Page 33 of Owned By a Billionaire

“I know what I’m about to ask will involve some risk.”

He stared at me without blinking.

“Basically,” I continued, “I need a file from Scotland Yard. Can you get in there?”

“That’s big.” He exhaled. “I mean, I have access, but it’s a punishable crime.”

I nodded pensively. My regrettable past was about to put my family at risk.

Can I do this?

I have to. What else have I?

He scratched his neck. “Let me see what I can do.”

“If it’s too risky, then abort.” I passed him a sheet. “There are the details. Please destroy them once you’ve committed the name and date to memory.”

He stared down at the handwritten note I’d given him with Alice Ponting’s name and the year she went missing.

“I need a forensic report,” I said.

“Um… I might have a better idea. A safer one. I have this friend…” He paused and thought for a moment. “It might work better if I try this outside of the agency.” He returned a restrained smile. “I love my job.”

“That’s understandable.” I tapped a gold fountain pen on the leather-topped desk.

“This friend is better than me with getting into systems.”

I nodded. “Tell him to name his price.”

“That might do it. Billy’s saving on a deposit for an apartment.”

That name rang a bell. “Oh, is that the red-headed boy from Reboot?”

He nodded slowly.

“Then, for the right information, I’m happy to pay for that apartment.” Given that unfortunate incident when I accused Billy of stealing a ruby necklace, I felt I owed him that, at least.

Drake’s eyebrows arched. “You might be looking at four hundred thousand pounds or so, Mrs. Lovechilde.”

“Caroline.” I stood and smoothed down my skirt. “Let me know if he’s amenable to the task.”

He nodded. “I’m seeing him tonight in London for a drink. I’ll speak to him and will let you know.”

Off he went, and in came Cary, the love of my life and the reason for my recent bout of insomnia, which had nothing to do with our very active sex life.

“I thought I’d take Bertie for a walk up to the cliffs. Interested?” He wore that sexy smile that made it impossible to deny the man anything.

“I’d like that. Just give me a moment to change into sensible shoes.”

“Of course.” He strolled over to the library and selected a book, almost without looking, as though he’d memorized the vast collection of titles housed in those floor-to-ceiling shelves.

Wearing fitted cream slacks and a green polo that hugged shoulders taut and strong from a lifetime of swimming, he epitomized the kind of masculinity that drove all women, even those half his age, crazy with desire. I was no exception.

Having returned to the library, I lingered in the doorway, absorbing his beauty. I wondered about him. There were too many inconsistencies in his backstory that I could no longer ignore.

But if I poked around in Cary’s past, what would I find?

The thought of not being with him terrified me. I was so in love with him that I’d started to sympathize with women who fell in love with dark characters.

---