In His Power (Beyond Darkness, #1) by Iris Deorre Read Free Book Online

mince his words.
    There was a gasp from Portia that brought them back to reality. She didn’t like the sound of that, and her instincts had been correct. The men in London’s house were not the type she wanted hanging around her daughter.
    ‘I think its best you leave now,’ said Portia.
    ‘Yes of course, we don’t want to be here longer than necessary,’ said Victor.
    London watched as Victor packed away the laptop. He stood up and Portia showed them to the door.
    ‘Wait!’ said London. She stood up and moved towards Victor. Unexpectedly she wrapped her arm around him. She lifted her head and whispered into his ear, ‘Thank you.’  She pulled back.
    He nodded and smiled. The whiff of her perfume mixed with her natural scent did things to him he didn’t want to think about at that moment. They continued forward, but just as he was about to step out, London said, ‘I’m coming with you.’
    ‘London,’ said Portia.
    ‘Mum,’ she said, but then continued to speak to Victor. ‘If  you find out where my daughter is, I’m coming with you. I’m hopping on a plane with you. I want to be there when you find her, if you find her!’
    ‘Yes of course. I will keep you informed every step of the way.’ He wanted nothing more than to make sure he was true to his word. He wanted to prove to her he could do this, that he would do this, and that he would bring a happy ending to this whole story.
    She nodded and watched as the two men left and headed for the black Jeep, parked outside her drive. For the first time she felt hope! Somehow she knew that that man, who had walked into her home, would change her life forever!  

Chapter Five
    ‘H ow long now?’ The woman asked the man who gazed into the computer screen.
    ‘You have to be patient; you know how these things work.’
    She sighed. She hated each and every child she had to look after, but the money that was paid for them, well that forced her to have more patience.
    ‘I get that, but why can’t we move any faster than this?’
    ‘Because our clients have to be satisfied, they have to be sure this is what they want.’
    Again she sighed. She ran her hand through her thick hair and waited.
    ‘Why don’t you go and sort out Paige. She’s due a photo shoot later today.’
    Lucia looked at the man one last time, pushed back the chair and walked out of the office. She stepped out into the hot sunshine and looked around her. Across from the dingy office was a huge warehouse that was used to house the children they collected. She hated every part of the job, except the part when she received her cut of the money.
    Paige had proved to be the most difficult to cope with. The child had refused to eat, and trying to bathe her had also been a hard job. It was Lucia’s job to make sure the children stayed and looked as healthy as they were when they first got there, for their clients. Lucia took her time to smoke a cigarette. It always seemed to calm her down somewhat, but not long enough.
    After the death stick had soothed her a little, she headed for the warehouse. There were sounds of crying, and screaming. It never seemed to bother her as she walked in the dark dingy place. In places there was dripping water, and the smell of the place was sour! Paige was on the third floor, five doors down the corridor. She pulled a key from her pocket and unlocked the door to Paige’s room.
    The little girl curled in the corner of the room, with her head on her knees. The food on the tray had been untouched. Lucia sighed. This was a stubborn little girl, she’d have to make sure she ate.
    Paige lifted her head and squinted as the light came through.
    ‘I want my mummy,’ she said softly, but the woman ignored her pleas like she always did. ‘When can I go back to my mummy?’
    ‘Why didn’t you eat?’ Lucia asked.
    Paige was silent. Lucia crouched down to her level.
    ‘Will I see my mummy if I do?’
    Lucia nodded even though she knew it wasn’t true. ‘Eat up,