Page 35 of Sacrifice (Corrupt Empire 2)

My princess knew exactly what Chuck would ask. She had the answers. The truth woven into the lies she told.

Where the fuck had she been all my life? The very thing I never knew I needed or wanted. I’d been right about her helping me tear down her family. My secret weapon. I just hadn’t realised it would be something we did together as partners. I still controlled so many aspects of our relationship, but this was different. This was about righting wrongs. And she’d be the face of their destruction whilst I orchestrated their downfall from the shadows.

Chuck shifted, walking over to his desk and sitting down. Avery stayed where she was, watching her uncle expressionlessly. I saw the fire in her eyes. The hatred. He wouldn’t read it because he didn’t know her like I did.

“Have you informed the police?”

“No. You’re welcome to call them. If they want me to explain myself, they can come here and ask me. In the meantime, I want a meeting with the board and the company transferred into my hands.”

“What makes you think I will answer to your demands?”

She splayed out her hands.

“Firstly, the company is mine by law. You know Dad made it ironclad. And secondly, if you don’t, it will only take one interview from me to ruin you entirely.”

His face fell.

“You wouldn’t.”

“Wouldn’t I, Uncle Charlie? I don’t care if the world knows your sick twisted fantasies.”

His fist curled on the desk. I froze. He better not fucking lay a hand on her.

“You’re bluffing.”

“Are you sure you want to test that theory? Or do you want the world to know you like little girls?”

Seconds ticked by as niece and uncle stared at each other. A battle of wills. I knew who’d break.

“Fine. I’ll call the board and the police.”

“Thank you.”

He rolled his eyes, flattening his palm on the desk.

“You have to do one thing for me.”

“What would that be?”

He rose from the desk, walking around it and coming to stand in front of her. He was half a head taller than her even in her heels. He gripped her by the chin and turned her head to the side. Rage boiled inside me.

How fucking dare he touch her. I would fucking rip his balls off.

“Explain to me how the fuck you came to have a tattoo of an A behind your ear.”

Avery took a step back, wrenching out of his grasp. She put her hand over the back of her neck, covering it from view.

The still-healing tattoo. The one which marked her as mine. My cock jerked at the knowledge I’d branded her and sent her out in the world to be my weapon.

She wore the mark of their enemy.

Just as I’d given her the necklace with an A, which she never took off, I gave her this too.

And no one would know because she shared something with me.

My initial.

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