FORBIDDEN LOVE Read Online Free Page A

had only a moment to wonder at her newfound selflessness before she saw his tears. Del, hurt, lost, vulnerable.
    Nicolette’s heart squeezed painfully at the sight of this man who at this moment was so very broken. He’d been her friend from the start—always been there for her, dried her tears, and picked her up after each of her disastrous relationships. It had taken her years to realize he’d been waiting. For her.
    This time, she would take care of him. His well-being was now her responsibility and for a change, she was going to do what was right for someone beside herself. She stepped closer and cradled his head against her chest as his soft crying turned to weeping.
    “Oh, God, Nicolette. I’m sorry, so sorry. What have I done?” Del sobbed.
    “Shh, Del. No one knows. No one will ever know. I took care of everything.”
    ****
    Tony Espinoza sat in the dingy hotel room, monitoring the listening devices he’d managed to place in the suspect’s house. Motherfucker’s been playing outside the law for years . I might be working by myself, but I’m gonna be the one to finally stop Julian Charbonnet.
    One of the problems he faced was the size of the mansion. How could anybody be sure to cover the rooms where Julian talked about his business? He’d been able to plant two bugs, but he couldn’t stay here and monitor them all the time. He would bring in a couple of recorders tomorrow. All he needed was a little break. A little chink in the Charbonnet code from one of Julian’s thugs. If he got that, he might be able to swing a genuine court order and a surveillance team.
    The son was a bit of a wild card. Tony hadn’t been expecting him to show up in Généreux. He did his most of his business and probably all of his crimes overseas. London, if he remembered correctly. He could put some careful feelers out to a friend in Interpol to see if Hawk Charbonnet had a record anywhere in Europe. It didn’t matter. Tony recognized garbage when he saw it, and any kid of Julian’s would be rotten through and through.
    God, he was sick of working in this backwater town. He was a fucking FBI special agent, for Christ’s sake. Fucking brass. Banished him just because he’d gotten a little cozy with a witness. All he needed was a break and he’d be back in New York. Hell, when he bagged Charbonnet, he’d be back in Washington.
    His actions over the past two days might have been regrettable to some, but Tony knew the end justified the means. Thinking it all over, he knew he’d do the same thing again. Adding Hawk to the mix was a bonus. Julian placed great value on family, so if Tony could get something on the son, he would finally get Julian. The bastard would dance his last dance in a cell.
    ****
    “What do you mean you ‘took care’ of things?” Constantine asked.
    “Just what I said,” Evelyn answered. “Things have been taken care of. I don’t like anyone to think I married a fool; therefore, I took it upon myself to eliminate any problems. Oh, no, darling. Don’t bother to thank me. It was the least I could do.” She paused, a look of uncertainty passing over her face. “I suppose that’s not strictly correct. The least I could do would be to do nothing, but of course, we know that’s unlikely.”
    “Evelyn, you’re prattling,” Constantine said, growing angry.
    “I never prattle.”
    “Evelyn!” Constantine shouted, exasperated. “Tell me what you did.”
    “Nothing to worry your pretty little head about, darling. Although, I suppose it’s not exactly pretty…dashing, I think, describes you better. A distinguished gentleman, perhaps—”
    Constantine grabbed her, his grip a vise on her wrist. His voice whipped across her words, “What in the hell have you done? If you interfered with my plans—”
    Evelyn looked pointedly at her wrist, but he didn’t release her. “Nonsense, Constantine. I just did a little cleaning up of a loose end. Don’t worry. There are no ties to you, no ties to