Page 5 of Beloved Sacrifice

Fine. She cleared her throat and spoke.

“Your mother was a legacy member of the Trinity Masters, who declined to join so she could marry your father. You have gained a reputation as an international security consultant and political advisor.”

Marek inclined his head.

“There was a story in a small Moroccan paper that mentioned you helped locate and negotiate the release of some hostages.”

Two matched frown lines appeared between his eyebrows. “I had thought that story was removed from most records.”

Ha. Now it was her turn to know more than he was comfortable with.

“We have some excellent researchers,” Juliette said demurely. Score one for her cute history geek—Franco had found something a professional thought he’d buried.

Marek’s expression smoothed out and he didn’t say anything more. Whatever moment of discomfort or chagrin she’d managed to elicit by mentioning the paper was gone. And with it her advantage.

“We need help locating someone,” Devon said.

“Someone the Agency isn’t able to find?”

Devon’s back went stiff at the mention of the Agency. Juliette’s palms started to sweat. Marek Lee knew too much, far too much, about them.

The silence was now filled with tension, and Juliette felt vaguely ill. She looked at Devon out of the corner of her eye. If Marek knew who they both were, Devon might not let him leave this lobby alive, and it would be another piece of shadow weighing down her husband.

Marek cleared his throat. “It appears I’ve alarmed you; that is not my intention. I’m not an information broker—I’m not here to blackmail or threaten you. I would never tell anyone what I know.”

“And why should we believe that?” Devon spat.

“Because I’ve never said anything before now.” Marek’s eyes were calm and steady. “My mother chose to marry my father, rather than join the Trinity Masters. They both made sacrifices for love. I have the privilege of having wealth, knowledge, and skills that allow me to spend my time helping others. If I choose to help you, it will be because you need my help, and because it’s the right thing to do.”

Devon let out a hard, barking laugh. “The right thing to do?”

Juliette sat quiet, picking through every word he’d said. Normally Devon was far better at this than her, but he wasn’t his usual self.

“Yes, Mr. Asher. The right thing.”

“Then I don’t know if you can help us. The person we need help finding isn’t a damsel in distress.” There was a hint of a question, or maybe it was a plea, regarding the veracity of that statement in Devon’s voice.

“It’s a woman you need help finding?”

Devon snarled, realizing what he’d given away.

“Devon.” Juliette laid her hand on his arm. “Give us a minute.”

She expected him to protest, but instead he stood and stalked away, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand.

Juliette regarded Marek calmly. “May I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

“You said your father gave up something too. What did he give up?”

Marek studied her for a moment, then smiled a brief but dazzling smile. “My mother was a legacy to America’s Trinity Masters. My father gave up his legacy membership to the Masters’ Admiralty.”

Marek watched Juliette Adams, Grand Master of the Trinity Masters, go still.

She recognized the name “Admiralty.” That was good. It meant she was aware of the world beyond America’s borders. Marek’s mother had mentioned that the man who’d been Grand Master when she was approached about joining as a legacy member—Juliette’s father—had been extremely America-centric. It had been one of the reasons Janet Underwood had decided not to join the organization her family had been a member of for generations.

Juliette’s prolonged stillness told him that she was considering her next words carefully.

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