Seduced by Danger by Stephanie Julian Read Free Book Online Page A

yes, that mattered. As it never had before.
    As Sal moved by him to grab another chair from the formal dining table in the next room, Michael nodded in the general direction of the table then walked to Cara’s side. As he approached, her lips curved in a smile though he was pretty sure it was directed at Aron , who had lifted his head to check out the room.
    “I see your son managed to wheedle his way out of bed,” Cara said. “You were supposed to be asleep, little man. Did you wake your daddy?”
    Aron grinned, his lips curved in the smile of a child who knew he was adored. And able to get away with just about anything if he looked cute enough.
    “No,” Aron said. “He came to get me.”
    Michael’s gaze flew back to Cara’s, his back stiffening. “He was awake when I went in the room. I thought he’d be asleep.”
    Cara’s quick smile eased the tightness of his spine. “He’s been asking for you. Somehow he knew you were here. I’ve had a hard time keeping him from tearing down the doors but you needed your sleep.”
    “Cookie?” Aron slapped his hands on the table as Michael settled him on his lap, making all the adults smile.
    Lacey, Cara’s fraternal twin, took a chocolate chip cookie from the plate in the center of the table and handed it to Aron , who grabbed it as if it would disappear. “Here you go, cookie monster.” Her eyes lifted to his, the smile on her face welcoming. “Hello, Michael. It’s nice to see you again.”
    He swallowed, trying not to let everyone in the room see how nervous he actually was. “Lacey.” He transferred his gaze to the man sitting next to her. “ Teodoro .”
    Teo nodded then pointed to the other people at the table. “Rio, Rosie, Ellie, Antonin , Cam and Stella. The men are my brothers. The women are their obvious better halves. How are you feeling?”
    Considering he was up and moving without pain, he figured he felt pretty damn good. “I’m fine. I want to thank you—”
    “No need.” Teo cut him off. “Cara and Aron are family. That means more than anything to the de Feos . We take care of our family.”
    Michael nodded, noting he hadn’t been included in that little grouping. And he understood. He was Mal . He’d never be anything else to these people. No matter—
    “You’re going to need our help getting to Bennett, Michael,” Teo continued. “Cara’s told us everything, about how you got her out, how you made plans to go back for Lacey before she got out on her own. How you searched for her.”
    He should have known Cara would fill in her family. Before, it might have pissed him off, might have made him tell everyone in the room to go to hell before he left to do what he wanted. By himself.
    But with Aron on his lap and Cara’s hand on his arm, her thumb stroking along his skin, he didn’t want to leave. But he also knew these men wouldn’t hesitate to separate his head from his body if he threatened their women.
    He looked Teo in the eyes. “Don’t forget that I led the Mal right to her.”
    Teo shook his head. “No one blames you for that. They might have been tracking Lacey and could have taken us by surprise.”
    Possible but unlikely. Instead of answering, he watched Aron devour the chocolate chip cookie. His hair was a dark shade of auburn that would probably turn as dark as Michael’s later in his life and his eyes were the same dark brown. But his features were all Cara.
    When the boy was done, he looked up at Michael, cocked his head to the side and blinked those innocent eyes at him. “More?” And then he smiled.
    Michael felt his own mouth curve in a grin and he bent to kiss Aron’s temple. He smelled like baby powder and sunshine. “One more.”
    He looked up to find Cara giving him a wry look that said he’d been suckered. He didn’t care.
    “And a glass of milk,” Cara said. “Then it’s back to bed, little man.”
    And back to the firing squad for Michael.
    * * * * *
    Aron chose Lacey and Rosie to take him