Save Me by Shara Azod

little intrigued. “It was my understanding that Petric was the girl’s guardian and acted on her behalf. Are you telling me this is not so?”
    “That’s exactly what I’m telling you,” Alicia lied without even batting an eye, She hadn’t survived as long as she had by giving herself away. “Grgur Petric was, at best, muscle. I needed protection for my daughter and myself. As he grew weaker, I was forced to make a move to secure my daughter’s continued good health. He never had any right to enter into a contract on Deja’s behalf. Or mine.”
    That was quite a whopper. She was in essence saying Grgur had worked for her. The idea was ridiculous on its face. Behind them, the younger brother started to openly giggle. It was an insanely masculine sounding bubble of laughter, half-heartedly covered with a cough. Even Nadir didn’t bother hiding an open smile—one she was guessing was completely unintentional. She didn’t have to look at Claus to know he was barely concealing his own laughter. She could feel it in his touch. She also felt his pride. God, what that man’s approval did to her!
    “You do realize with this new information I’ll be forced to deal with the remaining Petrics for this grievous misrepresentation?” Nadir kept right along with the line Alicia was feeding him.
    Like she cared. That family gave her nothing but grief. Even though those that remained had nothing to do with her own life of hell with Grgur or with him selling Deja, they’d watched their brother torment her for years. They too had women more or less bought, kept against their will. She hated that family, hated their grasping greed, their coarseness, and most of all their cruelty. It didn’t matter if Nadir wiped them off the face of the earth; sooner or later this was bound to happen. They were too stupid not to run afoul of someone more powerful, more ruthless.
    “Mr. von Blucher and I will, of course, assist,” Claus added eagerly. There was no doubt he’d probably planned on this course of action anyway.
    Nadir’s eyebrow rose once more as he regarded them with new eyes. So, he hadn’t known until now she and Claus were together, but she could see the pieces clicking into place for him. Not that she cared what he thought, but she was willing to bet someone would pay for the oversight. The Duke struck her as a man who liked to be fully informed on who he was dealing with. That dead man’s gaze stared pointedly at Claus’ hand on her shoulder, up to Claus, then finally back to her.
    “I’m really going to have to visit America soon,” he murmured more to himself than anyone else in the room. “Such fascinating women.” Catching himself, he straightened, looking toward Claus. “The offer is accepted. Please inform Herr von Blucher I can’t accept his money. The debt, as Madame so aptly stated, is on the Petrics. Their Eastern European operations are recompense enough. Please give Herr von Blucher and his lovely bride my blessings. You seem to have both found priceless treasures in your women.”
    He really meant that. There was genuine regret in his voice, though no ire. Alicia felt another pang of sympathy for the man. However, her relief was far greater. Just one more hurdle to jump, and she would be well and truly free.

Chapter Ten
     
    The ride back to the hotel was proving to be hell. Not because Claus felt any anxiety at what had transpired with Nadir; he couldn’t be happier with the end result. No, it was hell because his dick throbbed so hard his head ached from the need. He’d known from the first look that Alicia was one hell of a woman under all the shit life had dumped on her. What he hadn’t quite realized was how fully she’d come into her own. How could he not be proud of her? How the hell could he not be turned on? The way she’d kept her cool and smoothly turned what could’ve been a volatile situation on its head to everyone’s mutual benefit was masterful. Placing the blame on a dead