his
light eyes. His breath quickened, and he seemed to have great difficulty
forming words. "Who's her mother?"
"Marion Harper."
A high-pitched hiss escaped Anthony's lips as he forced his
gaze away from the pictures.
"If she's yours, then she's the child spoke of in the
prophecy." Lucas' voice was low as he leaned closer to Anthony. "And
then, we'll be in more trouble than just having your wife find out about your
affair. If the Count finds out about this—"
"Do not worry, Lucas." Anthony handed him the
photos. His friendly smile returned. "This girl is not my daughter, and
there is no reason to believe any different. Besides, the Count does not
concern himself with rumors, so he will not wish to investigate such a small
claim."
"But what if the Harpers—"
"I will speak to them." Waving the subject away
with his hand, Anthony let out a soft chuckle. "And I want this matter to
remain private. Do I have your word, Lucas?"
"Of course."
"But…" Anthony sighed as he gazed at his family
photograph. "It would not be…" He paused and steepled his hands, tapping the point of his fingers against his nose.
When Anthony didn't speak, Lucas impatiently asked,
"What?"
"I would like to take a paternity test, just for my own
peace of mind."
"If that's what you want, please do, but promise me
something." Lucas' hands tightened around the envelope. "Even if she
is yours, I'd like to keep this quiet…for Caleb."
"Lucas, you do understand what will happen if this test
proves she's my daughter? I can't keep that from the Count."
"I understand. But she and Caleb are in love. I don't
want to ruin that. Those two are—"
"I'm sure this is only a mere rumor. I have known Marion to be a liar, so
if this is just another one of her lies, it would not surprise me in the
least." Anthony's smile returned. "But until this matter is
investigated, I can grant you no promises."
"All right." Lucas voice was calm. "Thank
you, Anthony." Lucas stood, but was halted by Anthony's voice.
"Speaking of Caleb… When is he serving his punishment?
This will be his fifth, will it not?"
"He will be home for two weeks at Christmas. He'll
serve it then."
"Five months? That's too long." Anthony sat back
lazily in his chair. "It must be within the next month."
"He doesn't have a break until October, he—"
"He'll make time."
* * * *
Ashleigh was alone. Caleb had gone to a gathering with his
band mate, Kris. She had never gone to one before and was curious why Caleb was
there if he was supposed to be suspended. So, now she was following them.
She was wearing one of Caleb's caps, the brim bent to cover
her face. Her long, black hair now perfectly straight. She was wrapped in
Caleb's coat and sporting his T-shirt, even though they were slightly big on
her.
When she entered the room of people, all of them were
talking happily amongst themselves. She searched for Caleb, but she didn't see
him, nor did she recognize most of the group. She did notice the Masons and
could see Catherine crying and being comforted by one of her friends.
"Well…what have we here?"
The voice made Ashleigh cringe. She spun, and her eyes were
met with a pair of demonic green ones. She was about to walk away, but he
grabbed her arm and halted her retreat.
"Come on. Be civil, Ashleigh." Aiden laughed as he
released her. "I said I was sorry."
"And you turned Caleb in and got him in trouble." She crossed her arms over her
chest. She glared at him, but her eyes were partially hidden by the cap.
"I won't forgive you. Drop your claim against him." Her eyes narrowed
on Aiden angrily. "Now."
"I can't. Caleb's punishment is being carried out
tonight." Aiden motioned toward a door. "Fifty lashes, I
believe."
"This is all your fault." The words hissed from
her lips as she punched his shoulder. "You stupid asshole."
He tried to grab hold of her again, but with a swift jerk of
her knee upward, she caught him in the balls, and he released her. She jogged
over to the others,
light eyes. His breath quickened, and he seemed to have great difficulty
forming words. "Who's her mother?"
"Marion Harper."
A high-pitched hiss escaped Anthony's lips as he forced his
gaze away from the pictures.
"If she's yours, then she's the child spoke of in the
prophecy." Lucas' voice was low as he leaned closer to Anthony. "And
then, we'll be in more trouble than just having your wife find out about your
affair. If the Count finds out about this—"
"Do not worry, Lucas." Anthony handed him the
photos. His friendly smile returned. "This girl is not my daughter, and
there is no reason to believe any different. Besides, the Count does not
concern himself with rumors, so he will not wish to investigate such a small
claim."
"But what if the Harpers—"
"I will speak to them." Waving the subject away
with his hand, Anthony let out a soft chuckle. "And I want this matter to
remain private. Do I have your word, Lucas?"
"Of course."
"But…" Anthony sighed as he gazed at his family
photograph. "It would not be…" He paused and steepled his hands, tapping the point of his fingers against his nose.
When Anthony didn't speak, Lucas impatiently asked,
"What?"
"I would like to take a paternity test, just for my own
peace of mind."
"If that's what you want, please do, but promise me
something." Lucas' hands tightened around the envelope. "Even if she
is yours, I'd like to keep this quiet…for Caleb."
"Lucas, you do understand what will happen if this test
proves she's my daughter? I can't keep that from the Count."
"I understand. But she and Caleb are in love. I don't
want to ruin that. Those two are—"
"I'm sure this is only a mere rumor. I have known Marion to be a liar, so
if this is just another one of her lies, it would not surprise me in the
least." Anthony's smile returned. "But until this matter is
investigated, I can grant you no promises."
"All right." Lucas voice was calm. "Thank
you, Anthony." Lucas stood, but was halted by Anthony's voice.
"Speaking of Caleb… When is he serving his punishment?
This will be his fifth, will it not?"
"He will be home for two weeks at Christmas. He'll
serve it then."
"Five months? That's too long." Anthony sat back
lazily in his chair. "It must be within the next month."
"He doesn't have a break until October, he—"
"He'll make time."
* * * *
Ashleigh was alone. Caleb had gone to a gathering with his
band mate, Kris. She had never gone to one before and was curious why Caleb was
there if he was supposed to be suspended. So, now she was following them.
She was wearing one of Caleb's caps, the brim bent to cover
her face. Her long, black hair now perfectly straight. She was wrapped in
Caleb's coat and sporting his T-shirt, even though they were slightly big on
her.
When she entered the room of people, all of them were
talking happily amongst themselves. She searched for Caleb, but she didn't see
him, nor did she recognize most of the group. She did notice the Masons and
could see Catherine crying and being comforted by one of her friends.
"Well…what have we here?"
The voice made Ashleigh cringe. She spun, and her eyes were
met with a pair of demonic green ones. She was about to walk away, but he
grabbed her arm and halted her retreat.
"Come on. Be civil, Ashleigh." Aiden laughed as he
released her. "I said I was sorry."
"And you turned Caleb in and got him in trouble." She crossed her arms over her
chest. She glared at him, but her eyes were partially hidden by the cap.
"I won't forgive you. Drop your claim against him." Her eyes narrowed
on Aiden angrily. "Now."
"I can't. Caleb's punishment is being carried out
tonight." Aiden motioned toward a door. "Fifty lashes, I
believe."
"This is all your fault." The words hissed from
her lips as she punched his shoulder. "You stupid asshole."
He tried to grab hold of her again, but with a swift jerk of
her knee upward, she caught him in the balls, and he released her. She jogged
over to the others,
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