Tempted by Fate by Kate Perry

her, and once he found her, he had been prepared.
    Not prepared, however, to discover he had a daughter he didn’t know about.
    A daughter he still didn’t know. He had to forcibly unclench his jaw to speak to Collins. “I’m not pleased.”
    The bodyguard swallowed.
    Deidre slipped her hand over his, lightly gripping his fingers as if to offer comfort.
    He didn’t want comfort—he wanted his daughter. Lani had kept her away from him for too long. He’d thought he could make Willow need him, that she would stand by his side. That if he killed his wife, it would resolve their rift. But it had only deepened the gulf. “I trusted you to handle this. I don’t employ you for failure.”
    “No, sir, you don’t.”
    “Tell me you at least followed her.”
    His silence was answer enough, but then he said, “I got knocked out. When I came to, she was gone.”
    “Leave,” he said to Collins. He’d get what he deserved later.
    Deidre crossed her legs and waited until Collins left before she spoke. “An unfortunate setback.”
    “She’ll come back here,” he said tightly. “She saw me. She won’t be able to resist coming back.”
    “Whoever she is, she’s a worthy opponent.”
    Yes, Willow was worthy. Another reason to feel proud. It made the game that much more interesting.
    “Let me take care of this.”
    He glanced at Deidre.
    She returned his gaze steadily. “I’m serious. Let me handle this. I’ll send several of my men after her.”
    “What can your men do that mine haven’t?”
    “She can’t possibly evade four men at once, could she?”
    He felt a grudging admiration for Deidre. Not even his men had the balls to stand up to him this way. “You’re willing to help?”
    “I’ve been helping from the beginning, darling.”
    Her presumption irritated him. The slut hadn’t
helped
him—he’d used her.
    But she was oblivious of the distinction and his thoughts. She curled her legs under her and faced him. “What does this woman want?”
    That was easy. His daughter wanted
him.
He studied Deidre, trying to decipher her motives. “Why?”
    “Maybe it’s time to dangle it in front of her. To lure her into a trap.” She caressed his fingers. “What do you think?”
    He pulled his hand away. “I won’t allow her to escape again.” In actuality, it was a good idea, although he’d never admit that to her. It’d bring Willow right into his grasp.
    “Then let me help.” Deidre took Edward’s hand again and, locking eyes with him, drew his finger into her mouth.
    It did nothing for him. Willow had stolen his focus. Nothing else mattered now—nothing else would matter until Willow was at his side, once and for all. Until he had access to Willow’s powers, the way Lani had denied him.
    With her gifts, there wasn’t anything they couldn’taccomplish—nothing they couldn’t procure. Unlimited power was the end result. He’d rule the world.
    He eyed the woman by his side. Perhaps he could use her just a bit more. So he nodded. “Do it.”
    Deidre tilted her head. “Consider it done.”

Chapter Eleven

    N ine o’clock in the morning, Gabe Sansouci was pacing back and forth in front of her three-person audience. She was trying to figure out how to tell them what she knew without freaking anyone out, which seemed totally impossible, given how freaked out
she
was. Being direct was the only way.
    Agitated by the energy zipping between them like lightning, she studied the two other Guardians: her boyfriend Rhys Llewellyn, Guardian of the Book of Fire, and Max Prescott, who held Metal. It was bad enough with three Guardians—their powers were intensified and harder to control when they gathered together. How crazy would it be with four? She could only imagine that the outcome would be bad. Hands on her hips, she said, “So last night this Guardian walked into the bar.”
    Max stared at her flatly. “Please tell me you didn’t barge into my home and drag me out of bed to tell me bad jokes.