Page 65 of Betrayal (Corrupt Empire 1)

Chapter Thirteen

Avery

I couldn’t think about anything other than what happened in the forest yesterday. I stared at the ceiling as I lay in bed, not wanting to get up. Aiden had gone out for a run, so I was alone, but he’d locked all the doors and windows in the cottage. I wasn’t planning on getting up until he got back.

The brutal way he’d handled me should’ve made me want to run away. Instead, it turned me on to the point of insanity. I questioned whether it turned me on because it was Aiden or because I liked it rough. Was it a combination of both?

I’d never explored the boundaries when it came to sex before. Innocent is what Aiden had described me as. He was right. My sexual conquests were limited to three.

The first time was a drunken fumble when I’d been sixteen with a guy I met on holiday in Jamaica. I don’t even remember his name.

The second, George, one of the popular boys at school, had been a mistake. He only slept with me so he could brag about having fucked Mitchell Daniels’ daughter. A small mercy my dad never got word of it because James punched George in the face for spreading shit about me.

And the third… James himself. The only male I felt close to who wasn’t part of my family. Gert didn’t know. In fact, no one knew except the two of us. Not something you go around blurting out. It became a way for us to let off steam up until I started seeing Peter. Families with expectations meant we both felt like the weight of the world was on our shoulders. We understood each other in a way Gert couldn’t. She didn’t have rich parents like us.

A sudden wave of sadness hit me. I missed them, but James especially. And I could never, ever tell Aiden. How would I even explain it? I loved James, but not in a romantic way. Did it even matter? Whatever Aiden and I were doing with each other wasn’t exactly love or romantic. More like raw and animalistic. Two people who needed to possess each other with a desperation that bordered on madness.

I wanted to explore the side of me Aiden had brought out. I wanted to know the girl who needed to submit to him in every way possible.

The front door banged. Aiden was back. I shot out of bed and opened the door. He was covered in a sheen of sweat and holy fuck did he look hot as hell. His t-shirt clung to his muscles, moulding to his body.

His steel eyes roamed over me. I remembered what it felt like to have him in my mouth and the look in his eye as he came down my throat.

“We’re going out after I’ve showered so eat something,” he said before he strode into the bathroom.

He’d barely spoken to me after what happened. And for the first time, he didn’t hold me when we went to bed. I didn’t know how to take that. Something was off with him and it had everything to do with the forest. Did he regret it? Because I didn’t. No. I wanted more. I needed more.

I got dressed and made myself some food. I didn’t pay much attention when he moved from the bathroom to the bedroom. And when he came out, he looked pissed off.

“Shoes and coat on now and this time, we are going to film this video. Understood?”

I slipped off my chair and did as he said. Disobeying and arguing with him had only brought punishment. Admittedly I liked the lesson he dealt yesterday, but something about Aiden still terrified me. I didn’t want him to put me back in the cell when we returned to London. Staying in his good graces meant obeying.

We walked for a long time. He didn’t take me back to the woods. Instead, we found an empty field, still wet from the early morning dew. He pulled a small camera out of his pocket and handed it to me.

“In order to make this believable, it has to be filmed by your hand and you need to be fucking careful of what you say.”

“I know what you expect of me, Aiden.”

“Good.”

I’d thought long and hard about what to say. I didn’t want to disappoint Aiden. This was important. I held the camera up and pressed the button to record.

“Hello, my name is Avery Charlotte Daniels, but you probably know that. I know I’ve been gone for a while and for that I can only apologise. You see, when I discovered my parents were dead, the news hit hard. I didn’t want to be in the world any longer. So I disappeared instead. I’m sorry for making you worry about me. I’m sending you this message because I want you to stop looking for me. When I’m ready, I’ll come home and face the world, but for now, please know I’m safe.”

I paused, taking a breath as tears pricked at my eyes. The next part made me equal parts nervous and sick.

“Uncle Charlie, I know the company is in safe hands with you. To the boy I cared for, I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you, but what we had was never meant to be. I hope you find someone who loves you in the way you deserve. Gert, I miss you and I’m sorry for being a shit friend by disappearing on you like this. And James, don’t let them give you too much shit, you know who I mean. Whatever happens, I love you always.”

I waved at the camera before I stopped the recording.

“There, happy now?” I asked, looking at Aiden.

His expression left me in no doubt he was the complete opposite of happy.

“Give me the camera.”

I walked over and handed it to him. He stuffed it in his pocket before taking my arm and dragging me back the way we’d come.

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