Page 88 of Sacrifice (Corrupt Empire 2)

“I imagine he’s tearing his hair out now, knowing you’re gone.”

This man was certifiable. Me having the control? What a fucking joke. He had no idea what it was like when Aiden got into one of his moods. He was the most unreasonable and stubborn man I’d ever met.

“I’m sure he is,” I said as calmly as I could.

I didn’t let him see how his words cut me. My heart was in pieces at my feet knowing what this must be doing to Aiden. I had no concept of time any longer. Not since they drugged me. Who knew how long it had been since they’d taken me.

“You don’t seem too concerned about that darlin’. Is he keeping you against your will still?”

“No, but you already knew that.”

He chuckled.

“Smart girl.”

I flashed him an entirely fake smile, which only afforded me another laugh. Perhaps if I answered his questions, he’d let me go. He did say he just wanted a conversation with me.

“I didn’t expect him to fall for the daughter of the man he hated.”

I stiffened. Neither of us expected this, but I stopped questioning it. What was the point when it defied explanation? Love wasn’t rational or reasonable. It was all consuming and took no prisoners. I could no more stop loving Aiden than he could stop loving me. Where we came from didn’t matter.

“How much do you know about Aiden and me?”

“I wouldn’t worry your pretty little head about it darlin’.”

Except I was worried. Did he know Aiden murdered my parents? He seemed to know Aiden had taken me against my will. I could only assume he did know, but as to why he wouldn’t have turned Aiden in, that was a question I knew he wouldn’t answer.

“Are we done talking about my relationship yet?”

“What did he tell you about his mother?”

“Why?”

“Humour me darlin’.”

I wanted to tell him to stop calling me that. It was really pissing me off.

“He told me enough to know what my family did to her was despicable.”

“Did he tell you who killed her?”

I shook my head. I hadn’t asked either. For all I knew, it could’ve been my father, but he was obsessed with her according to Aiden. Would his obsession have driven him to murder? I wasn’t quite sure it had. I might not have really known who my father truly was, but that didn’t add up in my head. It would make sense Aiden killing the man who murdered his mother, except I knew it wasn’t my dad.

“Pity. It wouldn’t matter anyway, he’s wrong in his assumption.”

Wait, what?

“Wrong?”

“Yes. He clearly didn’t tell you he was there the day she died.”

My already battered and bruised heart broke further. Had Aiden seen it? What really happened that day?

“How do you know?”

“Next time we meet, I’ll tell you who took her life. In fact, I will tell you everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the man you love. It will be under very different circumstances. This meeting was an unfortunate necessity.”

I didn’t think this was a necessity at all. It’d left me with more questions than answers. Like who the fuck was this and why did he have a vested interest in Aiden and me? Why did he care so much?

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