Page 143 of Corrupt Game

Collette stirred in my arms, her breathing soft and even as she snuggled her head into my chest. My heart hurt at how pale she was. The angry and infected wounds on her back had been cleaned and dressed by a doctor at the farmhouse, but the image of the carved verse still haunted me.

I held her tighter, pressing a kiss to her temple. “I’ll fix this,” I whispered, though the words were as much a promise to myself as to her. “Everything will be better from now on.”

Her eyes slitted open hazy with the drugs. “Are you trying to say something, Ian?”

She was right. I was saying it a million different ways without actually stating the words. “ I love you, Colette. I love your sassy mouth, your spirit, the way you choose to submit to me. I wanted to die when I realized they had you. I’m going to see the bastard who hurt you dead. I’ll kill anyone who hurts you”

She laughed, a tiny sound, her body still relaxed against mine. “I love you, Ian.

The package showed up the next day. Packed in with Edmond Kelly’s head was a file with Ian’s photo, and the orders to kill him. A sticky note read, ‘The file is an extra. Hope the Lady is feeling better. Will contact you with bank transfer information later today.’

After that I made a few phone calls, and we were back in my condo the next day resting. She has a plastic surgery consultation scheduled next week with the best surgeon I could find.

Being a billionaire meant I didn’t have to sweat the details I didn’t want to..

I kissed Collette’s cheek.

“Good morning, lovely.”

“Not lovely, just sleepy,.” she mumbled.

Her bruises on the inside were going to take a lot longer to heal. I would wait as long as it took. I was just glad that she was alive.

I curled back into her. Enjoying this quiet moment with her. These were the best of moments.

This was how things were supposed to be.

Colette turning so she could hold me in her arms made all the ugliness of the world fade away. I would have to deal with it all another day.

Love made this life worth struggling and hurting for, even at its worst.

Epilogue Collette

I sat beside Ian in the back of his sleek black limo as Rossi drove, the city lights streaming past the tinted windows. My midnight blue silk dress, the most expensive thing I’d ever worn, clung to my curves and my heels sparkled faintly as they caught the occasional light.

I’d been stunned when I found out the heels had tiny diamonds on them.

Ian was next to me, the epitome of calm in his sharp black suit. His hand rested casually but possessively on my thigh, grounding me with his touch.

My heart fluttered with excitement as I glanced at him. "You still haven't told me where we're going," I said, trying to coax the answer out of him.

Ian smirked, his gray eyes gleaming with mischief. "Patience, love. First, we need to stop by the office. Just for a moment."

I pouted playfully and ran my fingers along his arm. "I thought tonight was about us."

His smirk softened into something warmer. "It is. Trust me." He leaned over and brushed a tender kiss to my temple.

He’d been so gentle for so long. Incredibly possessive, but gentle. I was starting to think of ways to make him mad so we could have rougher fun. Right now, he seemed to want to be so careful of me.

The limo glided to a stop in front of Ian's towering office building. Curiosity intensified within me, mixing with a growing sense of contentment. Ian had created a research department for me to head, exploring new avenues to distribute the pharmaceuticals he manufactured. The grand structure loomed above us, so different from how it felt the first time I saw it, when I was all nerves and fear.

Though Edmond Kelly hadn’ been caught yet,

I tried to shake off my disappointment about the detour, reminding myself how meticulous Ian was about doing things in order. We had been incredibly busy catching up after he neglected his business to take care of me after Ireand. It's probably just something minor, I thought, wondering how I could help.

Ian led me through the grand marble lobby, his hand firm on the small of my back. I noted the strange quiet, the usual hum of employees noticeably absent. Must be because it's after hours.

"You didn't need to drag me along for this," I teased lightly. "Why didn't we do this at the condo?"

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