Billionaire's Captive Complete Trilogy - Stasia Black Page 0,65
man.”
I sigh. I can’t really deny that. Good men don’t lock women in towers or torture them in dungeons. Even if that torture was delicious…
“I’m a grown woman. I can make my own decisions.” Coming here was a mistake. My father is too frail to answer for his past mistakes.
I lean forward and press a kiss to his liver-spotted brow. “Don’t worry about me. You just focus on getting better.”
“I won’t rest easy until I know you’re safe.”
“I’m safe. I’m here, aren’t I? And I’m headed to the office next. I’m going to meet with the board.”
“I know. Adam called. He’s meeting you there.”
I press my lips together. I can’t exactly tell my dad I’m going to stop the merger and figure out another way to save Belladonna without selling out to Archer Industries. Even if Adam did half the evil things Logan accused him of, I don’t trust him. Logan doesn’t trust my dad, either, but I’m sure there’s an explanation for my father’s actions.
I just can’t ask him about it until he gets better.
“Adam will fix everything.” Dad pats my hand. “You just listen to him. He’ll take care of my girl.”
“I don’t need anyone to take care of me.”
“Nonsense. I told Adam when he called he had my blessing. He’s going to make everything right.” Dad smiles.
I’m about to ask what he means when the new nurse walks in. “Dr. Laurel?”
“Yes?” My dad and I say at the same time. This time he does laugh. “This is my girl,” he tells the nurse proudly. “Youngest recipient of the Avicennius grant. CEO of a top research firm at only twenty-five years old.”
“You must be so proud,” the nurse coos.
I force a smile to my face. I used to love when my dad talked about me this way. But now I want to make him look in my eyes as I ask: Am I just a sum of my achievements? Will you ever see the real me?
No one knows you like I know you, Logan told me. Is this what he meant?
“—time for your medication,” the nurse is saying. “Maybe your daughter could come back tomorrow?”
“Of course,” I rise, leaning down to kiss my dad’s cheek. “I’ll be back.”
“Daphne,” he fumbles with my hand. “I love you.”
“Love you, too.” Even if I’m no longer going to live to please you.
Rachel is waiting in her car to pick me up.
“You’re alive.” She looks relieved, still perfectly put together in a pink skirt suit.
“I’m alive.” The cold surrounds me but I don’t feel it. “I have so much to tell you.”
“I bet. You look good though,” she looks me up and down before turning her attention to the road.
“Thanks. I’ve been sick, actually, but I rested and I’ve never felt better.” It’s true. Being with Logan was like waking from a dream.
“Well, I’m glad you got some time to yourself. I’m sorry I couldn’t hold down the fort better than I did. Things are…really crazy right now.” There are stress lines on her brow I’ve never seen before.
“Is Adam waiting for me?”
“Yes. And the press are mobbing the place. They think there’s a scandal. And—” She bites her lip.
“What is it?”
“The board is still in closed door talks. I think they’re going to vote you out. I’m sorry, I—”
“It’s not your fault,” I tell her firmly. “I shouldn't have bailed like that. But I had to.” I briefly outline what I’ve found out about Belladonna, including the secret sale of the patents and my meeting with the man who owns them.
“Logan was my father’s old business partner. They founded Belladonna together, but they had a falling out and went their separate ways. Logan got my dad to sell the patents at a time when Belladonna was struggling. After my mom’s death.”
“Crazy,” Rachel shakes her head.
“You have no idea,” I murmur. Logan did all this under the guise of a different company, one he co-owned with the businessman who willed him the castle. And Logan believes my dad and Adam tried to kill him…
“There’s something you’re not telling me.”
Yeah, all the tantalizing details of my captivity, sexy torture, and first orgasms with the man I’ve always longed for. I hold her gaze, trying not to blush.
Fortunately Rachel is still trying to wrap her head around the details I have told her. “I can’t believe your father sold the patents.”
“It happened after my mother’s death. He was desperate.”
“So what are you going to do? Belladonna’s entire net worth is tied up in those