Page 57 of Innocent Salvation

“There are two things in life that will sustain a person, leverage and the long game.”

Snow snorted. “I think the quote reads, health and hope.”

“See, adorable, and you not only gave me leverage against a powerful woman but also a cover that was priceless. With you by my side, I was unstoppable. Nobody could see past the adorable child who loved her father. I was untouchable.”

“So, it was all a long con then?”

“Yes, but we had some fun, didn’t we?”

Snow remained silent for a moment trying to catch her breath from all the things she’d learned in the last hour. “The hit. Was that you?”

Henri chuckled like a child being caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “Guilty.”

His watch beeped and it was like seeing a switch being flicked as he turned from one person into another. His face changed, the grin smoothing, the laughter in his eyes leaving, and a coldness came over him. “Time to send the video and let them know they have less than six hours to go.”

Snow looked away, not caring what he did. Her body might feel but her mind was in another place now, somewhere safe from everyone who wanted to use her. Her mind went to Fleur, and she wondered if even that had been real. She would’ve laid money on the fact Sebastian loved her, that his cool exterior was a front for the pain he’d suffered, yet it was all a lie.

Everything was a lie, but she wouldn’t die there. No, she wouldn’t give anyone the satisfaction. She’d get out of there and go where nobody could hurt her ever again. Shadow would help her set up a new life. Her friends would understand, but even they weren’t enough to make her stay in the face of everything else she’d suffered.

Chapter 23

Sebastian shoved his hands through his hair in agitation as he paced the hotel room, trying to stop himself from drowning in guilt and to be of use to this team. Dominique was getting her arm stitched but refused to leave the hotel, insisting she was fine. She was tougher than she looked and had a will of steel.

Dismissing her security team to secure her son and husband, she’d shown genuine concern for them.

“Sebastian!”

Seb turned his body toward Bás as he walked toward him intent in every step as Reaper and Bein watched from the other side of the room with open hostility.

“We need to talk.”

Seb looked down and he knew it was time for the truth, Snow’s life was on the line, and he’d do anything to save her. “I know.”

“Let’s start with when you met Henri Goubert?”

Seb sat heavily on the arm of a couch, his whole body heavy with fatigue and defeat. “Henri approached me after Lucinda died and offered to help me find the truth of her parentage if I’d help him disappear. He explained he’d been in a relationship with Dominique years ago and knew how poisonous she was and wanted to help.” Seb shrugged seeing how naive he’d been now. “At the time I was grieving and all I wanted was the truth so my sister could rest easy, and my niece would never have that black cloud hanging over her head.”

“Did you know he had a daughter?”

Seb shook his head. “No, of course not. We weren’t friends. It was a business arrangement. I sorted out the new paperwork for him and he disappeared. I thought for a while I’d been scammed but then small titbits of information started arriving and my sister’s history began to become clearer.”

Bás crossed his arms over his chest. “Did Henri ever mention what he did for a living?”

Seb could understand his anger. Even though Bás was outwardly calm, Seb wouldn’t be surprised if he put a bullet in him and he wouldn’t blame him either. “No, I guessed he was a criminal but didn’t ask questions the less I knew the better.”

“Have you ever heard of Bijou Chasseur?”

“Yes, in passing but I’ve never had a case involving him.”

“Them.”

Seb frowned not understanding. “Pardon?”

“Bijou Chasseur was a two-person team. They were jewel thieves and probably the best in Europe, stealing millions of pounds in gems and precious metals, also priceless paintings and artefacts. A few years ago they stopped.”

Seb had an ache in his gut, and he didn’t want to be sitting here and listening to this rubbish. “Get on with it, Bás. We need to concentrate on finding Snow, not you giving me a fucking history lesson.”

Bás glanced at Dominique who was speaking to Reaper and Watchdog. “Henri and Snow were Bijou Chasseur. From the day she could walk he trained her to steal, to pick pockets, con people for him. It was a ruse that was often overlooked giving him the perfect cover. For her, it was a fun game she played with her father until it wasn’t. She knew no other life, so she stayed and each job they did, a little more of her died. Then she saw her father murdered or so she thought, and when Shadow found her, she was a lost, young woman. But through her own grit and determination she’s made herself into one of the best operatives in the field, if not the best, and now she’s in danger because of you.”