Page 61 of Absolution

“Thank you.” She looked genuinely touched.

He wasn’t sure why. Surely, she knew what she meant to him by now. The answer was clear—a hell of a lot more than four million.

“I’m sure he’ll appreciate that.”

“It’s not for him,” he assured her. “It’s for you… forus. That’s what matters to me. What was the other thing you wanted to tell me?”

She shuffled closer. “Mr. Sanderson has said the C.P.S. is dropping the case against me.” She exhaled as though she’d been holding onto the pressure of its verdict ever since her arrest. “I’m a free woman!”

“That’s fantastic!” He rose from his leather recliner and closed the distance between them before throwing his arms around her. She drew him closer, resting her head against his chest as he went on. “Although I wouldn’t quite put it that way. You’re only free when I say you are.”

“Of course, sir.” She glanced up at him with a half-smile. “My mistake.”

His cock stirred at the devil dancing in her eyes. He knew that look well and would love to scratch the itch for them both, but he was still only halfway through his missive.

“Thanks for telling me.” He grabbed her honeyed hair lightly and drew her head gently back. “But I do have to finish this letter.”

“I understand.” She peered guiltily at his desk. “I’ll leave you to it.”

“Don’t go too far,” he warned playfully as he released her. “I might need you when I’m finished.”

There was no ‘might’ in that sentence. Hewouldneed her. Healwaysneeded her, and after all, they had things to celebrate—like, for example, the love they bore for each other.

“Don’t forget I’m meeting Julia for lunch.” She reached for his face and drew her thumb over his stubble. “Your driver is picking me up at midday.”

“Oh, yes.” He hadn’t forgotten.

Ella had been excited about seeing her friend again for weeks, and Tucker didn’t blame her. Their whirlwind romance had swept her from her old life and taken her away from her friends. At his core, he knew he was culpable for that separation, and much though he wanted to consume her every waking moment, he accepted he couldn’t. Ella deserved better than that. Because he loved her so much, he longed for her to have a full and happy life, and that meant time with the other people she loved. He had hoped, though, that she might be around to quell his desire before she left.

“I’ll come and find you before you go, then.” He winked at her. “You can give me something to remember you by.”

“Yes, sir.” She feigned a salute as she backed away and giggled as she closed his office door.

“Damn, little girl.” He glanced down at the way his dick now tented his trousers. “You sure know how to distract me.” Shaking his head with a smile, he paced back to his chair and collected his pen, his concentration returning to his half-written page.

The letter to his father was one of the hardest he’d ever had to write, but he was determined to see the task through.

He and Ella had discovered a new ‘normal’ since the night Collins had come to kill him. With Collins out of the equation, the immediate threat against them had been vanquished, but Tucker knew the menace of Kenner remained. He sensed his shadow looming over everything they did, even though Tucker had spent many long hours securing their new residence.

He paused momentarily, thinking of the good men who’d been shot down by Collins. Men who’d worked in his security team for many years. Men who he’d liked personally. The toll Kenner had inflicted was far larger than only the threat to his and Ella’s personal safety. Until the man he suspected had fathered him was dealt with, that danger wasn’t going away.

Tucker’s gaze flitted to the top of the page and reread his words.

Dear Joel.

Tucker’s lips curled at his opening. He knew Kenner would loathe the informality.

It’s about time I take the opportunity to reach out to you personally. You and I have a lot to discuss.

You knew my mother, Sarah.

He hesitated over her name, heaving in air as he fought back his rising emotion. His mum should have had years ahead of her, but Kenner had deprived her of that chance. He’d denied them both.

I’m sure you remember the day we both visited you, but only I came home. We never talked about my mother’s murder, but now I think it’s time we did.

We also need to talk about Collins and the fact you were prepared to pay him to kill me.

His pen hovered over the page, ready to start the next paragraph.

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