Page 40 of Betrayal (Corrupt Empire 1)

“Is my uncle trying to find me?”

“Yes.”

“You won’t let him, right?”

“No.”

“Is it really fucked up that I hope I never see him again?”

If he’d done what I suspected, then it wasn’t fucked up at all.

“Will you tell me what happened between you?”

I needed to know. It might change things. It might make my need to silence the fucker for good easier.

“Maybe.”

My phone buzzed on the bed.

“I need to go.”

She nodded. It took a considerable effort on my part to tear myself away from her. I dressed quickly. Before I left, I leant down and brushed my lips against her forehead. She stared at me with no small amount of confusion in her eyes.

I strode out of the room, locking the door behind me because if I didn’t go right then, I would’ve got in that bed with her, ripped her clothes off and made sure she knew exactly what it meant to be owned by me. Fuck the consequences. Fuck the future. Fuck everything. In those moments, it’d just be me and her. Every touch would cement my hold on her and every moment would bind us together in this fucked up mess.

And that’s exactly why I couldn’t fuck her. Binding myself to her was out of the question. I couldn’t let her have any power over me. That would mean ruin for both of us. Avery would tear me apart. I was already broken enough as it was. My only solution was not to give in. Not to let us consume each other. And it was going to be the hardest fucking thing I’d ever do.

I tugged on my jacket and grabbed my helmet before I left the flat. Time was of the essence. I needed to get this done fast.

l

As soon as I walked in the club, the pounding bass assaulted my senses. Fucking clubs. It was a mess of sweaty bodies grinding together. It wasn’t hard to spot my prey behind the bar. The bright pink hair gave him away instantly. Plus, he was the only male.

I stalked over to the bar and leant against it. His eyes fell on me and he frowned. I was well aware I wasn’t the normal type of clientele you’d get in a place like this.

“You’re definitely not here for a drink,” he said to me.

“No. Anthony, right?”

“I fucking knew it. I take it you’re here about Ethan.”

I was surprised he knew, but perhaps his boyfriend talked about his work more than he should. Considering he’d blabbed to the Daniels, perhaps it wasn’t so surprising after all.

“I’m not here to harm you. I just need more information about the investigation.”

Anthony raised an eyebrow. Sceptical little fuck.

“I told him not to get involved with them, but he didn’t listen to me. The money isn’t worth this shit. Look, if I get you what you need, will they leave him alone?”

“I can’t make those sorts of promises.”

Once you got involved with the Daniels, you rarely got out unscathed or alive.

“But you can get them to back off? Ethan loves his job and I don’t want him losing it over this shit with that missing girl.”

“I’ll make sure they don’t bother you again.”

“What about Ethan?”

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