Page 7 of Innocent Salvation

“Mr Alexander, I wasn’t expecting you.”

He was so furious he could hardly see for the rage inside him. Never in his life had he been violent with a woman but in that second the only thing stopping him from doing her serious harm was the way Fleur curled into his body, her small arms tight around his neck, her breath tickling his neck as she whimpered. “That’s very clear. Pack your things and get out of my house this second.”

“But, Mr Alexander, I can explain.”

His body was vibrating with rage as he stepped forward and something in his face must have made it clear he wasn’t fucking around. “Nothing you can say will explain you putting your hands on my niece. Now get your fucking bags packed and get out. I’ll be calling the agency as soon as I calm my niece and you’ll never work in this industry again.”

Ms Moss, who was probably fortyish, began to cry as she rushed past him to her rooms, which were situated in the converted attic space.

Carrying Fleur to the seat that was way too small for his huge frame, he sat down with her still clinging to him and tried to pry her from his neck. “Hey, munchkin, are you okay?”

Fleur sniffed and wiped her face on his five-hundred-pound shirt before she nodded.

“Want to tell me what happened?”

“Ms Moss said I was a bad girl because I didn’t want to learn my letters and that I was just like my crazy mummy. I got mad ’cos Mummy was nice, and I didn’t like her saying those things, so I kicked her bag over and she got really mad.”

He wasn’t sure he could get angrier after what he’d witnessed but it seemed he was wrong because in that instant he wanted to commit murder. How dare that woman be so cruel to a child. It was one of the reasons he avoided people; they truly sucked.

Brushing her blonde hair back from her wet cheeks, he kissed his niece’s head and cuddled her close. “Your mummy was the best. She was good and kind and she loved you so much and anyone would be lucky to be like her. You shouldn’t have kicked her bag over, but I’m proud of you for standing up for yourself. Don’t ever let anyone push you around, and if they do, you tell me and I’ll fix it for you, okay?”

“Okay, Uncy Seb.”

“Good, now how about that tea party you promised me?”

“Really?”

“Yes, you set it up while I take out the rubbish and we can have cake and tea.”

Fleur tightened her little arms around his neck, almost strangling him, she held on so tight.

“I love you, Uncy Seb.”

His heart almost cracked open with the love he felt for this child, a love he knew deep down he’d never be able to give anyone else because he simply didn’t have it in him to give and that was okay. She was all he needed now.

“I love you too, munchkin.”

Chapter 3

He’d decided after the last fiasco with Ms Moss that he’d let each potential nanny spend a few hours with Fleur under his watchful eye, or at least the watchful eye of a camera that he’d had Judd install. Judd owned a security tech company, which was now a huge success.

So far, he’d managed to find fault in all nine nannies the agency had sent over and today was his last chance before he had to find a new avenue to explore. He glanced down at the name of this one and rolled his eyes. Sabine Goubert, which instantly put his back up. She was obviously French and while he didn’t hate the French, he had a certain wariness considering Fleur’s absent and useless father was French, but maybe that would be in this woman’s favour. She spoke the language and her CV was excellent with immaculate references. Perhaps a little younger than he would’ve liked at twenty-six but that wasn’t a deal-breaker for him.

His phone buzzed in his home office, and he picked it up knowing it was internal. “Yes?”

“Breakfast is served, and Miss Fleur is asking for you.”

“Tell her I’ll be right down.”

He made a point to always have breakfast with his niece when he was in town and not away on business. He knew it was important for them to spend at least one meal a day as a family. He didn’t want her to grow up feeling like she didn’t have a family who loved her. It might just be the two of them, but they were enough. He didn’t want her feeling like a burden or an afterthought.

Tidying his desk, he exited the room and locked the door, as was his habit now after finding the four-year-old had drawn a stick man on a legal document he’d left on his desk in the first few weeks of them living together.

It had been a very steep learning curve for the both of them and he wasn’t sure by any means they’d survived it yet, but they were getting there, slowly. The life he’d led as an eligible bachelor who could stay out all night drinking and fucking any woman he chose were gone. Now he had responsibilities he’d never seen coming and he’d give his last breath to turn back time. He couldn’t so he’d do his best to love his niece enough for his sister and the useless asshole who’d sired her and never even held her.

Fleur’s eyes lit up as he appeared and sat down to breakfast opposite her in the formal dining room. “Look, Uncy Seb, I have a face on my pancakes.”

He looked to see the chocolate chips were in the pattern of a smiley face. “So you do.”