Man (Seven Forbidden Arts Book 9) Read online

  He climbed between her knees and stroked his palms up her inner thighs. Her muscles quivered under his touch. When he dragged his thumbs over her pussy, her stomach contracted.

  “Tonight,” he said as he lowered his head to the sweet spot between her legs, “you’re mine.”

  She cried out as he sucked her clit greedily into his mouth, his patience much thinner than his control.

  After spending the night in Mrs. Reid’s bed, watching her sleep, Cain went to the base to shave and shower. He exchanged the habitual suit for white shorts and a T-shirt to blend in when he’d go to the safe house later. After Clara’s death, he’d taken an oath to never wear somber colors again. White was a reminder of life, of the precious gift he’d been granted, and of his duty to live it to the fullest. And there was no greater duty than putting an end to Godfrey.

  It was too early to visit Alice and Clara. Instead, he took his coffee out to the pool deck and dialed a secure number in France. The time difference was such that it was already late morning in Provence.

  A female voice answered.

  “Hello, Lily. It’s Cain.”

  “Cain! How are you? How long has it been?”

  “Not since Nicolas’ burial.”

  “I can’t say it’s a surprise. I’m always expecting the call.”

  “The call?”

  “The one where you tell me Godfrey is dead.”

  “This isn’t the one.” He fixed his gaze on the horizon where the day was breaking. “I’m calling about your stepmom.”

  “Olivia?”

  “Yes.”

  “Have you found her?”

  “I did.”

  “Wow.” There was a short pause. “Where?”

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  “You told her I’m alive?”

  “I had to. Godfrey told her my hitman killed you.”

  “Your hitman did take a shot at me.”

  “Not at you, at Adam. Anyway, you’re happily married to that hitman now, aren’t you?”

  “You did lock me up and starve me.”

  “That could’ve been avoided if you’d told me what I wanted to know right from the start.”

  “The way you said we were even when you gave me Nicolas’ body to bury made me believe that was the end of our brief endeavors.”

  “I’m calling to ask you a favor.”

  “Let me guess. You want to me speak to Olivia.”

  “Yes.”

  A longer pause, this time. “I don’t know. She wasn’t there for me when our house was attacked. I’m not sure I have anything to say to her.”

  “She didn’t know what your father was planning. There was no way she could’ve known your life was in danger.”

  “She told you this?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you believe her?”

  “I believe her.”

  “What would talking to Olivia gain you?”

  “The same thing as always. Godfrey’s head.”

  “I see. You’re using her to get to my father, just like you used me, and you need her trust if she’s to cooperate.”

  “If she doesn’t cooperate, she’s as good as dead.”

  “Placing her fate in my hands isn’t fair.”

  “I’m not placing her fate in your hands. I’m just asking that you tell her the truth.”

  “Jacob and I, we’ve put everything behind us. We have a family, now. I don’t want to put our children at risk. Nobody was supposed to know I’m alive.”

  “Godfrey obtained the seven forbidden cells. He’s busy making himself immortal. If I don’t stop him now, it’ll be too late. Forever. For everyone, including your children.”

  “What do you mean, for everyone?”

  “He’s planning on cloning himself and wiping out the inferior human race.”

  “I can’t believe it. Is there no end to his madness?”

  “Olivia can help me find him, but she won’t if she believes I had you killed.”

  “You’re unbelievable, you know that? You’ll risk me and my family’s safety just so you can deliver Godfrey’s head on a platter to your government.”

  “This has more to do with selfish reasons, I’m afraid.”

  “You? Selfish?” She laughed softly. “I don’t think you’re capable of thinking about yourself instead of your mission.”

  “I have a family, too. A daughter and grandchild. I want a world that will be safe for them, a world where the arts are no longer forbidden and the people who practice them no longer shamed and persecuted. Isn’t that the kind of world you want for your children?”

  Her voice adopted a sad tone. “This is really what my father wants, a world all for himself where no one else has the right to live?”

  “Yes.”

  “Fine. In that case, I’ll speak to Olivia, but promise me one thing. Promise me you’ll end it, this time.”

  “I promise to do my best.”

  “Let’s hope it’s enough.”

  “Yes, let’s hope.”

  After giving Lily the number for the secure phone he’d given Olivia, he hung up and drove one of the scooters to the safe house. He parked in the underground parking a short distance away and made sure that he hadn’t been followed before going up to the penthouse. Inside, he came to an abrupt halt. Alice sat on the sofa, holding a baby in her arms, but instead of the newborn he’d expected, the child had to be six months old.

  “I know,” Alice said with a smile. “She’s big.”

  His daughter’s smile was brave, but it didn’t mask her apprehension. Unease swelled inside of him. He’d seen his granddaughter yesterday. She’d been a tiny thing, fitting in the palm of his hand.

  “What happened?” he asked.

  “I don’t know.” Alice handed Clara a stuffed elephant from the basket of toys. “Eve can’t explain it.”

  More importantly, “How are you feeling?”

  “Never better. It’s not like I gave birth yesterday.”

  “Her womb is almost back to its normal size,” Eve said from the door.

  Cain turned to look at the doctor.

  “Clara’s growth rate is exceptionally fast, like with the pregnancy.” Eve handed him a data sheet. “Look at the graph. At this rate, she’ll be an adult in a year and a half.”

  He studied the figures with shock. Indeed. It seemed each of Clara’s months roughly equaled a human year.

  Taking his daughter’s hand, he gave a squeeze. “How are you and Ivan coping?”

  “We’re just taking it day by day.”

  Probably the best approach. There wasn’t much else they could do. He put on a bright smile and held out his hands. “Give her here. I want to enjoy my granddaughter while she’s still a baby. I think Mommy can do with a break, what do you say Clara?”

  Alice gave him a thankful smile as she placed Clara in his arms. “You sure? She’s demanding. Ivan is taking a nap, now. When he wakes up he’ll take over.”

  “Go join your husband. You need your sleep. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

  Alice got to her feet and touched his cheek. “What about you? Ivan spoke to the base this morning. Josselin said you’ve been on the watch all night, again.”

  “I’m not tired. Besides, I’m used to living on a couple of hours of sleep a night. Go on. Give me some alone time with my precious girl.”

  “I love you, Dad.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “Love you, too.”

  When Alice was out of the room, he turned his attention back to Eve. “Have you run all the tests?”

  “Everything we have at our disposal. I can’t find anything abnormal, except for the growth rate. Then again, it’s only abnormal by our standards. Quantumancists obviously have their own standards of which we know nothing.”

  “How about Ivan? Any changes?”

  “Nothing. I’m running blood tests every day.”

  “Have you tested him for ageing?”

  “Ran that one this morning.
I’ll have the results by tomorrow.”

  “Why don’t you follow Alice and Ivan’s example? Get some sleep.”

  “In a minute. I’m almost done with capturing this morning’s data. Coffee? You look like you can do with some.”

  Clara cooed in his arms.

  “If you’re making. Clara seems to agree.”

  When Eve disappeared to the kitchen, Cain walked to the window, holding Clara to his chest. She pointed with a plump arm to the ocean.

  “It’s a beautiful world, my little quantumancist, isn’t it? I’m going to make sure you can live happily in it forever after. Would you like that?”

  She made another gurgling sound. He was already head over heels in love with her.

  For the first time in as long as Olivia could remember, she overslept. The stress and sleepless nights were catching up with her, but her flu was better. The fever was gone. She dressed in her exercise gear and made her way to the gym, but the ringtone of a phone stopped her. Realizing it came from the kitchen, she rushed to the drawer where she hid Cain’s phone and took it out with a shaky hand. The number was unlisted. She accepted the call and pressed the phone against her ear.

  “Olivia?”

  Dear God. It was Lily’s voice. Still, she had to be sure. “What did I give you for your sixteenth birthday?”

  “A silver heart pendant with a photo of me and Adam.”

  “Do you still have it? Are you thinking of me when you wear it?”

  “You know I don’t.” She uttered a soft laugh. “The dog swallowed it and I refused to touch it when it came out in his poo, even after you’d cleaned it.”

  Olivia let out the breath she was holding. “Is it really you? Is Cain telling the truth?”

  “That Godfrey was going to kill me? Yes, I’m afraid it’s true.”

  “I’m so sorry, Lily. I didn’t know. Godfrey sent me away before the house was attacked.”

  “I know.”

  “Is it true about Adam?”

  Lily exhaled deeply. “Yes. Godfrey told him to shoot me.”

  She covered her eyes with a hand and turned her head to the ceiling, fighting back tears. “I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s not your fault. You’re not accountable for Adam’s actions.”

  “If I could turn back time––”

  “It’s over. I’ve moved on, and I hope you have, too.”

  “It’s different for me.”

  “Godfrey isn’t going to let you go, is he?”

  “You know him.”

  “There must be something we can do.”

  “No,” Olivia said sternly. “I don’t want you mixed up in anything where your father is concerned. He can’t know you’re alive or he’ll never let it go.”

  “I was hoping you’d understand.”

  “I do.”

  “Cain is a fair man. I won’t say he’s always kind or reasonable, but you can trust him. If you want help, he’ll give it gladly.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Well, then I suppose there’s nothing left for us to say but good luck. I hope things work out with Cain. I hope he’ll stop Godfrey, or we may never be truly safe.”

  “Take care, Lily. If things are different one day, I’d like to look you up.”

  “If things are different, you’d be welcome.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate that.”

  The line went dead.

  Olivia’s stomach was in knots. Not even her extra hard morning gym session helped to ease the tension. It was both a shock to discover her stepdaughter alive and relief that Cain had given her reason to trust him. The comment from Godfrey about Lily not deserving to live because she’d betrayed him now made sense. Once again, Godfrey had lied to her. She had no more excuses not to help Cain. Still, the weight didn’t lift off her shoulders. It didn’t mean things couldn’t go horribly wrong. What if Cain failed? What if Godfrey won the battle that would seal everyone’s fate?

  Her stress levels rose to an unbearable height when the ringtone of the wrist pad alarmed her of a call from Godfrey. She dropped the weights and grabbed the pad.

  “Hi,” she said evenly.

  “Come upstairs,” Godfrey said. “I have a surprise for you.”

  Her stomach flipped. He was here. In the house. Could she still get to the kitchen in time and dial Cain?

  Running from the gym, she sprinted up the stairs. Her sneakers were quiet on the tiles, allowing her to move quietly through the house. The kitchen was empty. Thank God. She rushed to the drawer where Cain’s phone was hidden and opened it as carefully as she could, taking care not to make a sound. Her finger hovered over the green button of the phone when Godfrey’s voice sounded behind her.

  “There you are.”

  She swung around, keeping the phone behind her back. “Oh, my God, you gave me a fright.”

  “Why so jumpy?”

  Lowering the phone back into its hiding place, she pushed the drawer closed with her backside. “You crept up on me.” Using attack as her best defense, she gave him a frown. “You know I hate it when you do that.”

  He narrowed his eyes, studying her for a moment.

  She closed the distance between them, forcing herself to give him a smile. “You said you had a surprise?”

  “In the lounge.” He stepped aside. “After you.”

  Entering ahead of him, she stopped dead. In the middle of the floor stood a boy of about nine or ten years old. With thick, red hair and a dusting of freckles on his nose, he was a replica of Godfrey to the specs that marked his eyes.

  Chapter 10

  Under the fitted T-shirt, the boy’s physique was athletic and too perfectly proportioned for a child. There was nothing of the too long legs or skinny arms one expected from a kid who was still growing into his own body. The boy returned Olivia’s stare with intelligent eyes. A corner of his mouth lifted into a knowing smile. It was as if he could sense her apprehension. Unable to speak, she could only look at the child who was undoubtedly Godfrey’s.

  “This is Godfrey Junior,” Godfrey said.

  “Your son,” she whispered, shell-shocked.

  “No. That would’ve meant I had an affair and my lover fell pregnant. This is my clone.”

  Only the wall at her back prevented her from staggering. “He must be ten years old,” she exclaimed softly. How long had Godfrey been hiding the child?

  “Eleven.”

  “Why haven’t you told me before?”

  “I’m telling you now.” He turned to the boy. “Say hello to your mother.”

  “Hello, Mother.”

  Even his voice sounded like Godfrey’s. Then Godfrey’s words registered in her mind.

  “Is he…?” She swallowed. “Did you…?”

  “I didn’t use your ovum to make him. Technically, you’re not his mother, but he will call you so until he’s of a legal age and able to live on his own.”

  She looked between Godfrey and the child. “He’s staying here?”

  “Yes. You’ll take care of him.” Godfrey turned to the child. “Go to your room and wait there until your mother calls you for lunch.”

  The child walked from the room and climbed the stairs obediently.

  Once the child was gone, she gave voice to her shock. “Oh, my God. What have you done?”

  “I copied myself. Isn’t the result marvelous? I have urgent business to take care of, but I’ll be back soon. We can enjoy a family dinner. Wouldn’t that be nice?”

  She was caught so off-guard she didn’t see the kiss he planted on her mouth coming until it was too late.

  “Take care of Junior. It’ll do you good to have a child in the house, again. I know how much you’re missing Adam. You may even find that it stimulates your creativity. Maybe Junior will be the muse you need to finish my painting.”

  He walked through the doorframe and turned back to wink at her before closing the door on his smug expression with a bang.

  She took a moment to gather her wits. Up
stairs was a human being who Godfrey had created in a lab. If her husband hadn’t used the eggs he’d harvested from her, whose had he used? Who was the child’s mother? Who had carried the baby and birthed him? It didn’t matter. However he was created, he was a child. Like every other eleven-year-old, he needed care, protection, and love.

  There was more to consider, such as Cain’s reaction when he’d discover the child, but she’d think about that later. For now, the child was somewhere alone in the house, God only knew in what emotional state. How was he supposed to feel, being dumped with a stranger in a place he didn’t know? He was most probably frightened and lost.

  Taking a deep breath, she summoned courage and climbed the stairs. The door of the first guestroom stood open. She rapped on the door and stuck her head around the frame. The boy sat on the edge of the bed, his knees pressed together and his hands folded in his lap. His gaze was trained on the painting on the wall. It was one of hers, depicting a furious ocean and turbulent sky with translucent horror faces in the water. It wasn’t a suitable painting for the room of a young child.

  “Hey,” she said with a smile, “can I come in?”

  At the sound of her voice, his head turned in her direction. He studied her with the same expression from before, as if he could see right into her heart.

  Crossing her arms, she leaned against the frame. “Is this the room you like best? You can have any one you want.”

  His eyes turned toward the window overlooking the sea. “I like the view.”

  “Yes, it’s a nice view.” She crossed the floor and sat down next to him. “What was your room like before?”

  He shrugged. “It didn’t have a view.”

  “What did you see through your window?”

  “There weren’t any windows.”

  Taken aback, she tried not to show it. “Where was it? Did you live in a house?”

  “It wasn’t a house.”

  He didn’t offer more, and she thought it better not to push.