Page 51 of The Billionaire's Temporary Governess (French Conquests 2)

Madeline grabbed his arm excitedly, shaking him, not understanding why he hadn’t reacted positively to the news. “Didn’t you hear what I said? The baby’s coming!”

He hated to do this to her, but he knew that she deserved the truth. “I’m happy for them, maman. Really, I am. But,” he swallowed the hard words and then tried again. “But there’s been a problem. Willa and Naisha are missing. Someone’s taken them.”

And he watched his mother’s face crumple.

18

It was bizarrely ironic, Naisha thought, that the air would be so full of the perfume of flowers at a terrifying time like this. But the decrepit shack Abe was shoving her and Willa into stood on the far perimeter of a field of lavender and jasmine, and the sweet scent hovered over them like a cloud.

She wondered if she would ever smell either of those scents without feeling nauseated.

“Hurry up,” Abe growled, poking her in the back. “Get inside.”

Willa’s small hand, clammy and damp, clutched hers, as the child cried silently next to her. Naisha squeezed her hand comfortingly and whispered to her in French that she needed to stay calm. It would be okay, she assured her, even though she wasn’t sure she believed it.

“Speak English!” Abe roared. “I don’t know a word of that dumb stupid language. Don’t you be saying anything about me!”

“I wasn’t—” Naisha protested, but Abe gave her another hard shove and she and Willa tumbled into the shed.

“If I hear one moreplume de ma tanteorbonjourout of you!” He didn’t need to finish. It was clear that he was losing his grip, and that made him dangerous.

She watched in horror as he slammed the door shut and swung the latch into place. She knew in her gut that whatever he had planned for them, the outcome wouldn’t be great. Might as well try to save Willa.

“Abe, listen.” She tried to keep the tremor out of her voice. “The girl has nothing to do with this. Let her go, please.”

He laughed harshly, not even bothering to look up from his struggle with the lock. “Are you joking? You want me to put her outside so she can go running to her rich papa? Do I look like an idiot?”

Even Willa wasn’t too happy with the plan. She pleaded to Naisha, “No, please. Don’t let him send me away. It’s dark out there. I’m scared. I want to stay with you. Please!” Her tears flowed anew.

Naisha was torn. She didn’t know what Willa’s fate would be if she stayed here and endured Abe’s demented wrath, but she was also afraid for the kid outside in the darkness, in that open field, with the night air rapidly cooling.

She had to admit that staying might be the safer option for Willa.

Abe grinned, his blue eyes sparking with insanity. “Yeah. I thought so.” He pointed at a corner, upon which several burlap sacks were heaped. By the smell, she guessed they were filled with potting soil or manure. “Sit.”

She did so, obediently, and Willa huddled next to her.

Abe squatted on the floor, with his back against the door, glaring at her. “Did you like the pictures I sent you?” he asked with a leer.

She felt heated embarrassment rush to her cheeks and threw Willa a glance. She wasn’t a baby anymore, but she certainly didn’t need to be bombarded with the information that Naisha and her dad had been having alfresco sex on the estate. She shook her head, trying to communicate a silent warning to Abe.Off limits.

No such luck. “Did you enjoy seeing for yourself what a whore you really are? You should have a career in porn. I got some friends. I can set you up—”

At Willa’s puzzled frown, Naisha hastily tried to divert him. “How’d you find me?”

“Huh?”

“How did you know I was here? Only my parents and sisters know where I am, and I changed my phone number—more than once. How’d you track me down?”

His evil grin distorted his handsome face. He was model-pretty, this man. He could have had the world. But the ugliness inside. “You sure love your tea,” he said.

“Sorry?” What a weird thing to say.

“It was just my luck that you ordered a bougie, overpriced electric kettle from Amazon. Cause you’re sooo special, you can’t walk into a store and buy a teapot like normal people. At least, not since you’ve gone and gotten yourself tangled up with abaron.”

Willa lifted her head, and despite her obvious fear, found the courage to say, “My father is aCount.And he’s coming for you.”

Abe looked at her as if she was a low bug that suddenly developed the power of speech. “Will you shut her up?” he snarled.

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