Page 107 of Theirs to Corrupt

We both take sips, then move to the seating area and drop into chairs.

“Marcella?” Pax guesses about my phone call.

I nod. “Everything’s in place.”

Within twenty-four hours, hopefully considerably less, Emiliano Sartori and Axel Tremaine will know Tessa is my wife, under our protection.

I harbor no illusions.

This is war. But I declared it on my terms.

I’m drawing them to me, and I will put them down once and for all, like the cockroaches they are.

As I contemplate what’s to come, I feel a surge of fierce protectiveness. Tessa may have entered this arrangement out of necessity, but I’ll be damned if I let anyone harm her. She’s ours now: to protect, to cherish, to honor. The depth of my emotions surprises me, but I push them aside.

“Talked to Hawkeye and Inamorata. Everything’s ready on our end,” Pax says.

As if I had any doubt.

Pax is methodical, leaves nothing to chance, going over plans time and again. And then once more, just to be sure.

He has operatives on Sartori’s crew and eyes on Axel. “Marcella gave the exclusive toScandalicious.”

“Good move,” Pax approves.

“But she dropped a couple of photos to other magazines and influencers.” Whatever the fuck they are.

“Unauthorized leaks.” Pax grins

But not too many because then it would be obvious.

“Here’s to winning it all,” Pax proposes, lifting his glass.

“All of it.” I lean toward him, and we clink our glasses together.

I’m not cocky enough to believe we’ve already won.

But round one sure as fuck went to us.

As I sip my whiskey, my thoughts drift back to Tessa. She’s now an integral part of my world, and I’ll move heaven and earth to keep her here and safe.

“Shall we?” Pax asks, putting down his glass and grinning. “Wouldn’t want our wife to wake up and wonder where we are.”

Tessa

“Oh my God, you’re famous!”

I laugh as Natalie yanks open the door to her room. “Famous?” I ask. “Not in the least.”

She hugs me tight and pulls me inside.

After shutting the door, she locks it, with Torin and Mira in the hallway.

I look around, and I’m so impressed.

Link didn’t just get my friends a regular room. They’re in a stunning suite.

“I still can’t believe I’m here,” she says.

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