as he reached down and wrapped his

ble today?" Isidore snapped, his gri

erry lollipop. He widened his clear black eyes, opening

gh-IQ, brilliant little brain spun into high gear. He had hacked into the global archives last month to investigate his mother's past, so he knew exa

tort and drooped hi

yrupy, aggrieved little voice, hiding a s

d autism and selective mutism since infancy, barely speaking three

sted him by the arm and marched b

y's luxury manor hotel, Isidore marched across the

give him a full checkup," Isidore order

assive, gold-trimmed living room without a trace of fear. He was a wildly arrogant and m

nted with anxious concern. Although she had never managed to officially marry Isidore, she had clung to his

cooed, reaching out her hands with fake affect

nstantly matched her face to the digital files he had memo

blinking his big, innocent eyes. "When you smile, your face looks like p

lief at the little bastard who usually cowered in the corner whenev

the lighter mid-air. He narrowed his dark eyes, swe

ad-on and even tilted

an octave, heavy with warning

, and walked up to Erika. He g

th out loud. Next time I'll whisper about your wr

into her palms they nearly drew blood, but with Isid

e. Leo is just shaken

long moment before turning h

ghly suspicious. No one turns down thirty million pounds without a hidden agenda. Moreover, her eyes were too f

Astrid." His small shoulders stiffened.

the dim underground parking garage. She opened the passenger door of her black S

, climbing into the driver's seat and checking the rearview mir

d to his left wrist glinted in the dim garage light, covering the spot w

e black SUV shot up the exit ramp

ng overlooking the River Thames. She held Leo's small hand in the elevator, only lettin

urgical mask and tos

. She had sharp, delicate features, and her brown eyes

aight black hair before walking toward the open kit

ng her tie an apron around her waist. Without

his own reflection, he pieced together what she had called him. There was another boy named Toby who looked