Page 88 of Revenge (Corrupt Empire 3)

Chapter Eighteen

Aiden

When I reached Avery’s house, I texted her to let her know I was there. I found her coming out of the cupboard when I unlocked the front door of her flat. She paused in the hallway, staring at me for a moment before she barrelled her way into my arms. I held her, knowing she needed me to comfort her.

Fuck. I was so fucking pissed off. Rick really was a fucking piece of work. Who knew how long those fucking cameras had been in her house. Too long. And why would Rick have a fucking key to Avery’s house?

“This doesn’t make any sense,” she said, pulling away and staring up at me.

“No, it fucking well doesn’t.”

“You know we can’t say anything to him yet, right?”

I gripped her coat with my fists, trying not to lose my shit completely. I knew she was right, but I was too fucking angry.

“How the fuck do you expect me to sit there with him knowing he saw that and fuck knows how many other times?”

“I could say the same thing.”

She reached up, stroking my cheek with the gentlest of touches. The tension in me started to fade at her expression. She looked so miserable. Fuck. I thought I couldn’t hate that fucking bastard any more than I already did.

“I’m sorry, princess. I’m so fucking sorry that my piece of shit father stole that fucking moment from us.”

“It’s not your fault. Neither of us knew. How could we?”

I shook my head. It wasn’t either of our faults. It was all fucking Rick’s fault for interfering in my fucking life. In our lives. Hers and mine. I wanted to kill him. Smash his stupid face in. I wanted him gone forever so I never had to think about what he’d done to my mother. Never had to think about how he’d dragged her into this sorry mess. It wouldn’t have even fucking mattered if I’d never been born. At least my mother would still be alive. She’d have lived a full life without all this bullshit.

I took a breath. I couldn’t think like that. The past couldn’t be changed. What I had right in front of me was more important. My wife was my world and I had to be there for her. I promised myself I’d quit this shit. Wallowing in self-misery wasn’t going to help anyone. I had to be strong for Avery.

Besides, what the fuck would she think if she knew I’d even considered giving up my own fucking life in place of my mother’s. I knew how much Avery loved me, needed me, craved me. I was hers and I couldn’t afford to forget that even though I’d give up my own life in place of hers if it came down to it. That’s how much this girl meant to me. She was the fucking world. My brightest star. My girl. My wife.

I leant down and captured her mouth, clutching her to me. She responded, arching into me when I deepened the kiss. She was breathless when I pulled away and leant my forehead against hers.

“We’ll deal with it, princess. I promise. We’ll make new memories together. Ones he can’t take away or ruin.”

No matter how angry I was, I could see the agony in her eyes and I had to fix it for her.

“We already have one he can’t take away from us.”

“Remind me again which one that is?” I replied with a smile.

“Our wedding day,” she whispered.

The most perfect fucking day of our lives. No one was going to fucking ruin that shit for me. She’d looked so stunning. The perfect dress which hugged her figure in the right places. Hell, she’d never looked more beautiful. Those moments we’d said our vows were the most precious ones. And when I’d got all fucking emotional when we were alone and she told me how much I meant to her and made love to me.

Fuck. No. Rick could never take that away from us.

“Will you do a painting of us from that day?”

She nodded.

“Yes… I’ll do anything you want.”

I kissed her again. Having her close made my heart thump. She soothed me. Calmed me. My fucking girl. Mine. No one else would get their hands on her. No one. Especially not after what happened with the Shaws. I still wish I could’ve fucking spared her that pain. I knew the guilt still tore at her pure soul. She felt tainted, but to me, she was perfect in every single fucking way. No matter what she’d done.

This war had taken no fucking prisoners, but I was determined to bring us out the other side. So we could have a life together. Me and her.

For now, we were going to deal with this new fucking bullshit situation.

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