Page 2 of Innocent Salvation

Snow felt panic and anger at herself for being so damn arrogant fill her throat with bile. “Time for me to leave then.”

Snow went to push past the man sensing he wouldn’t hurt her and as he stepped aside, she knew she’d been right.

“Snow, I’m offering you a place within my organisation, to live free, to work for me doing what you do best but without the risk of being caught.”

Snow rounded on him. “Why?”

“Because we have need of someone with your skills and because your father, although not a good man, wasn’t a bad one. He loved you and wanted more for you than this life.”

“Why should I trust you?”

“You shouldn’t. You should trust your gut and you know I’m not here to hurt you. If I was, we both know I would’ve killed you by now.”

She knew that was the truth. Reading people was one of her many talents, part learned, part instinct. When you people watched as much as she did it was easy to see the tells. Her gut was telling her she could trust this man. “I can’t. I have a mission of my own and I mean to finish solo.”

“Let us help you, Snow. If you go after Dominique now, you’ll fail, and any chance at retribution will be gone. Play the long game and I’ll make sure you get your chance to avenge your father and find your niece.”

The sounds of sirens were louder now, and she knew she had less than two minutes to get away before she was carted off in handcuffs, yet she couldn’t walk away from what he’d just said. “Niece?”

She had no knowledge of a niece. Oh, she knew of her sibling, even if he’d never know about her, nor would she wish him to. He was as toxic as the woman who’d spawned him, but a child was innocent, and she wouldn’t leave an innocent child subjected to that kind of evil.

The man held his hand out. “Come with me.”

She paused, trying to make the right choice, and wishing for the thousandth time her father was there to guide her. “Fine.”

“Put the diamond back first. You won’t need it.”

Snow baulked but the man didn’t flinch, and she wondered again just who the hell he was.

Time had run out as the cars screeched to a halt outside, so she reluctantly put the diamond back and followed the man who led her through the back, seemingly talking to someone on comms as he led her into the back alley that ran the length of the street. They ran, rounding a corner until a car drew up, the door flying open as he ushered her inside.

Snow had no idea who these people were, but it was clear they didn’t want to hurt her, and had, in fact, just saved her from spending the next twenty years in prison. As the car sped away the man pulled the mask from his face revealing a strong jaw and chin and deep blue eyes. Thick dark hair covered his head and although older than her, Snow appreciated that he was a handsome man.

Knowing he was trusting her with his identity, she felt compelled to do the same and slowly removed her own covering.

A twitch of approval at the man’s lips made her wonder if he’d expected her to hide, but that had never been her personality. Although the person she was now wasn’t the same as before. Watching her father murdered in cold blood had sapped her natural happiness.

“So now what?”

“Now we get you out of Rome.”

“And then?” Was she seriously considering this madness with people she didn’t know?

“Then, we train you and we turn you into an asset.”

“What about my niece and my revenge?”

“We’ll help you, but you need to be smart. Running in this way will get you killed. If you want to bring down your enemy, then as I said, you play the long game. For now, your niece is safe and well taken care of by her mother and uncle.”

“How did you know my father?”

The man smiled as if remembering a fond memory. “Let’s just say your father and I had a few run-ins and eventually came to an understanding.”

“He robbed you?”

“No, he tried to steal from my employer, and I couldn’t allow that, but he also agreed to become an informant in exchange for me looking the other way on certain things.”

“My dad was a confidential informant?”