Page 66 of Contract of a Billionaire
I hope you burn in the eternal flames of hell, Father, I added silently as the fistful of dirt landed on Father’s casket.
I watched Autumn’s raven curls dance with the breeze, framing her pale face. Her hair length was shorter, but still long enough to wrap around my hand. It was one thing that I missed in all her postings. She was rarely in her pictures, and when she was, it was never just her. It made it hard to see her body, her face, and her eyes.
But now, I could see those hazel eyes.
Her eyes searched the crowd until she spotted her parents off to the side. I watched her like a predator as she glided through the graveyard to get to her parents. Their faces lit up the moment they saw their only child and Autumn wrapped them both into a hug, placing a kiss on their cheek.
Then she kneeled down and every inch of me froze. A little boy with jet-black hair held her hand. She whispered words to him. The little boy smiled, then hugged her parents too.
She had a kid?
Nico’s surveillance of her never said anything about a kid. What. The. Actual. Fuck? When I got my hands on my friend, I’d choke the fucking life out of him.
“Your sister’s best friend?” Byron mused. I was so enthralled at staring at Autumn, I didn’t even realize Branka had left us to go meet her friend. “Just a piece of advice, it’s never good to fuck your sister’s best friend.”
I shot him a glare then returned to look at Autumn. Four years without her were too long. Living without her touch was torturous. And sleeping was a special kind of torment. My nightmares were replaced with dreams of her. It was a temporary relief, only to wake up to realize I no longer had her. It was like losing her all over again - every forsaken day. So I’d stay up so late and get so fucking tired so I wouldn’t dream of her.
But Autumn Corbin always found her way into my dreams. Just as she had into my heart.
The two women hugged tightly, then Branka kneeled down to hug the little boy. The kid grinned widely and returned the hug. My sister never mentioned that Autumn had a kid. Not that I asked but for fuck’s sake. Couldn’t I depend on anyone?
It wasn’t as if I asked my sister for Autumn’s deepest, darkest secrets. But having a kid was public knowledge. She should have told me that. And fucking Nico should have included that in his background check that I demanded a few months ago.
Autumn’s parents kissed Branka, hugging her tightly in comfort. I was sure they knew the death of our father wasn’t a big deal. Not with this cruelty. His death was a blessing.
My sister murmured something to her friend and Autumn nodded then kneeled, whispering words to the little boy. I couldn’t hear her words but the way her lips moved, I knew her words were spoken softly. Just the way she used to murmur soft words when I fucked her.
Autumn was pliable after an orgasm. It was my favorite time with her, when she’d whisper sweet words and trail her mouth over my neck while her fingers skimmed over my skin and over my scars. She was the only woman to offer that soft touch, and I took it greedily.
Whatever Autumn said had the little boy raising his eyes as he gazed around. His eyes met mine for a fraction of a second. Gray with specks of green in them.
In the back of my mind something nudged me. A voice whispered, but I pushed it away and I focused on the boy’s face. He had his mother’s hair and eyes with those green specks, but his facial structure was different. Must be his father’s. I hated the lucky bastard already.
A kid wasn’t something I’d foreseen.
I’d kill Nico for not mentioning the kid. What the fuck did I pay him for?
Autumn softly took her son’s chin and brought the little boy’s face back to herself. A soft smile lingered on her lips as she spoke again. Whatever she said brought a happy smile to the boy’s face and he nodded eagerly. She leaned, kissing him on the cheek and he wrapped his chubby arms around her.
She straightened up to her full height and nodded at her parents. The boy reached out his hands to both of his grandparents and the three of them walked off, leaving Branka and Autumn behind.
People slowly started approaching me, offering their condolences but my focus remained on Autumn. Even after four long years, I craved her warmth, her softness, her taste. I stood still, not daring to move or risk losing my self-control.
She was finally back and I wasn’t about to let her out of my sight. I was about to collect on a debt owed. She had a contract to fulfill.
Son or no son.
The bastard who posed a threat to her was six feet under. For good.
And I’d be damned if I let her go this time. She was mine now.
Chapter23
Autumn
This didn’t work out exactly as I planned.
The goal was to get to my parents’ house before the funeral and have them stay behind with Kol. But the best laid plans get fucked up. Our flight got delayed, and when I finally landed, it was either miss the funeral or have my parents meet me there.
