Inferno's Kiss Read Free

there’s some other dark secret you’d like to reveal, may I leave?”
    Once again, Atia leaned toward her daughter, but Marcus stepped forward to intercept her. The physical touch of his fingers digging into her arm silently ordered her not to continue.
    “We understand you need time to adjust to everything your mother has shared with you this morning.” Marcus’s voice was one of serene calm, but Atia couldn’t tell if it had any effect on Cleo. His voice softened even more. “I know how difficult this must be for you, Cleopatra. It wasn’t easy for me when your mother told me about you only two weeks ago. But if you’ll give me the opportunity, I’d like to get to know you. All I ask is that you think about it.”
    Cleo acknowledged him with a sharp nod. She hesitated for a fraction of a second, and Atia thought she might say something, but Cleo simply wheeled about on one heel to stalk out of the study without a glance in Atia’s direction.
    The moment the door closed behind her daughter, Atia jerked away from Marcus and slowly circled the corner of the desk to sink down into the leather office chair. She’d lost her. Cleo would never forgive her for not telling her the truth. Head bowed, she closed her eyes and tried to think, but she couldn’t. For the first time in a very long time, she didn’t have a plan. Didn’t have any sense of what direction to turn. It made her feel lost and alone.
    “She’ll eventually see her way to forgive you.” At Marcus’s quiet statement, she lifted her head up to look at him.
    “No. She won’t,” she said bitterly. “You don’t know her like I do.”
    “You’re right. I don’t.” There was no accusation in his words. It was just a simple observation, but it filled her with guilt all the same.
    “She hates being lied to. It started when she was a child. Her best friend fell three stories when the two of them were playing on the rampart of the east wing at the White Cloud estate. I told Cleo her friend would live. The child died. She’s demanded the truth ever since. She can be very unforgiving.”
    “Then we’ll make her see you had no other choice.”
    “And do you believe I had no other choice?” She met his gaze steadily, remembering how furious he’d been when he’d learned of Cleo’s existence.
    “You did what I would have done. You protected our daughter,” he said quietly, but there was a flash of emotion in his vivid blue eyes that worried her. “I can’t fault you for not telling her the truth.”
    “But?”
    “You should have told me , Atia. I had a right to know that I had a daughter. I could have watched her grow up from a distance. You denied me even that small joy.”
    “If you want me to say I’m sorry, I can’t.” She shook her head. “I couldn’t risk you taking her from me.”
    “And yet you risked her life in attempting to raise her alone, thinking no one would discover your secret. I could have helped protect her.”
    “Her life was at risk no matter what course of action I took.” She bristled with resentment. “I did what I thought best for my daughter. I won’t apologize for that.”
    “Our daughter.” The fierce intensity of his words emphasized that he was still angry she’d hidden the truth from him. Like Cleo, he would have a hard time forgiving her. And the fact that she wanted his forgiveness frightened her. It showed how quickly he was becoming a part of her life again.
    “Our daughter.” She nodded with resignation.
    Eyes closed, her fingers rubbed at her temple. Another headache. They seemed to come so often these days. A gentle, unseen touch stroked her forehead, and she sighed at the invisible caress.
    “Why are you so certain Cleo won’t forgive you?” At the quiet question, she raised her head to meet his puzzled gaze. “Her concern for you last night at the Pantheon demonstrated how much she loves you.”
    “Cleo is like you. She has a stubborn streak. When she makes up her mind about