Page 29 of Keeping Her Secrets

“She didn’t know Leonie had been stolen; her husband hid it from her. She thought it was a legal, private adoption. When she found out after his death, she couldn’t risk losing her daughter, and honestly, I’m not sure I would’ve done anything different in her position.”

“And nobody else knows?”

“Nope, you’re the only person on the planet who knows except those involved.”

“Thank you for trusting me.” He rolled her to her back and gazed down at her with so many emotions flashing in his eyes, it was difficult for her to keep up. “You’re the strongest person I know, and I am so damn sorry that happened to you. If I could go back and stop it, I would in a heartbeat. The desire to hunt every one of them down for what they did to you is a like a thorn in my side.”

Mustique reached up and smoothed his brow with her fingers. “I already did. I ruined them all. His parents are dead, shot in a home invasion similar to the one my parents were murdered in. They had been behind that too; they needed to isolate me.”

“Fuck, sweetheart.”

“Ben is in prison for assault with a deadly weapon and drug dealing. I visited them all, his parents before they died and Ben as he sat rotting in a disgusting cell. I made sure they knew I had done this to them; that I was behind their downfall.”

“How?” He stroked the hair from her face.

“With his parents, I made sure their alarm was off and then let it be known they were out of town. I should feel bad, but I don’t. I guess that makes me as bad as them, but I don’t care. I watched as they were murdered by thieves. My face was the last one they saw as the gang leader put a bullet in each of them and I felt no remorse, yet I couldn’t be the one to pull the trigger—to actually shoot my daughter’s grandparents.”

“And Ben?”

“Oh, he did that himself, I just made sure the police found out.”

“Wow, Mari, good for you.”

“Do you hate me?”

Ash frowned. “Hate you? Why would I hate you?”

“I had those people killed. I set Ben up. I didn’t protect my child.”

“Oh, sweetheart.” He kissed her hard, and she leaned into his warmth, wanting it to last so she never had to see the look of condemnation in his eyes.

He finally pulled back. “I could never hate you. I would’ve done the same thing in your situation. What you’ve been through is more than most people can even comprehend, and you fought back and got even. As for protecting Leonie, you were a child yourself and did everything humanly possible to keep her safe. Even walking away after you found her again. There is no greater love than that.”

She felt the tears fall again. “But you’re a SEAL; you play by the rules.”

“Yes, I am, and I try to play by the rules, but, honey, in your situation, I would have burned the fucking world to the ground and the rule book with it to get even. Fuck, if they weren’t already dead, I’d find those people myself and kill them for you. Why did you never tell anyone else?” He stroked her thigh, making her squirm with renewed desire.

“Shame was one reason; shame I’d failed her. The other was to keep her safe. Zenobi has a lot of enemies, and I would never want her at risk because of me.”

“Well, you have my word—I’ll carry this to the grave. I’ll keep your secrets, Mari, on one condition.”

Mustique frowned, and her heart thudded as she waited for his next sentence. “What?”

“Tell me your real surname.”

Mustique let out a laugh of relief. “Van Der Byl.”

“Marisol Van Der Byl. I like it. It’s regal like you.”

“Ha, I am so not regal.”

“You are, Mari. You are so much more than what you see. I wish you could see yourself how others see you.”

Mustique was on the verge of tears again and needed to lighten the mood. “So, now that you’ve worn me out, can we eat?”

He kissed her lips with a smile on his. “Yes, and then we need to check and see if Jake has emailed us.”

“Back to the real world?”

“Yes, but that includes you and me together now. I won’t lose you; you’re so special to me, Mari.”

His soft words made her heart clench. “Bossy.”

He tipped his head. “Do you not want the same?”

She sensed the importance of the question and recognized the sudden indecision in him. He was vulnerable too, and she would never hurt him. “Yes, I want the same.” She leaned up and kissed him softly, showing him with words what it was too early to say.