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Sascha’s hand clenched into a fist on the table "You don’t think they’ll facilitate another attempt on her life?"

"Your mother," Max said, "is forearmed and very security conscious That’s why the killer has becoet those around her" He blew out a breath "Sascha, if you’re still in contact with her, you’re a priers with hisinto an intense, protective focus "Sascha isn’t Nikita’s heir"

"She’s Nikita’s daughter" Max shook his head, his jaw a stubborn line "I don’t care what anyone says about the Psy ability to cut off people without a thought--if a Councilor’s daughter is taken out, it will have an impact"

"You may not be Councilor Duncan’s financial heir," Sophia said into the silence, "but you reenetics were very, very important in the Net Those of her race had no love, no hate, to tie theether, but they had blood "As far as I know, she hasn’t arranged for a second child or a surrogate"

"No," Sascha whispered "I’ve never understood why"

"My pack will protect my ave a wry set a word out"

"It’s such a pretty face," the leopard alpha responded, a feline sreen eyes, "the wo me up if I messed it up"

Sophia felt the tension level in the room drop even before Max’s expression shifted to pure ht Dorian was considered the fairest of them all"

It was Sascha who replied "I don’t know, Max"--a tight siving hi about wanting to lick you up like strawberry ice cream"

Sophia decided this Zara person couldn’t be allowed anywhere near Max Who tilted back his chair in that way he had and laughed "Since I’ve already broken the rules, if either of you have any idea of who o after Nikita, I’d be happy to hear it"

"Let us discuss it and get back to you" Squeezing his h" Max stood as well "Clay knohere I’otone last look at the extraordinary daughter Councilor Nikita Duncan had borne Sascha’s head was bent, her s worry

"Sophie"

She turned to see Max holding the door Walking out beside him, she considered whether she’d ht They’d erased her from their lives so cleanly that she’d had to erase them from hers in order to survive It had been hard, so hard to do that She’d written letters at first She’d begged

Finally, a response had comeone that had made her parents’ position clear with brutal precision--she was no longer, it had stated, an "acceptable genetic heir"

A histle pierced the air, slicing neatly through the pained numbness of her memories of the day she’d realized her parents were never returning for her The whistle originated from the mouth of a sle, Cop" A blinding s smile revealed the lean dimple in his left cheek that Sophia wanted to kiss each time she saw it "Your intel is out of date"

"I knew it--I’o drown myself in fantasies where three--no four--hot men await my every whim"

Sophia didn’t say a word until they were back in the car "I’le" It took considerable willpower to say that, to admit how much his commitment meant to her No one had ever before chosen her No one

Reaching out with a deliberate slowness, Max brushed his knuckles over her cheek The sensation was a hot whip over her skin "The things I plan to do to you, Sophie," he whispered in a deep voice thaton mine"

Lucas waited until after Max and Sophia Russo had left to turn to his e to just cuddle the worry out of her, he leaned back against the wall by the door and folded his ar ?" His heart had al when she’d confessed her little field trip

"Lucas," Sascha said in a voice that would’ve nor to work" He dropped his hands, reed you’d stay out of the lirit his teeth, unable to get the words out