Page 137 of Sacrifice (Corrupt Empire 2)

I was well aware Rick had told me to find out, but quite frankly, he could get fucked. I wasn’t about to do anything the man said. He was dangerous. Still, I was also in no doubt he’d make good on his promise to see me again. I wondered how I’d feel when confronted with him face to face. Wondered what he’d tell me. He’d promised to divulge everything.

I looked over at Aiden. I was concerned about what Rick might say. What he might tell me about the man I loved. I wasn’t sure if I’d believe it anyway. Aiden had told me he’d done some bad things in his time. I mean he’d killed my parents, so it wasn’t like I didn’t know what he was capable of.

He wouldn’t ever physically hurt me. That was the one thing I was sure of. He loved and trusted me. He’d started to let me in and that meant everything. We’d overcome so many hurdles in the past few months since I’d gone back into the world.

In the beginning, he’d found it difficult to even be in a relationship with me, but now, he was learning to let go. His outlet was the bedroom. Whenever he needed it, I let him tie me up and fuck me without mercy. I loved submitting to him as much as he loved having control of me.

Outside of the bedroom, we were forming a partnership. One where we worked together to overcome issues inside and outside our relationship.

I turned the page, settling in to read the next clause when my heart almost came to a stop. There in black and white was the reason Frazier wanted me to marry Tristan. I read through the whole clause just to make sure, but I was right. This explained everything. Aiden had been so fucking right to get me to find the paperwork. It all fell into place.

“Aiden… I think I know why Frazier is being so insistent.”

He looked up, grey eyes narrowing.

“Why?”

“Come here and read this.”

He hauled himself up off the sofa, dropping the document he was holding on the coffee table. He walked around and stood before me. I handed him the document, pointing at Clause 6.2.8. I watched him read over it.

“Well shit,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck.

“He’s not going to stop pestering me, is he?”

“No… We have to do something about it.”

I stared up at him. A smile formed on his face.

“Did you have something in mind?”

He nodded, his eyes meeting mine. I saw the mischievous glint in them.

“Oh… I do. We just have to play him at his own fucking game.”

l

Six Weeks Later

I stood in front of the mirror, looking at myself in the dress I’d got for my birthday. Dark red with a deep v running down the centre of it. I traced the outline of the new ink on my left arm. Three weeks ago, Ben had tattooed Xochiquetzal there. She matched Aiden’s tattoos on his chest. She was absolutely stunning. I adored this piece. He’d spent a long time working out the details with me. Making sure we got it just right before he began inking it on my skin.

I turned my right wrist over. There sat a pair of black, highly detailed angel wings I’d designed myself. Aiden had got a matching tattoo on a free patch of skin on his stomach. Lastly, a flock of birds rested on my right shoulder. I loved all of them. Ben was so talented.

It had been nice spending time with him, Skye and baby Josh. Watching Aiden hold his nephew and tell him about when his dad and him had been in the army melted my heart. He’d told me he was crap with kids, but he’d been so good with Josh.

I wasn’t sure what might be said about me turning up to a company event with all this ink, but I didn’t care. Most of them knew about the A on my neck, so this wasn’t really any different. It was my body and there was nothing they could do about it.

I felt two hands around my waist. Aiden’s mischievous grin appeared in the mirror. Grey eyes burning with heat.

“You look absolutely fucking stunning, princess.”

“You can thank Gert. She made me buy it.”

He dropped a kiss on my shoulder. I’d put my hair up, securing it with pearl headed bobby pins. Make-up wasn’t exactly my favourite task in the world, but I’d given myself smoky eyes to complete the look.

“I wish I could walk in there with you on my arm. Show the world you’re mine.”

“Me too.”

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