Page 74 of Ruthless Secrets
Something about the way Clara is refusing to meet my eyes has me wondering if there’s a story there.
I desperately needto catch up on some work, but I’m enjoying hanging out with Clara and Zoe too much. It’s another clear, sunny day, so the three of us have set up a little play area for Zoe on the grass.
I didn’t think I would find watching a baby roll over so entertaining, but it really is.
Hearing my daughter laugh is a joy like no other, and I would happily skip work for the rest of my life if it meant I never got to miss out on hearing that sound.
“Yay, Zoe!” Clara claps her hands as Zoe tries her best to push herself up onto her knees.
She’s looking at me with such interest that I wonder if this is the moment she’s finally going to crawl.
“Come on, Zo.” I move a little further away from her. “You can do it!”
Clara nods as she holds her hands by her chest. “That’s it, darling, go to daddy.”
I freeze.
That’s the first time she’s called me that in front of Zoe.
Our eyes meet for the briefest moment, and then I’m leaning over and wrapping my hand around the back of her neck to bring her lips to mine.
I waste no time forcing my tongue into her mouth, wanting to hear her little moans of pleasure as I stroke my tongue against hers.
“Clara,” I groan as I grip her hair tightly.
If it weren’t for the fact that Zoe was right next to us, I would take her right here on the lawn, and from the way Clara moans, she knows it too.
I knew last night wasn’t going to be enough, but it seems as if the universe has other plans as my phone starts ringing in my pocket.
“You should get that,” Clara murmurs against my lips.
“Later.” I kiss her again.
“I don’t want to get you in trouble.”
“I’m the boss, I can do whatever and whoever I like.” I nip on her lower lip as I sneak my hand up her waist to cup her breast.
“Marco,” Clara moans as her head falls forward onto my shoulder as I rub her nipple through the thin material of her dress.
My phone continues to ring, so I reluctantly pull away from Clara and reach into my pocket.
Liam, my PI’s name, flashes on the screen. “Shit, I need to take this.”
“Go defeat the bad guys,” Clara teases, and I force an easy smile.
If only she knew who the bad guy is I am taking out this time…
Once I’m safely locked away in Andre’s study, I call Liam back. Just as I suspected, he’s managed to track down details of Clara’s ex-fiancé, Adam, so I waste no time getting into my car and driving into the city. I want this fucker to pay for what he did to Clara once and for all.
I don’t bother saying goodbye to Clara before I leave because I don’t want her asking questions that I can’t answer truthfully.
It doesn’t take long for the adrenaline to start pumping through my body as I drive.
I’m no stranger to using a gun or a knife, but there’s something about using my hands to beat the shit out of someone that makes it so much more satisfying. I want to walk away from this with split knuckles from breaking this guy’s jaw with my own fist.
It’s broad daylight by the time I park around the corner from the building where Adam works in Midtown. Ideally, I would wait for the sun to go down before I drag him into some alley and beat him senseless. But now that I actually have someone to go home to, I’m not willing to wait around. The sooner I get this done, the sooner I can get back to my girls.
At five on the dot, I catch sight of a guy with honey blond hair and an ill-fitting, navy suit walking out through the revolving doors.
