Page 45 of Sacrifice (Corrupt Empire 2)

Chapter Eight

Aiden

Her whispered plea sent my pulse skittering. I hadn’t meant to get angry with her. I really hadn’t meant to shut her out. That fucking photo ruined everything. Reminding me of just how much I hated her father and all the things he’d done to hurt my mother. All the times he’d raped and beaten her whilst Kathleen watched.

Fuck.

I didn’t need reminders of those fucking awful memories. It killed me. Mitchell having a photo of her from a time when she was still innocent. Sixteen and fucking clueless. The fucker hadn’t even met her then. It would still be four years before he laid eyes on her. By that time, she’d already been raped, beaten and abused beyond what anyone should ever have to go through. And she’d had me.

l

“She keeps disobeying you,” the woman’s voice drifted down the hallway.

I opened my bedroom door a little wider, poking my head out. Mummy told me to stay in here, but I couldn’t help it.

“Then I’ll just have to remind her who her master is,” the man said.

“Please, Sir. I didn’t mean to do anything wrong,” Mummy whimpered.

She told me they weren’t meant to be here this evening. That this was her night to be with me, but they’d come knocking and she shoved me in my room before letting them in. I didn’t understand why she had these people here all the time. The ones who hurt her.

“Shut the fuck up. You will not talk unless spoken to,” the man shouted.

I heard the distinct sound of someone falling on the floor with a thump and a cry of pain. I clenched my fists. All they did was hurt her. Tina wasn’t here this evening. I had to take care of her when they were gone. I’d wipe away her tears.

Mummy didn’t deserve any of this. I vowed to be stronger for her. To make sure that one day, I’d avenge her. A stupid promise for a seven year old kid, but I’d do it anyway.

For her.

l

Avery clutched me tighter, reminding me she was on my side. That she loved me without conditions or restraints.

“I’m sorry, princess.”

And I was.

“I won’t ask any questions. I just need you.”

The claws pulled at me, but I shut down the past. Nothing would change it. What I had now was more important.

Her.

I pulled her arms from my waist and turned around. My eyes fell on her almost naked body. Fuck. Despite what just happened, my cock went hard at the sight of her. Fuck it. Her body called to me. Always did.

I tugged her towards me and my mouth crashed down on hers, stealing away anything she’d been about to say. I gave her no choice but to kiss me back. I touched her wherever I could, running my fingers across her skin. She made everything seem less crazy and fucked up.

“Ever since he saw her, he wanted her,” I told her between kisses. “She was twenty and I was three when they first met. It’d take another four years for everything to go to shit and then she was dead.”

Avery’s hands were on me, unbuttoning my shirt.

“Was she one of my family’s girls?”

“Yes, but she wasn’t like the others. Not after she had me.”

“Why?”

I cupped her breast, running my thumb over the nub. She gasped, arching into me. Touching her helped me talk about this.

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