Free The Hostage Bride by Kate Walker

hastily dialled her father’s mobile number before Rico could intervene.
    â€˜You do realise that this will mean your number comes up on Dad’s phone?’ she flung at him, the note of triumph at actually outmanoeuvring him lifting her voice.
    Infuriatingly he looked totally unfazed.
    â€˜You do realise that that’s exactly what I want?’ he tossed back, parodying her voice with wicked accuracy.
    â€˜You want…? Oh, Dad !’ Her voice cracked revealingly as the phone was answered and she heard Joe Hamilton’s reassuring deep tones. ‘Dad, it’s me—it’s Fliss.’
    â€˜Fliss, darling, at last!’
    Something was wrong. Something about her father’s tone jarred uncomfortably. It wasn’t at all what she had expected. But, after the shocks and disturbances of the day her brain was too bruised, too out of focus to register exactly what it was.
    â€˜I was wondering when you would call.’
    â€˜You…’
    Her thoughts reeled as she realised just what it was that was nagging at her so uncomfortably. Just what had set all her senses on red alert, screaming warning signals automatically.
    Her father wasn’t shocked. He didn’t even sound distressed or worried. And yet he must have been waiting for her call for three or more hours now. Three hours of knowing that his daughter who he had last seen disappearing down the drive in a car driven by a complete stranger had seemed to have vanished off the face of the earth. Three hours of knowing that she hadn’t turned up for the wedding that was going to save his skin and that he had no idea at all where she was.
    And he didn’t seem in the least bit concerned.
    â€˜Dad?’
    Shock made her voice quaver uncertainly on the word.
    â€˜How’s Mum?’
    It was the question that was uppermost in her mind. The thought of her frail mother, already being told to take things easy, avoid any sort of stress because of her weak heart, being subjected to the anxiety of the past few hours worriedher sick. What if something had happened? A stroke? Worse?
    â€˜Your mother’s fine.’
    Once again, Joe’s easy voice was like a shock to her system.
    â€˜But then, of course, she never wanted you to marry Edward in the first place.’
    No, Felicity reflected. Her mother had been the one person she hadn’t been able to deceive. Claire Hamilton had seen through the careful part her daughter had been acting for the past few weeks and picked up the anxiety and panic behind it. Felicity had tried to assure her that her only problem was pre-wedding nerves but she knew she hadn’t been entirely convincing.
    â€˜She just hopes you know what you’re doing.’
    Doing?
    â€˜Dad…’ Drawing a deep breath, Felicity decided that taking a risk was the only way. ‘Dad—I’m with Valeron.’
    Her eyes flew to where Rico stood silently against the wall, ebony eyes alert and watching every move, every flicker of emotion across her face. Tensing fearfully, she nerved herself for what she thought would be his inevitable reaction, anticipating that he would launch himself angrily towards her, snatching away the phone in fury at what she had revealed.
    Surprisingly, it didn’t come. Instead he seemed quite content to simply wait and watch.
    â€˜I—Ricardo—’
    â€˜Yes, we know.’
    To her consternation, once again her father failed to react to what she thought would send him into a fit of panic. Instead, amazingly, he actually laughed.
    â€˜Edward was furious at first, but now he has other things to occupy his mind.’
    â€˜ How do you know?’
    What had they received? A ransom demand? Some other sort of a threat? But if that was the case, then surely her father wouldn’t appear quite so calm and relaxed.
    â€˜Dad—what’s going on?’
    â€˜Going on, sweetheart? Well, I would have thought that you’d be the one to