Page 42 of Sacrifice (Corrupt Empire 2)

The memory of the night Aiden murdered my parents slammed into me like a thousand shards of glass cutting into my skin.

Did my father have something to do with why Aiden’s mother was dead?

I wanted to throw up.

The world spun around me, twirling until I could barely see straight.

I had to get it together and fast. Spiralling out of control was not an option for me. My uncle would be in here soon and likely the police too. I had questions which needed answering, but not now. I had to stay strong. I couldn’t break down.

Taking several deep breaths, I sat up straighter.

I had to be Avery Daniels. The new owner of Daniels Holdings.

And she wouldn’t fall apart.

Not now.

Not ever.

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I trudged back to where Aiden had parked the car. The rest of the day had been long and drawn out. As predicted, the police detectives had interrogated me when they arrived. I’d given them the exact same story as I had to my uncle.

I didn’t know who killed my parents. I didn’t know how the video I’d made went viral. And yes, I’d spent most of my time locked away in my bunker.

I gave them no reason to suspect my story. I kept calm and answered everything. They had no choice but to believe me. I had to go down the station tomorrow to give them an official statement.

A board meeting had been scheduled for two weeks’ time. Now, all I wanted was to curl up with Aiden and forget this had happened, but the matter of that photo couldn’t wait.

I got in the car, tucking my bag in the footwell and kicking off my heels before I looked at my boyfriend. His grey eyes spoke volumes. He reached over, cupped the back of my head and his mouth crashed against mine. It wasn’t a sweet kiss. His fingers curled into my hair, holding me in place whilst he took his fill of me. Devoured my mouth like he was starving. The last couple of weeks we hadn’t spent a day apart.

He pulled away, resting his forehead against mine.

“I missed you,” he breathed.

“You saw me all day.”

“That’s different to having you right here next to me where I can touch you.”

I smiled. He was right. Us being near each other set off fireworks and explosions.

“Did he call you?”

“Chuck? Yes. He’s pissed as fuck about you being back suddenly, but we knew that would happen.”

“Can we go home? I’m exhausted.”

He stroked my cheek and kissed me again before he leant back into the driver’s seat. I would show him the photograph, but only when we were back at the flat.

I didn’t speak to him until we got home, lost in my own thoughts. I slumped on the sofa after kicking off my heels, not wanting to get up. This outfit was uncomfortable. I hated wearing restrictive clothing.

“Do you fancy helping me take this off?” I asked.

He smirked, dropping to his knees by my feet and running his hands up my thighs.

“If I take your clothes off now, I cannot guarantee you won’t get fucked before dinner.”

I raised an eyebrow.

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