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‘We have nothing to say to each other,’ he bit out

He ht

‘But I have much to say to you!’ the other man said

There was hauteur in his voice, but there was so that made Nikos stop

The -lashed—bored into his Refusing to let Nikos go The next words the man spoke turned him to stone

‘Our mother wishes to see you—’

Instantly Nikos’s face contorted ‘I have no ery in his voice was bitter

Emotion flashed in the other man’s eyes This iven birth to Nikos, a bastard child, unwanted and unacknowledged, thrust away froiven away to foster parents, spurned and discarded

The other man was implacable ‘That rim He took a breath, addressed Nikos squarely ‘She is about to have an operation that is extremely risky She ed in his voice—soe ‘For that reason I have agreed to seek you out Bring you to her’

Nikos’s expression twisted ‘Are you insane?’ he said, his voice low, enraged ‘She threw me out when I tried to see her Refused to accept me Refused even to admit that she was my mother!’

Pain flashed across the othermore than that

‘There are things I must tell you,’ he said to Nikos ‘Must make clear to you Mostly they concern my father’ He paused ‘My late father’

Dimly Nikos’s mind clicked into action The card that this iven him

He lifted it to glance at it again Read what it said in silvered sloping engraved script

Le Comte du Plassis