Dangerous Beauty: Part Three: This is War by Michelle Hardin Read Free Book Online Page B

He needed to focus on turning on the charm. He needed information from Gwendolyn, but before he could get it, he needed to make himself look like a hero in her eyes and not the villain.
    Pulling back from her, Nathan cupped her face gently. “Gwendolyn,” he whispered. Blue eyes full of devastation rose to meet his. “How old are you, honey?”
    “Thirty-five years,” she replied in a broken whisper.
    Nathan nodded. “I need your help, sweetheart.”
    Concern for Nathan filled her eyes. That was the moment Nathan knew he had her.
    “I need you to help me save a young girl’s life. Your husband was involved in a kidnapping—”
    “Oh my God,” she cried. “Who did he take?”
    Nathan pulled every bit of the devastation, sadness, and fear he had felt the moment he’d found out Carter was taken to the surface. He would hide nothing. If he didn’t, if he allowed her to see, he would get this woman on his side.
    “My wife …” His voice was full of heartbreak.
    Gwendolyn gasped and slowly shook her head in shock.
    “She’s twenty-three years old, and possibly pregnant with our first child.” Nathan spoke quietly. He had yet to tell anyone of Carter’s possible pregnancy; emotions had already been high enough. Anastacia was a wreck and everyone else was scared out of their minds. If they all knew that Carter was possibly with child, they’d completely lose their shit. Especially Anastacia and Angelo. No, Nathan would not tell them until Carter was home safe and they confirmed that she was actually pregnant. He would bear the burden of being sick with worry for his wife and unborn child alone.
    Gwendolyn grabbed onto his hands and squeezed them as she began to weep once again. “Oh God. I’m so sorry … I’m so … sorry.”
    She surprised Nathan and tightly wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him. It was a warm hug, full of comfort and remorse. Unfortunately it did nothing to thaw the coldness that had entered Nathan’s head and heart the moment he’d found out his wife had been taken away from him. He returned her hug, but only for show. He was more than ready to get the information he needed and head to the city. He needed his wife.
    Gwendolyn pulled back from him. “I’m so sorry he did such a thing, but I don’t know what it is you think I can do to help you…”
    And there it was, his window of opportunity. Nathan dived for it. “Gwendolyn, I need you to tell me the locations of the rest of the Steele estates that you have been to in Germany.”
    She nodded. “I have visited many. Do you think that your wife is there?”
    “Yes,” he lied. He was going to destroy them.
    “I will help you,” she said with a firm nod. “There are five different estates that I’ve been to, and Vladek was always talking of a castle in Rigton.” She proceeded to tell him the locations of all five of the estates, making him promise that he wouldn’t attack the home where they kept the young children.
    Nathan nodded his agreement. That estate would be spared.
    After Nathan thanked her more than he cared to, she hugged him again. This time she kissed him on the cheek.
    “You saved my life,” she whispered, “and my baby’s. Thank you so much.”
    Smiling, Nathan fought to not roll his eyes again. He needed to go … now.
    “I pray you find your wife and baby safely.”
    Nathan gave her a nod and signaled for two of his men to come forward. “Where are you from, Gwendolyn?”
    “Hamburg.” She lowered her eyes sadly. “But I can’t go back there. I chose Vladek over my family three years ago.”
    Nathan nodded and placed a friendly hand on her shoulder. “Take her to her family …”
    She looked up at him, surprised by his words.
    “Make sure she is safe when she gets there. Help her find a home, pay for it, then leave her with enough money for her and her baby to start a new life.”
    “Thank you!” she exclaimed.
    Nathan smiled as genuinely as he could. The woman couldn’t even tell when