Page 4 of Innocent Salvation

“Oh?”

“She murdered my father.”

Bás raised his one brow for her to keep going. “How do you know this?”

“Because I watched her do it when I was sixteen years old.” Snow waved her hand in the air. “She didn’t actually fire the gun, but she stood and watched as her men tortured and killed him.”

“Why would she want him dead?”

“Because he held the key to her weakness.”

“And that is?”

“Me! I’m the key because I’m the daughter she gave away like rubbish and told my father to dispose of. I’m the daughter of the President of France and it’s time she paid for her crimes.” She was breathing hard, the pain of reliving the worst day of her life taking its toll on her nerves.

“I take it if you’re here you have a plan?”

Snow tried not to show her excitement but failed as she leaned forward. “Alexander needs a nanny for the girl. I can get in and find the proof we need of any involvement or corruption and check on my niece at the same time.”

“You really think getting up close and personal is a good idea? Duchess and Lotus normally handle the undercover work?”

“No, this is mine. I can do this, Bás.”

“Judge Alexander won’t be a pushover. He’s the youngest court of appeals judge in history at thirty-five and has the money behind him to back up his power. He’s old money and has a reputation as a hardass. You sure you can handle that? He’s the antithesis to your sunny disposition.”

“I’m there for the kid. You just need to make sure I get an interview and I can do the rest.”

“Fine, but you don’t go alone. I want Reaper to go with you. Use the flat in Kensington and pretend he’s your roommate.”

“Fine.”

“I’ll call a meeting and inform the others of the plan.” Bás linked his fingers and leaned forward. “But if I think for one second you’ve lost control or gone off-book, I’ll pull you out faster than you can blink.”

“I won’t let you down, Bás.”

“It’s not me I’m worried about.”

Snow walked from the room and headed back to her quarters. Going to her desk she took out the image of Sebastian Alexander. He was a handsome devil. He had dark hair with a slight curl that was barely contained, tanned skin, a strong jaw, and he filled a suit in a way that male models would hang themselves from the rafters for.

It didn’t matter though, because she’d never be attracted to a man who could smile at Dominique like he was in this picture. No, a man like that would never have her heart or her body. He was the enemy, and she was going to destroy him.

Chapter 2

“All rise for the honourable Judge Alexander.”

Sebastian strode through from the side door and up onto the podium to his bench. He dropped a slight bow to the court and then sat. “Be seated.”

Sebastian motioned for the clerk to read the case so they could begin. He knew the case of course. He made sure he knew every finite detail of a case he was presiding over so that nothing would get past him. He’d worked his ass off to get to this prestigious position and he knew there were still those in the House of Lords who thought he was too young for the job. So, he’d just keep proving to them how good he was until it wasn’t in question any longer.

He glanced down at his notes as the defence lawyer began his opening statements. This was the case of a serial rapist who’d gone free for five years before finally being caught after his last victim was killed. His job was to remain impartial, to make sure the case he presided over was fair and just and guide the court so that it remained that way.

Three hours in and he could see the jury were beginning to wane. A case like this was difficult for the most hardened of officials, hearing the testimony and seeing the images of the crimes could be exhausting, and it was also his role to make sure the jury got enough breaks to be able to see the case clearly.

The fact this man had pled not guilty to the crimes meant that every piece of evidence would be taken out, examined, argued over, and discredited. That took time, and while he always tried his absolute best to remain impartial, he always had a sense of whether the defendant was guilty. It was what had made him such a good barrister. This man in front of him in the dock was as guilty as sin, but despite his title his job wasn’t to judge, it was to guide.

“Let’s take a break for one hour and court will restart at fourteen-thirty.”

Sebastian stood gave a short bow and headed for his office. He passed his secretary on the way who was heading towards him with a stack of messages and paperwork.