Page 28 of The Heiress

“I can’t shake this feeling.” I swear a cloud was following me around. Something wasn’t right and I worried all the time about whether I was doing the right thing.

“Yeah well, I can’t blame you. This isn’t a happy little family in a suburb just relieved to hear their daughter is alive and well. This is one of the most powerful families in the world. It’s fucking terrifying and I’m glad you’re taking Jace with you. He’s kind of scary when he’s mad.”

I shoved some comforting éclair in my mouth. “Yeah well, outlaws tend to develop that skill set.”

She sat back and grinned. “I still can’t believe he’s in amotorcycle club. He’s always so clean-cut at your house. I almost can’t picture him in leather straddling a Harley.”

“He’s not just in an MC. He’s their treasurer. Todd’s their president. He’s in deep.” And heearnedthat spot in the club. Jace might be brilliant and kind, but he was calculating and tough, too.

The scariest motherfucker on this coast.It was still hard to reconcile the boy I knew with the man I saw that night. Of course that’s because just as I was starting to get a handle on who Jace became, my own life exploded into chaos.

“Well, stop looking down on all that and start taking advantage of it. Because we both know what Yara is about to tell you, and you’re going to need someone in your corner who knows how to color outside the lines.”

I knew she was right but it didn’t make me feel any better. “I have all of you at Excel. We know how to color outside the lines.”

But Hazel snorted. “We hide in the shadows and sometimes pull the puppet strings. We arenotoutlaws and we do not have experience with actually doing anything with the information we uncover. You need Jace.” Then she paused and thought some more. “And maybe an army. I guess it depends on whether this family is the loving kind that keep business and pleasure separate, or the kind we work with all too often.”

“The kind that live their work,” I muttered into the last, delicious bite of éclair.

“Exactly.”

At that same moment both our phones began vibrating on the table with a text from Yara. She had the results.

Hazel practically had to hold me up on the walk back. My knees kept buckling and my hands kept tingling.

“You’re having a panic attack, I think. You need to breathe.” She shoved a bottle of water in my hands and made me drink.

“No, I need to know the truth. It’s all this waiting that’s getting to me.” I couldn’t feel my lips so some of the water spilled onto my shirt.

“Then we better get you inside that office before you pass out.”

We stumbled in the back door Yara held open, and as I threw myself into the uncomfortable office chair she got right to the point.

“You’re a match. Shall I send the results?”

Even though I knew this was inevitable I still went completely numb inside. Like everything beneath my skin turned black, while from the outside some sort of super heating device was simultaneously attempting to melt me into a puddle of goo.

I wanted to vomit.

Hazel wrapped me up in a huge hug. “Oh, honey. We’ve got you. Right Yara?” She nodded furiously in my direction until Yara joined the hug. I cried a little while they held me together. I really hated crying.

I was kidnapped.

Kidnapped and given to different parents. How was this my life?

“Who are your parents, Sam?” Yara asked gently.

My first instinct was to repeat the same names I’d repeated all my life. I had to stop myself and force out different, foreign words instead. “My biological parents are Georgia and Bernard Roark.”

“Holy fuck,” Yara swore. “You’reBaby Victoria?” Then she cringed. “Sorry. I have a thing for real crime dramas.”

“I’m Baby Victoria,” I repeated, trying the words out for the first time and not liking them one little bit.

10

Ifinally understood what it meant to walk into a lion’s den. I felt very much like a delicious little mouse being presented on a silver platter as I entered the historic Queen Anne mansion of Georgia Stroman Roark in Key West. Yes, it was gorgeous, and a small part of me marveled at the reality that this home was now connected to me, but I was also aware of how much security surrounded me, how many wary eyes watched my every move.

Mouse.

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