“How do you feel about all of this?” Sabrina asked later that evening as she and Giovanni sat in her office discussing the outcome of his meeting.“I was pretty put out at first, until I saw a picture of her son. He looks like Olivia. I don’t need a paternity test to tell me who his father is.”“So, you’re going to give her what she wants?”“I already have, or at least a portion of it,” he said with a smile. “She’s really poor, sweetheart. The only reason she sent that letter was because she’s broke. She spent all her money on legal fees. I took her back to the hotel she’s staying at, mainly to see if she was telling the truth. When I saw the condition, she had my nephew living in, I made her pack their belongings. She’s currently staying at the Mandarin Oriental, in Paris, and I gave her enough money to get the boy some new clothes and some toys. She has enough to feed them for a few days, as well. By then I’ll have the paternity results and I’ll arrange permanent living accommodatio
Sabrina heard the ghastly sound and frowned as Giovanni staggered toward her. His eyes rounded as he reached out for her arm, then crumpled on the floor beside her. She stared at him with disbelief then back to Andre who began to laugh, a small black pistol held tightly in his hand. “I think it’s time to see how immortal love truly is,” he told her, raising the gun level with her forehead. “Clark, where are you?” Creighton asked over the receiver of his cellphone.“We’re about to land now, what’s up?” the man asked.“Security reports a problem with the system at Sabrina’s shop. The power went off and the backup didn’t engage like it was supposed to.”“I’ll check it out as soon as we land. It shouldn’t take me more than half an hour and I’ll call you back.”“I’m sure it’s just a faulty battery, but I’d rather be safe than sorry. I think I’ll call Irena. She and Peter are still in France and they can drive by and check on things.”“Sounds good,” Clark said. “I’ll call as soon as I fin
The room was filling with smoke, and he knew he didn’t have time to take advantage of any more of her sweet body. With a reluctant growl, he moved his head backwards, his teeth scraping hard against her breast as he slowly allowed it to fall from his mouth.“What I wouldn’t do for a few minutes more,” he whispered, then smiled at her face, chuckling as tears fell to her cheeks.Andre leaned in once more, this time pressing his mouth to hers in a hard, painful motion. He ground his lips against hers so hard, he could taste the blood caused from the tender flesh scraping across her teeth. Once again, he moved away from her, this time releasing his grip on her and standing up. He glanced behind him at the material, laughing at the flames that leapt up to the shelves, catching the newly painted wood on fire.“So much for foreplay,” he told her, adjusting the zipper of his pants across his hardened arousal. He watched as she turned her head into her shoulder, wiping his kiss from her blood
He nervously ran his large hands through his hair as his stomach twisted with anticipation and fear. Sandra came around the corner from the kitchen, a frown pulling her brows together. She had heard her husband’s angry growl and knew there was a problem. Fighting the urge to cry, she stood by the doorway, struggling to keep control over her voice.“What’s wrong?” she asked, fear racing through her veins like icy water.“Andre met with the team who installed the security system at Sabrina’s,” he said in a deep, angry tone. “He told them he was her fiancée, so they didn’t hesitate to explain the setup to him.”“Oh my God,” Sandra said in a quiet tone.“Clark is on his way, along with the police, and Irena will be there any minute,” he assured her, repeating her own calming response from earlier.“Creighton,” Sandra said, tears filling her eyes. “What if…”“Don’t say it,” he told her as he walked across the room and pulled her into his strong embrace. “We have to trust those in France to
“Irena,” Clark shouted, kicking at the burning timber separating him from the girl. The Firemen joined him a moment later, Sabrina beside them, mask across her face, her blouse wide open. The one man sprayed his foam on the flames as the second helped Clark move the beam, then hurried to where the girl lay unconscious."Get out of here,” the Firemen shouted to Sabrina as he tossed the empty extinguisher aside and moved to help Irena. Sabrina hesitated for a moment before being pulled to the front door by the Fireman holding her arm. Within seconds she was on the pavement outside the building, the heavy black mask still across her face. She fell to her knees coughing violently as she pulled the mask off. “My sister is still in there,” she gasped.“We’ve got it,” the Firemen insisted as a second one came to her side, pulling her toward the curb. “Please,” she argued around gasps for fresh air. “She’s pregnant. Please help save her.”“We’ll take care of it,” the first Fireman promise
The doctor nodded slightly and drew a deep breath. “She was still in recovery the last I knew. Her condition made surgery a little difficult,” he answered. “She has several second degree burns as well as a fractured pelvis, a broken humerus and femur. She will require several months of extensive physical therapy.”“What are her chances of walking again?” Rupert asked with a deep frown.“There shouldn’t be a problem with regaining full control of her gait. I would say three to four months of intense therapy. She will most likely need to have a cesarean section, though. A fractured pelvis would prevent her from having a vaginal birth, but her doctor will have to be the one to determine that when the time comes.”“A cesarean section?” Emma asked with a stunned look on her face.“A vaginal birth?” Bess asked immediately afterward.“You mean she’s pregnant?” Creighton asked with a very similar expression as the rest of the room’s occupants.“I thought you knew?” he said as the door opened
Giovanni’s frown deepened as he thought about the last thing he could remember. Then the past few hours began to seep through his conscience, and he looked up to Sabrina.“Andre?” he said in a hushed voice. “Are you alright?” he asked, his tone weak and filled with concern.“I’m fine,” she told him with a shaky smile as tears rolled down her cheeks. “I’ve been so worried about you.”“I’m alright, darling,” he told her, trying to raise his hand toward her cheek but found the effort difficult, and laid it back down across his stomach.Sabrina lifted his hand to her lips, kissing it gently before placing her cheek in his palm. Giovanni brushed a tear away with his thumb and smiled when she turned her lips to kiss his hand.“I think it’s time to let the boy get some real sleep,” Creighton said with a deep sigh. “I’m going to check on Irena before I go back to the flat. Do you want a ride, sis?” Sabrina shook her head as she laid Giovanni’s hand back across his stomach before resuming her
“We’ve posted security at all the exits,” he told them in his rich native tongue. “My men are stationed at the lifts and the underground parking. If he shows his face, we’ll catch him.”“Thank you,” Creighton said as he ran his large hand through his longer than normal dark hair. “Has anyone checked the flat?”“The manager let us in a few minutes ago. I’ll have a couple of men escort you up and stand watch.”“I want that man found,” Creighton said as he stood up. “There’s a bounty placed on his head and I’m willing to match it. I think it would serve everyone well if your men found him before a less honest person does.”“Don’t worry, we’ll find him. He’s too visible and too well known not to be spotted. This evening’s paper had photos of him in it, and I have a team of officers on their way to Bordeaux to bring his mother in for questioning. Inspector Ashford has filed a petition to have Monsieur Marez’ death reopened. I’m sure it won’t be long now before we have all the details to pu