She thought about it. Did she want to pull her family into this mess? She didn’t know how it was going to be possible to convince them to come all the way to Turkey to attend their daughter’s wedding when they didn’t even know the groom existed yet. Still… she didn’t want to go through with a wedding without her parents’ support.

“Yes, I want them.”

He turned her on the couch until she was looking at him, then he cupped her face and placed a feather soft kiss on her lips. Despite herself, her heart fluttered.

“If you want your family, then I’ll get your family here,” he told her, and a spark of hope leapt into her heart. “But you’ll have to trust me and do as I tell you to. One misstep and I’ll take you from your family forever. You understand me?”

How could a man who proclaimed to love her be so sweet one moment and so cruel in the next?

She nodded. “I understand.”

“Good, then we’re going to call them and you’re going to say exactly what I tell you to.”

Yasmin was ecstatic and obediently listened to Volkan’s instructions before making the call. She hated deceiving them, but he’d orchestrated a story that might almost be believable. She just had to act her heart out and get her family to play along.

“You’ve got this.” Volkan slid his hand over her shoulder and squeezed.

She gave him a hard look before hitting the connect button that would dial her parents’ home phone. “I will never forgive you for forcing me to lie to them.”

He gave her a quick stinging kiss and said, “No one is forcing you to lie. By all means, tell them the truth.”

“And never see them again,” she said accusingly.

He inclined his head, but they were saved from further conversation when Yasmin’s mother answered the phone. As instructed, Yasmin told her mom about her flight to London but tried to keep the conversation general so she would have to lie as little as possible. Finally, she admitted to her mom that she’d met someone. Her mom was surprised since Yasmin had barely dated at home, let alone finding someone on another continent within days of landing. When pressed, she gave the details Volkan had fed her.

“He owns the transportation company that flew us to Turkey for the dig. We’ve gone on a few dates and he seems really sweet.” She choked on the word ‘sweet’ but continued to push the half-truths. “I’ve met his family already and have been to his home. It’s huge and so beautiful. You’d love it here.”