Page 106 of Vows In Corruption

No. I won’t steal from him. That’s not a line that I will ever cross. He has trusted me so much in the time that we’ve known each other, I will not betray him by taking money from him in secret.

But there is a way to get that money from him that doesn’t include writing myself a check, and letting Josiah and his greediness coming between us and that is going to him. Telling him absolutely everything and then keep my fingers crossed that he will help.

That is my only solution and I think Josiah was hoping for that.

As much as I don’t want to, that is what I have to do.

Swallowing my pride, I finally give Josiah the response that he was looking for.

“I’ll try to get you the money before the end of the month.”

“There is no try, baby girl. You will if you want me to keep my side of the deal and not take back what is mine.”

I hate his voice so much that I wish that I can reach over the phone and punch the living shit out him.

“Okay. I will.”

“Much better.”

The line goes dead and I’m no longer able to hold the bile climbing up my throat any more.

I grab my trash can and let out everything that I have.

When everything is out of me, I slump back in my chair and cry.

Tonight when I get home, I will tell Bennett about the past that he doesn’t know about.

It’s going to hurt but I have to do it. It’s the only way to keep Charlie safe.

27

BENNETT

The second that I walk into the penthouse apartment that I have owned for over ten years in downtown Chicago, I let out a sigh of relief.

The meeting with the commissioner took a lot longer that I wanted it to and all I want to do is fucking distress and have a good drink. I was supposed to go back to the office after lunch, but because commissioner Nolan can talk forever, I have Ella cancel everything else that I had on my schedule for the day, and came here.

I would’ve gone to the house Manor, but Ella had sent a message about two hours ago about how she wanted to talk about something, so I decided that it was best for both of us to just spend the night here and be away from prying ears if needed.

Not that there are a whole lot of ears at the house now of days, what with Grayson, Sam and Charlie all now living at the dorms at Saint Christopher for the new school year, and Elliot out in Vancouver doing god knows what. The only ears would be Drake, but now he gets to have a night with just Henry, which he has been begging me for for a while. I guess Henry lets him see the old spy movies that I always say no to.

Which is fine. I’m all for having some alone time with Ella. In the last two weeks, it feels like we haven’t been alone even when we spend the majority of our time together.

Throwing my phone and money clip on the entry table, I walk further into the apartment, looking for my wife.

“Ella?” I call out after not finding her in the living area.

“In here!” She yells, and it sounds like she is coming from the kitchen.

As I walk down the long hallway, I take off my jacket and my shoes, not wanting to feel like a damn monkey in my own house.

Walking in to the kitchen, I find Ella sitting at the island with what looks like a cup of tea in her hands.

Tea before dinner? That’s new. She must have taken a few cues from the British man.

“Hey.” I approach her and when she turns to look at me, I lean down to place a kiss on her lips, something that I have done since we’ve gotten back from Costa Rica. Except this time, she pulls away from me before our lips even touch. Odd as fuck.

“Hi.” Ella lets out, her eyes not looking up at mine.

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