Page 94 of Defiled Innocence

“Yes?” I prepare myself.

“Christian sent me a text today.” She squeezes me tightly when my body reacts. “It was just a text. And he knows he’s not supposed to call me.”

“I would say that’s not true since he contacted you.”

“He didn’t call,” she argues gently. “He just wanted me to know that he’s up in Washington now. And he wanted to thank you.”

“Thank me?” I scoff.

I doubt that asshole has any gratitude. I should have killed him. And I would have, but Amelia would have been upset about it. She still thinks the man has redeeming qualities.

It’s a childhood fantasy, but I’ll let her keep it. So long as he stays several states away from her. And the eyes I have on him continue to report that he’s managing to keep his word on that front.

The lengths I go to in order to keep my woman happy. I’m as bad as my cousins.

“Yes. He’s got a job up there, and he’s dating some girl. Anyway. I wanted to thank you too. For, you know… not killing him.”

She pushes up to give me a small smile.

“He stole from the foundation. He tried to steal your inheritance by getting you to marry him instead of me. And he did the one thing your brother asked him never to do.” Reminding her of all this doesn’t seem to faze her.

“I know. But when he told me about that… it sort of fixed us. Right? I mean, it brought us closer, so in a way… he helped?”

I shake my head. “How can you look at such a bastard and see any sort of good?”

She touches my cheek. “Some would say the same about you.”

For the first time I don’t have a rebuttal. She’s right. I’ve killed, I’ve ordered the death of dozens, and almost nothing in my life is legal. Yet, she welcomes me home every night with a warm smile and a kiss.

At least on the nights I can get her to stop working and get home at a decent hour.

“He’s not allowed back in New York, Amelia. You’ll never get me to say otherwise.” I keep my tone firm, so she knows I mean it.

And just to be sure she understands, I place my hand on her ass and squeeze. “If you even hint at it, you’ll be face down over my knee so fast your head will spin.”

She smiles and moves closer to me. “You said I’m safe from your hand until the baby is here.”

Something I regret almost daily.

“That doesn’t mean I’m not keeping track.” I pat her ass.

“I figured you would.” She rests her head back down. “The closing on Lucas’ apartment is next week. Would you like to go with me to sign the last of the papers?”

“Do you want me there?” I was never not going to be with her when she signs those papers, but I’ve learned it’s best to let her come to these conclusions on her own.

“I do.” She sighs. “It’s the last bit to deal with. Now that everything’s final, the foundation is fully funded so the center is safe and Lucas’ investment firm is solidly in your hands, things can calm down now.”

I kiss the top of her head. “I don’t think anything will ever be calm in our lives again.” I rest my hand on her belly. “And I’m grateful for it. There’s also the matter of the shelter.”

“Right.”

The Marilyn Heart shelter is due to open next spring. Amelia used the trust fund her father left her on her twenty-fifth birthday to get the wheels in motion. Within a year the women’s shelter will be open and in full swing.

“And you’ll have a full staff, so you don’t have to handle everything on your own.” I kiss her again. “Understand me, wife?”

She looks up at me with a wry smile, and I realize I’m going to have to chain her to this bed at least once a week to be assured she doesn’t work herself to death.

“Think of the baby,” I try and she laughs.

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