Claiming His Unexpected Baby (Assassins Guild #2) - Michelle Howard Page 0,16

woman is a liar!”

To his credit the man didn’t back down. “I think its time you left. We know exactly who Amelie is.”

“Ha! Do you? Or has she run her con so well, no one questioned it?”

“Roan, stop,” Amelie pleaded.

He waved his hand in a grandiose gesture. “Why? It’s clear you’ve been lying to all of these people. The truth needs to come out. How you hid my child from me, lied and left before I could legally challenge you for my rights. Now you’re taking advantage of the people here.”

They’d drawn a crowd. People were staring and conversation slipped into a lull. Gazes latched onto Amelie, staring, judging.

“What in the world is going on?” Scarlett came barreling over, her hand locked on Fleur’s. When she caught sight of Roan, she pushed Fleur toward Amelie and balled her fists. Gone was the diligent medic. Her voice was a hiss of outrage when she spoke. “You awful, rotten loser.”

“Scarlett, don’t!” Amelie picked up Fleur, clutching her to her chest as she shouted at Scarlett. Visions of silverware sticking from Roan’s eyes after all of her friend’s threats sent Amelie’s heart racing.

Roan raised his voice, drawing attention deliberately. “Where is he, Amelie? Where is this mythical mate so I can tell him whose child he’s really raising?”

More and more people were listening. They’d formed a loose circle around them and she could tell Roan was reveling in the attention. Of course, he was. He thought he’d won in some weird version of a contest.

“No one’s ever seen him and they’ve probably never even heard of this Sulen Czen you have listed on your resident papers,” he continued.

Amelie didn’t have time to ponder how Roan had gotten access to her personal records. Knowing him, he’d cajoled someone to release that information. On the surface, Roan’s words cast her in a negative light. Some faces she recognized in the crowd looked outrage.

The men were grumbling and Amelie expected the authorities to be called if this didn’t end soon. Tula was holding Ezra back by a hand to his arm.

Pushing down her terror, Amelie defended herself. She had to stick to the story she and Scarlett had created. Amelie wasn’t the only one who’d suffer if the truth came out. Scarlett could lose her thriving medical career as Lead Medic at one of the top medical facilities on the colony. The Gerelins loved and trusted her.

Licking her dry lips, Amelie said, “He travels. For work.”

A smirk curved Roan’s lips. “A mate would at least come home occasionally. See his daughter. Especially a Gerelin from what I’m told.”

Low murmurs filtered through the room. Heat seared Amelie’s face and sweat formed in her armpits. Scarlett looked torn between launching herself at Roan to claw his eyes out and grabbing Amelie to run away. Amelie wasn’t running. “She’s Sulen’s. Why are you doing this?”

Roan had been adamant he wanted no parts of her pregnancy or a baby. Another woman joined them and stood beside Roan. Her dark hair flowed about her shoulders and a heart-shaped face. She placed one hand on his arm and gazed at Amelie with sympathy. “I don’t know what would make a woman lie and steal a man’s child but it’s obvious you shouldn’t be in charge of her care. I promise my husband and I will give her the loving safe home she deserves.”

Amelie’s chest drew tight. “Who are you?”

“Aviana, Roan’s wife. My father’s Ambassador of Trigodor.”

Gasps worked their way around the room. Amelie fought back tears. They sounded so convincing. Yet how casually they talked of taking her child from her. Amelie backed up a step. “You’re wrong. I’m sorry about your inability to have kids, but she’s not his.”

Fury flashed in the jeweled blue gaze then gone in an instant. She was once more the demure injured party supporting her spouse. Her look was filled with pity. “Just give us the child, Amelie. We won’t press criminal charges.”

“No.”

Never. She’d never let Roan have Fleur. The thought had her clutching her baby girl tighter and Fleur whimpered.

Roan shook his head in disgust. “You’re hurting her. Isn’t it bad enough you’ve kept us apart all of these years?”

He’d created doubt and concern with the Gerelins present. Amelie could see it on their faces. They were protective of mates but children...they wouldn’t agree with a child being taken away from her father.

Clearly, Roan had learned a lot in his role as the ambassador’s assistant and obviously Aviana was just as convincing. She was a