Page 125 of Betrayal (Corrupt Empire 1)

I followed her into the kitchen, knowing I wouldn’t get out of this. I leant up against the counter whilst she filled the kettle.

“After the news broke, I knew you’d taken her. What were you thinking?”

Tina helped me devise the plan to take down Mitchell and Kathleen. She knew the hows and whys.

“I had no choice. She saw everything.”

“Aiden, I told you to be careful.”

I had been up until I reached their kitchen. Then I’d seen red and nothing else mattered but destroying them.

“Too late for that now.”

I couldn’t take back anything I’d done. Especially not to Avery.

“You care about her.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. Fucking hated how well Tina read me.

“So what if I do?”

“You do remember what her family has done.”

All too fucking well. Could never forget it. And neither would Tina.

“She’s not a part of it.”

She sighed, taking out three mugs from the cupboard.

“Except you’ve made her a part of it now, haven’t you?”

“Are you going to tell me she doesn’t deserve the truth?”

Even though it had fucked her up, I didn’t regret telling her. What I still had left to tell her was another matter entirely. As difficult as the previous conversations had been. The ones to come were worse. So much fucking worse.

“Do you think this will end well, Aiden? I know you. Your plans have changed because of her.”

My future plans, yes. Changed, adapted and expanded upon. And I wasn’t going to involve Tina further. She deserved a quiet life without the Daniels on her case.

“Nothing ever ends well for me.”

My life had been one shitshow after another.

She eyed me closely. Then she gave me a knowing smile.

“You’re in love with her.”

My heart fucking stopped.What the fuck?No, I wasn’t. I felt things for her, but love didn’t exist for me. Not romantic love. I loved Tina and Ben because they were my family. Otherwise, that fucking emotion could get fucked.

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“I see you’re in denial.”

“I am not in love with her.”

“But you are sleeping with her.”

And now I just wanted to bash my head against the wall. As much as I cared for Tina, she was a certifiable busybody who’d only got worse with age.

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