Page 93 of Sacrifice (Corrupt Empire 2)

Chapter Sixteen

Aiden

When I’d seen it was her at the door, I’d grabbed my keys, wrenched open my front door and bolted down the stairs, not even bothering to wait for the lift. I heard John call after me. Nothing would stop me from getting to Avery.

When I reached her, my whole world stood still as I dragged her against my chest and held her tightly.

“Princess.”

Her pitiful sob broke my fucking heart. It’d been twenty-four hours and now she was back. John and I spent the entire time trying to work out who would’ve taken her. Chuck had shaken down doors, but even he couldn’t find out where she was. No one was talking. All his clients who lived in the area denied all knowledge. One of them was lying. One of them knew the truth.

“What day is it?” she asked.

“Sunday.”

She shook her head against my chest.

“They knocked me out for an entire day.”

“They did what?”

Did the fucks drug her?

“Can we go upstairs? I’m exhausted, Aiden.”

I pulled away and took her hand, unlocking the door and leading her inside. We rode up in the lift together. She leant against me with her eyes closed. I had no idea what the fuck she’d been through or why she was back now. Why had they let her go?

When I unlocked the front door, she let go of my hand and went straight into the bedroom, ignoring John standing in the hallway.

“Is she okay?” he asked.

“I don’t think so.”

“Did they hurt her?”

“I haven’t had a chance to talk to her properly. She seems shaken up.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. I wanted to demand answers from her. The look in her eyes outside stopped me. World-weary and downtrodden. She needed time, not the inquisition.

“Do you need me to stay? I need to let Chuck know she’s back.”

Avery came out of the bedroom. She’d changed out of what she’d been wearing into a robe, her bare legs on show.

“Hello John.”

“Miss Daniels.”

She grimaced, putting a hand up.

“Please just call me Avery. I don’t think I can stomach hearing another person refer to me as Miss Daniels right now.”

John said he’d seen Avery grow up, but I didn’t know how well the two of them knew each other.

“If that’s what you wish.”

She leant against the doorframe.

“I take it if you’re here then you know…”

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