Page 24 of Betrayal (Corrupt Empire 1)

Him.

“Are… are you real?” I whispered.

He frowned, taking in the mess of wrappers on the floor.

“Are you okay?”

That deep voice rumbled through me. I knew that sound. It could only mean one thing.

I launched forward and barrelled my way into his chest, wrapping my arms around his solid back. I clung to him like a leech.

“You’re real. You have to be real,” I mumbled.

“Avery, what the fuck?”

“I kept seeing things. Hearing things. But you, you’re real. I can feel you. I thought you’d never come back. Don’t leave me again, please. I can’t face it.”

I didn’t care I was rambling nonsense to him. His heart thudded against his chest. The chest that moved with every breath he took.

“Please, Aiden. I don’t want to be alone anymore. I don’t want to see my dad again. I don’t. I can’t.”

He grabbed my shoulders and tore me away from him, staring down at me with those steel grey eyes which sent my heart into overdrive.

“What is wrong with you?”

“Are you angry with me? I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to do anything wrong. Please, just please don’t leave me alone.”

He frowned further, searching my face.

“Is this some kind of act? Because it’s not fucking funny if it is. Do you think I’m going to fall for bullshit like this?”

Tears welled in my eyes. He didn’t believe me. What could I do to make him see? How could he think this was an act?

“No, please. I’m serious. I saw my dad die again, right in front of me. I don’t fucking know what is real or not. I can’t deal with this. I need… I need you to believe me. I…I…I need you. Please.”

I sounded so pathetic. Hot, wet tears dripped down my face. Begging the man who’d murdered my parents was just fucked up.

I fell to my knees, putting my hands out.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Please believe me. I will do anything. I just need you.”

I bowed my head to my chest.

“Please,” I whispered. “I’m yours.”

Those were the words which well and truly sealed my fate. Seconds seemed to tick by so slowly, but I didn’t move. I felt his hand cup my face, his thumb running along my bottom lip.

“Come here,” he said, his voice gentle.

When I raised my head, he was sitting in front of me. He dropped his hand. He let me crawl into his lap and held me to his chest. I breathed him in. He smelt faintly of cedarwood and pine.

“Tell me what you saw.”

“I kept hearing the locks on the door turning. And your voice in my ear. I saw my dad. He kept asking why I didn’t save him. I kept telling him he wasn’t real. All I wanted was to see you because I know you’re real. He asked me why I wanted the man who killed him. He said you couldn’t save me. Then I saw the bullet in his head again and he collapsed on the floor. I was so scared. I know it wasn’t real, but it felt real.”

Aiden clutched me closer, stroking my hair.

“I’ve got you now, Avery. You don’t have to be scared.”

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