Page 40 of Sacrifice (Corrupt Empire 2)

Chapter Seven

Avery

I stared at my uncle, not sure how to answer the question about my tattoo. Aiden had taken care of it daily for me as well as his own. He’d been careful when washing my hair and had a delicate touch when he put cream on it. It itched like mad on occasion, but I could deal with it.

I dropped my hand and steeled my expression. There was no need for Uncle Charlie to understand the truth.

“So what if I got a tattoo? I’m almost twenty-one. What difference does it make to you?”

“Not very professional of you to get it on your fucking neck,” he replied.

“It’s my body.”

“Christ, you really are a brat when you want to be. No wonder Mitch laid down the law about the company with you.”

I stiffened. I didn’t want to talk about my father with him. He was dead. And he was also dead to me. I no longer mourned him. He wasn’t worthy of it.

“Regardless of your personal opinion of me, the company is still mine and Dad is gone.”

“Yes, he is. You don’t happen to know anything about that, do you?”

I should’ve expected that question. Me disappearing right after they died was always going to be suspicious.

“Why would I?”

“Your phone was in their penthouse and that little boyfriend of yours told the police you were there for dinner.”

I flinched. Peter was not my boyfriend and that reminded me I still needed to talk to him. It would have to wait. Also, I doubted my actual boyfriend would let me do so.

Aiden.

I knew he was watching every moment of this encounter between me and my uncle. Just like I knew it would have driven him crazy when Uncle Charlie touched my face. It’d made my skin crawl. I hated him being close to me, but I would stand my ground. I was not going to show weakness.

“I’m sure the police can ask me if they’re interested, but I had nothing to do with their deaths.”

“No, I’m sure you didn’t, but you know something about it. Why else would you have gone missing for this long?”

“They were murdered. How did you expect me to feel?”

Anger boiled inside me, threatening to burst out. Even if Aiden hadn’t taken me, I’d still seen them die. That would fuck anyone up.

“So you do know something.”

“I merely forgot my phone there after I had an argument with Dad and by the time I realised, it was too late. So no, I don’t know who killed them or why. What does it matter? They’re gone.”

My uncle narrowed his eyes.

“That still doesn’t explain why you disappeared.”

“You wouldn’t understand. You enjoy the spotlight. I hate it. All that media scrutiny? I couldn’t deal with it. So yes, I hid away from the world until I felt ready to face it again. Believe me or don’t. I’m going to Dad’s office.”

I turned on my heel and strode out of the room. He didn’t call after me. I wouldn’t have answered or stopped if he had. I kept my expression neutral as I walked by his secretary. I could break down later when I had Aiden next to me. He’d kiss away the pain. Make me whole again.

When I reached my dad’s office, I hesitated with my hand on the door handle.

Was I really ready to face this?

I pushed the door open and walked inside. The huge office almost seemed to take a breath as if no one had been in here since my dad died and it finally had an occupant. The door closed softly behind me.

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