”
“Our way?”
“Yes. You’re coming back to Chicago with me.”
Shock froze me in place, even as an undeniable warmth spread through my belly. He wanted me to come back to the States with him?
No. He wants Adele to come back with him, a nagging voice which sounded suspiciously like Pierce reminded me. Everything Cole knew about me was a lie, so how could he possibly want me, when he knew nothing about me that was real?
Other than the nights we’d spent together. The passion we’d shared. My desire to submit, to be loved and cared for by a sweet but strict Daddy. All of that had been real.
Maybe it could be enough. Maybe I could take off with him to Chicago, leave my old self behind, begin a new life as Adele. And maybe one day I could even tell him the truth.
Giving myself a mental shake, I forced an apologetic smile. If I told him who I really was, the true reason I was working for Giorgio, I was more likely to earn myself a bullet in the head than a spanking. The level of deceit I’d been committing these past few days went well beyond a naughty little girl lying to her Daddy, and I knew it.
“I am sorry, Cole. I cannot go to America with you.” Despite my best efforts to harden my heart, little cracks began to form, and I worried if he pushed too hard it might simply shatter in my chest.
“Of course you can.” With a careless wave of his hand, Cole swatted away my worries as if they were no more than pesky little flies on a summer day. “Mikey is working on your identity, filling in the holes so that anyone who digs will find a perfectly normal, if somewhat tragic personal history. You have nothing to worry about, sweetheart.”
My heart rate picked up, and it took every ounce of training I had not to scream at him. If Mikey was tampering with my identity, Interpol would know. They would know, and they’d track it back to him, and god only knew what that trail might lead them to.
Which was exactly my mission, in addition to taking down Giorgio. So why was I panicking at the thought of them being traced and caught? I had a job to do. It wasn’t my fault they were making it so easy for me.
Swallowing down the bile rising at the thought of my coming betrayal, I gave a hesitant nod. “Yes. All right. I will go to America with you.”
Joy lit Cole’s eyes and the cracks in my heart spread a little further. “Excellent. You’re going to love your new home.”
No, I won’t. And neither will you.
