Page 106 of I Was Always Yours (RCA: Royal Crown Academy)

“We’ll see,” Nera says, mysteriously. “But protect your heart, Six. This has potential disaster written all over it, and if he hurts you again, I’m afraid I’m going to have to kill him.”

“It’s not going to come to that, I promise.” I tell her, with false bravado.

There’s a short silence as we all sip our champagne.

“Alright, I’ll ask the question everyone’s been dying to ask.” Thayer says, with a cheeky grin. She’s been spending too much time with Rhys, he’s starting to rub off on her. “How’s the sex?”

“Yeah, on a scale of one to Lady Gaga during her meat dress era, how crazy is it?”

My face turns the color of my hair and I can’t answer right away as memories of all our times together flash before my eyes. Handcuffs, nipple clamps, gags…

“I knew it, the quiet ones are always the freakiest.” Bellamy says with a smug smile when I don’t answer.

We erupt into peals of laughter until my stomach hurts and I can’t breathe.

Chapter 32

Phoenix

I’m reading in our library when I hear my phone chime, announcing a new email. I set my book down and grab my phone, unlocking it and reading the note.

Mr. Sinclair,

I’m pleased to inform you that we’re tracking ahead of schedule on funds being deposited into your new account. With the addition of your father’s offshore account in the Cayman Islands, we’ve been able to double the rate of funds being set aside for you. This email is to confirm that we’ve reached the first platform of one million euros. We’re now expecting to have set aside closer to eight million by the June deadline.

Hoping that these results are satisfactory and in line with your expectations. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions. I, and the rest of my team, remain at your entire disposal.

Cordially,

J. Bachmann

I set my phone aside and lay my head back as I close my eyes. Everything is going according to plan.

I was able to access another of my father’s accounts and provided the information to Bachmann a couple of weeks ago for him to add into the siphoning operation. With that extra cash flow coming in, I’ll have more than enough to start over.

I’ll be able to put my family behind me.

I’ll be able to move on.

So why is there a dull void in my chest where there should be a feeling of victory?

And why is that when I close my eyes, stamped against the back of my eyelids is an engraved image of Six, beautiful and smiling, hair blowing in the wind as she looks back at me over her shoulder?

As if a genie granted me a wish and I used it to wish for her, she appears before me, walking into the library.

“What are you doing?” I ask and her steps falter.

I realize my tone sounded harsh, like I didn’t want her there, when the truth is I was more so surprised to see her at my place in the daytime.

More worrisome, that previously dull void in my chest fills with warmth with every step she takes into the room.

“I came with Bellamy, she’s downstairs with Rogue.” She pauses, seeming unsure.

“You’re back for round two?” I ask with a smirk.

That morning, I’d burst into her apartment and fucked her on her kitchen counter. Thayer and Nera had both gone home for the holidays already and Bellamy was in class at the time.

We’d had free rein of her apartment’s surfaces and we’d used them.

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