Page 98 of Sacrifice (Corrupt Empire 2)

“How do you know?”

I sighed.

“Because I’m his son, Avery. Even if he’s a psychopathic cunt, that still means something to him. After my mother died, Tina took care of me. He gave her the money to raise me, not your family.”

“What happened that night?”

I looked away. Talking about the night she died was too fucking much for me. Not after the revelation he was back and he’d taken Avery. And my mind was a mess regarding it. I didn’t know what to think. I was no longer sure I knew who really killed her.

“I can’t, princess. Not now.”

She caught my face again and kissed me before leaning her forehead against mine.

“It’s okay. I understand. You don’t have to.”

“I don’t deserve you.”

She smiled, putting her hand on my heart.

“All I could think about whilst I was gone is how much I wanted to be back in your arms. How much I need you. How much I love you. I don’t want to be a Daniels any more, Aiden. I’m done with my family. After what he made me watch. All those men. I can’t be a part of it. I don’t want that associated with me.”

“What are you saying?”

There were so many emotions flittering across her expression, I couldn’t keep up. I understood why she didn’t want that associated with her name, but what was she trying to tell me?

“You love me, right?”

“Yes, more than anything.”

“And you want me yours forever.”

“You know that.”

She took my hand with her free one, slipping her fingers through mine and rubbing one of my bruised knuckles with her thumb.

“If I could, I’d tattoo your name across my heart. A permanent mark. And I’d tattoo the word soulmate below it because that’s what you are even if I don’t believe in bullshit like that.”

Her doe eyes held so much. The love she felt for me poured out of them into mine.

“I vow to love you until the day I fade from this world, Aiden,” she whispered.

The way she’d worded it felt like she was trying to communicate something significant to me.

“Vow?”

“I want to make many vows to you, but for now, I just vow to love you.”

She wants… Wait, hold on… Avery… she wants to…

Avery wanted something I wasn’t sure I could give her.

She wanted to marry me.

She wanted to be my wife.

That’s what she was trying to tell me.

And I couldn’t fucking speak any longer.

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