Page 26 of Innocent Salvation

As they finished walking around the zoo, looking at the penguins and flamingos, Sebastian felt an idea begin to grow in his mind. He liked Snow. Having her in his bed certainly wouldn’t be a chore, not with the amount of passion she had, and in the few weeks they’d known each other, Fleur loved her, and she seemed to feel the same.

He knew he couldn’t offer her love, not because he couldn’t. He loved his niece and his sister, even his mother. He’d never again give away that kind of power to another and allow them to hurt him in the process, but he had other things he could offer her.

Was marriage such a silly idea? Lots of people made marriages of convenience work, more they flourished. They could give Fleur stability, love, security, and Snow could have financial security and whatever else she wanted.

Not one to make rash decisions, despite the evidence to the contrary lately, he knew he’d need to sleep on it for a few days before he broached the subject. Perhaps speak to his lawyers first and draw up a prenup agreement.

As Snow put Fleur to bed, he headed for his office and sent an email to his lawyer, telling him he wanted a meeting asap. Then he returned a call from the lead detective investigating Margaret’s murder. Bitter sadness assailed him at the thought of the woman who’d been his right hand at work for so long. She’d been more than a personal assistant; she’d been like a surrogate mother in some ways. Handling way more than was expected of her, even fending off his ex-conquests with a smile and a pot of tea. He hated that it had taken her death for him to see that and appreciate her. He was a man who hid behind walls so high sometimes he wondered if he was protected or trapped.

“Judge Alexander, thanks for calling me back.”

“My apologies for the late hour. I was at the zoo with my niece.”

“No problem, I know how young’uns are and it’s good to spend time with them. They grow up so fast.”

“Yes, they do.”

Sebastian didn’t dislike this man, but he had no desire to make small talk with him either. “You have an update on the case?”

“Yes, we’ve arrested Jakub Nowark for her murder.”

Sebastian didn’t know him but that wasn’t unusual, he dealt with so many people it was hard to keep track of them all. “Do we know his motive?” The leather of his desk chair creaked as he sat forward, arms braced on the desk.

“No, we believe it was a paid hit.”

His belly clenched with the knowledge that he’d been unfortunately right, and this was linked to him after all. If this was a paid hit, then Margaret hadn’t been the target, it had been him. “I was the target.” It was a statement, not a question and they both knew it.

“We believe so. So I ask again, is there anybody specifically who’d want you dead?”

Sebastian knew he couldn’t involve the police in this. It would be buried in red tape, with the potential for political scandal smeared all over it. He was honestly surprised his actions hadn’t tipped off MI6 or, as it was now called, the Secret Intelligence Service. He needed to speak to his contact, the man who’d approached him and started this hateful, but he’d thought necessary, witch hunt.

“Throw a dart around me and you’ll find someone who wants me dead. My job doesn’t exactly imbue love and devotion from the people I put away.”

“I’m aware of that and we’re looking into that but if you think of anything specific, let us know.”

“Yes, I will and thank you for the update.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Have you released the body to the family yet?”

“No, not yet, but we will sometime this week according to the coroner.”

“Thank you.”

Sebastian hung up, his mood dark after that call. He rubbed his thumb over his bottom lip, thinking of everything he had going on. He knew something was going to have to give and he knew it should be his vendetta against Patrick Dupont. Yet just the thought of what he’d done to Lucinda made his blood boil with rage. He needed to pay for what he’d done, and his mother needed to pay for covering up his evil for so long that she’d become implicit in who he’d become.

His father had always said power was key, that the more you had the more protected you were, but he knew different. He had power yet most days he felt powerless to protect the person he cared most about.

Revenge was what ruled him most days although today he’d given that over to joy and the simple pleasures of just being and enjoying the moment, and he couldn’t remember a time when he’d felt so free.

If he had Snow, would he still feel free or would he merely drag her into his personal prison? The truth was he didn’t know, and he shouldn’t care. He hardly knew the woman but that didn’t stop him from thinking of her as he stroked his cock in the shower to ease the ache in his body. It didn’t stop him from imaging what she’d feel and taste like as he fucked her mouth and pussy. As his hand moved faster, he pressed his hand against the shower wall to support his shaking legs and came so hard he saw stars, his release covering his hard abdomen and hand.

Cleaning up, he dressed in loose sweats, learning quickly after Fleur moved in that sleeping naked was a thing of the past and went to check on his niece. She was sleeping soundly, a sloth plush under her arm as she slept the sleep of the innocent. Walking back to his room, he stopped at the base of the stairs leading to Snow’s room, wanting so badly to go to her and find out if his imagination was as good as he thought or better.

He didn’t though because he was a man who made choices and didn’t allow his emotions and hormones to get the better of him. He was a man, a Supreme court judge, and he decided when and how and who.

Chapter 11