Chapter 8

Q

~Master and slave, owner and owned, you sate my need and feed me~

~We are blood of blood, echoing heartbeat and answering breath; nothing can break us, not even death~

~I wish people knew.~

I wish more people realized this gift.

You changed my world, Q. You sheltered, protected, and avenged me—but even that wasn’t enough to bring me back to life. My heart hurts to think of others who’ve lived what I lived.

Other survivors who had to return home and pretend.

Pretend time healed them. Lie that they’re better. Hide that the nightmares haven’t stolen their sanity.

Everyone needs a Q.

Everyone needs to learn the lesson ~you~ taught me.

Pain is therapy. Pain is healing. Pain is the only thing that purges.

I’m not doing a good job at writing this down, but after yesterday, I have to try. I have to get my jumbled thoughts on paper—if only to show you how much I love you.

To let you witness how much you saved me by being you.

I don’t think you’ll ever understand how indebted I’ll always be to you. Q—you own me, not because I love you, but because you…you’re my—let me see if I can explain.~

Sometimes, when life has taken bites out of your self-worth, when fate lands you in the path of horrible ~circumstances and your body is full of holes from carving out your heart for others, it’s impossible to be whole again.

Those holes just get bigger, the nightmares just get stronger.

Life becomes an enemy, whittling away at the remaining parts you have left.

But pain.

It strips you back—it tears off your withered, hole-riddled skin. It destroys the past and annihilates concern and worry. Pain does to a human spirit what acid does to paint.

It strips away all the layers of filth and gunk until nothing but the basic material exists. The grime is gone, leaving a complete fresh start.

Q—you are my acid.

Through granting me pain, you gave me a fresh start.

I’ll never be able to repay you.

Your ~esclave~ forever,

Tess~

I’d read Tess’s letter over twenty times. Every word she’d written, in her cute feminine flourish, resonated deep inside.

She effectively took every hatred I had about my past—who I was, what I wanted—and chopped it into fucking pieces with a guillotine. How could I hate my need to hurt her when it was what saved her?

All my life I’d suffered self-hatred, wishing I was different—kinder, wiser, gentler. Instead, she’d given me…truth.

She’d given me more than freedom—she’d allowed myself to stop hating my needs and...accept.

My mind conjured images of the women I’d saved. Slaves who’d been raped to near death; whores who’d been tortured until every drop of blood puddled on the floor. All women: daughters, wives, sisters.

Each one I thought I’d helped by giving them a place to heal before sending them home to their loved ones.

I gave them the best of care—bought top-of-the-line medical treatment, psychologists—and when they were less broken, I sent them home with a check for one hundred thousand euros.

I placed them back with family and gave them a safety net, taking the stress of bill paying and jobs away while they focused on fixing their broken lives.

I thought I’d figured out a recipe to rehabilitation.

I believed family and love would be the ultimate savior, but what if I was wrong? What if those women had been irrevocably changed? What if Tess was right?

Tess’s hand fell on my forearm, wrenching me from my thoughts. “You okay? We’re here.”

Yesterday had been about breaking her. But it ended up breaking me. I’d been prepared to go dark—treat her fucking awful—just like I always thought I wanted.

But that was the funny thing.

I ~had~ everything I ever wanted. Once again she took the allure of darkness and brought her ever shining light to morph it from forbidden to cherished.

Even though I hit her ass until she bled, it wasn’t her who was sore, but me. I felt stripped bare, revealed for what I was—a fucking fraud.

I’d lost the need to be savage. I’d lost the curse in my blood. I still hadn’t come to terms with how I felt about it. I was angry but also fucking relieved.

~I’m not him after all.~

Franco appeared from the cockpit. “I’ll go get the car. Stay here.” He disappeared down the plane steps, leaving us alone once again.

His surly tone reminded me I’d left him outside for twelve hours yesterday while I indulged my fill. And he was pissed.

Not to mention his stress levels suspecting everyone now the official news had got out. I was an official target.

~They’re coming.~

My hands curled involuntarily at the thought of what might happen...soon.

The flight from Tenerife had been uneventful. After the mind-blowing release and breathless conclusion, I’d bundled Tess from that place and returned to the hotel.

Franco hadn’t said a word about catching her naked. He’d avoided my narrowed look and behaved like a perfect~ silent ~bodyguard.

We’d had room service, before a very innocent shower, and then sleep. Wonderful sleep.

Why wonderful?

Because Tess hadn’t had one single fucking nightmare.

And I was egotistically proud of that.

Shaking my thoughts away, I replied to Tess’s question. “Oui, allons-y.” Yes, let’s go. Smiling, I stood and stretched.

The cream leather was comfortable, but my entire body ached as if I’d fought a thousand traffickers. I suppose I had in a way—I’d become the men haunting Tess and shattered their power.

Then I took her. Fuck, I took her.

The wintry sun burned my eyeballs as Tess and I descended the aircraft steps. Franco appeared driving a black Phantom with the logo of ~Moineau~ Holdings on the side etched in gold.

“Wait? We’re back in France?” Tess squinted against the glare, noticing the large terminal across the way with the very obvious Charles de Gaulle signage giving away the location.

Her face flushed as a riot of memories entered her eyes.

Franco squealed to a stop and flung himself out to open the door for Tess.

“~esclave~—what are you thinking?” I hated when she got that faraway look. I wanted to chase—to enter her mind and not be left as an unpaying spectator.

“I know what she’s thinking,” Franco said, a huge grin spreading his face.

~What the fuck?~ I glowered but Tess laughed. “I’m guessing you would.”

I looked between the two of them getting angrier by the second. “Anyone care to tell me, or are you enjoying your inside joke?”

Franco shook his head, taking Tess’s hand to help her into the car. My back bristled but I held my tongue, waiting for someone to talk.

“It was about here that I first met Tess.” He squeezed her hand before letting go. “Sorry about that—throwing you to the tarmac and all. I felt bad that I rolled your ankle.”

“What? You hurt her?” I stomped forward.

Tess smiled. “Good thing you didn’t give me an opportunity to go for your gun.

“I would’ve shot you and never known what a nice guy you are—beneath the whole collecting slaves for a sadistic master of course.”

Franco laughed; not giving away a thing that only twenty-four hours ago he’d caught her running from said sadistic master.

Bet Tess wouldn’t be so fucking happy if she knew he held her fully naked and totally compromised.

My teeth hurt I clenched so hard. I hated not knowing everything about her. “Tell—” I snapped my mouth closed.~ No, you don’t need to ask.~

I could guess. Franco completed all the slave handovers. Tess probably ran—as was her trademark by now—and they all had a very uncomfortable flight home.

I always sent Franco and two other guards to collect the bribes as they arrived. Not to make sure of the girl’s protection but on the off chance the trafficker was a new player on the scene.

Franco’s unofficial order was to remove them from society before they got a foothold and became a threat.

It wasn’t possible to take out the henchmen of bigger organizations like Red Wolverine, but smaller outfits—they were killable.

Cursing under my breath, I stalked around the car and let myself in. Franco ducked, throwing me a look through the car window.

I knew what he tried to convey: ~I’ve had your back right from the start, so wind your fucking neck in.~

He was right.

So I did.

Tess smiled as Franco shut the door. Settling back into the seat, her fingers entwined with mine. We stayed silent while the car started and pulled away from the airport.

“Don’t be mad at him. Despite me wanting to kill him that night, he didn’t go out of his way to hurt me.”

I patted her hand, brushing away my temper. “I know. ~Je suis juste un idiot~.” I’m just being an idiot.

Tess shook her head. “You’re a lot of things—but never that.”

My heart seized; I had to look out the window. I thought I loved her before. But that was before I had any fucking idea what love really was. It was nothing, ~nothing,~ compared to what I felt now.

I was possessed by her. Totally consumed.

She was my home. Plain and simple—the biggest investment of my life.

“Are you going to tell me why we’re back in Paris?” Tess asked, looking out the window at passing cars.

My mood lifted and a trickle of excitement filled me. Today was the day Tess really stepped into my world. Not just sexually or emotionally but materially.

Today was the day I gave Tess everything.

Bringing her hand to my mouth, I kissed her knuckles. “It’s a surprise, ~esclave~.”

~And if you so much as argue, I’ll put you over my knee and spank you—regardless of witnesses.~

Tess thought I was rich. She didn’t know quite how rich.

But in thirty minutes, she would.

~Moineau Holdings glittered with glass and sun-refracting metal as Franco pulled to the curb outside.

I opened the car door, pulling Tess out with me, leaving Franco to pull back into traffic and head to the parking garage next door.

My eyes scanned the footpath, glowering at pretty women and well-dressed men—suspecting everyone.

I didn’t like being in the open without back-up, especially with Tess as such a vulnerable target.

And I definitely didn’t like being back at work where people knew me—where buildings offered perfect coverage for anyone wanting to take out a man threatening their downfall.

My body balanced between being soft with Tess and ready to rip someone’s chest open if they so much as looked at me wrong.

~Get inside before you murder someone.~

Wrapping an arm around Tess’s waist, I propelled her through the sliding doors and into the lobby.

Tess froze, jerking my body to a stop with hers. “You’ve brought me back to your office? Why?” Tension tightened her voice. Just like her fear of a bath, she had to overcome her terror of this place.

I thought she would’ve been safe here—but it only taught me never to trust anyone.

A headache appeared from the rapidly building stress in my body. I fucking hated headaches. Especially the one I’d had that day when she’d been taken. I’d been a useless invalid.

If it hadn’t been for Frederick, I would probably have had a stroke trying to do everything myself.

The memory of losing her made my gut churn.

~Stop thinking about it for fuck’s sake.~

I forced my thoughts to turn to why we were here. I wanted to surprise Roux—he was going to be the accessory to this next part of the crescent moon—he just didn’t know it yet.

“We’ll only be here for a bit—then I’m kidnapping you away again.” Where—I hadn’t quite figured out yet. Suzette still had three days before the wedding.~ Shit, I better call her.~

No telling what sort of craziness she’d planned by now. That woman was a fucking menace.

Keeping my arm firmly around Tess, we made our way to the elevators. The mosaic sparrow on the floor never failed to lift my heart. People thought this was just a property conglomerate.

Goes to show how much they knew.

Then again.

I’d looked at the news on my phone this morning. Things were getting out of hand. Whatever Frederick was doing, I was about to tell him to fucking stop it.

Pressing the up button, Tess’s breathing turned shallow. Her eyes darted around the huge, light-filled lobby.

No one was around which was good—I didn’t have to worry about spilling blood in my own building. The way my body tensed, I’d most likely strike first then ask questions.

Not exactly a good look for the CEO to tear off an employee’s head just for saying hello.

Ducking to Tess’s level, I murmured, “I’m not going to leave you alone for a second. You have nothing to fear.” I would personally guarantee it.

She flashed me a grateful smile.

“I know—just being back here—after feeling so amazing yesterday…it’s hard to accept that yes the past isn’t ruining my life anymore, but I still haven’t put it all behind me.”

The elevator pinged; I pushed her on. With every step Tess lagged. Her back was stiff, movements jerky.

I frowned, watching her as the doors closed, imprisoning us in the small space—alone. Pressing the floor I needed, I touched her cheek. “It’s just a lift.”

She flinched away.

Goddammit, I hadn’t done everything I’d done to have it all be for fucking nothing. I pushed her shoulder, forcing her to face me.

I had every intention of slamming her against the wall and demanding she focus on me and only me.

But she took me completely by surprise.

Leaping into my arms, I stumbled backward. The mirrored walls bruised my shoulder blades as Tess’s mouth pressed against mine. Her breathing was still shallow but now for an entirely different reason.

Her fingers disappeared into my hair, jerking my lips harder onto hers. Ah, fucking hell. My cock reacted straight away.

My arms shot up, gathering her curvy form.

She dropped her fingers to my face, deliberately scratching me—driving me beyond interested into insane.

Pushing off from the wall, I spun around, crashing her against it instead. Her mouth opened wide, and my tongue plunged inside, taking, tasting, owning,~devouring.~

Our hands were separate entities as our mouths slipped and licked. I grabbed her breast through her grey jumper. Wanting my flesh on hers, needing my cock driving into her tasty warmth.

I wasn’t sated. I needed more. I wanted her to bow to me and fight at the same time. I wanted so much from her—I wanted it all.

The doors opened.

A feminine cough wrenched my head up; I locked eyes with Helen. Red hair, vivid green eyes—attractive with freckles dotting her nose.

My receptionist of three years.

Releasing Tess, I grabbed her shoulders, and positioned her in front of me—trying to hide the raging hard-on in my trousers.

Running hands through my hair, I made sure the white shirt I wore wasn’t too crumpled and quickly inspected Tess.

Her jumper was mussed but her black jeans looked presentable. The disarray of curls made me want to drag her back into the lift and press the emergency button until I finished what she’d started.

“Mr. Mercer. ~Bonjour.~” Helen smiled, eyeing Tess with a professional coolness. If I hadn’t been around women—in all states of mental health—I would’ve missed the flash of competition in her gaze.

And I would’ve definitely missed, and not enjoyed, Tess’s answering glower full of possession.

She was fierce, my Slave Fifty-Eight. And I had no doubt she’d scratch out any female’s eyes who made any move to encroach on what she considered hers.

And good. That made me fucking happy. And hot. So damn hot.

Hoping my depleting erection wasn’t too obvious, I strode in front of Tess. “~Bonjour. Est-ce que M. Roux est là ? J’ai besoin de le voir.~” Hello. Is Mr. Roux in, I need to see him.

Tess stayed glued to my side, a smile on her lips, but her eyes shrewd and assessing.

Helen smiled at Tess, acknowledging whatever woman code they shared, before finally giving me a look I recognized as defeat.~ “Oui, il est dans son bureau.”~Yes, he's in his office.

~“Merci.”~I grabbed Tess’s hand, dragging her away from the sterile first impression of the manager’s level.

The only things visible were Helen’s desk, a large matching mosaic sparrow behind her, and some comfy chairs in the adjoining room for early appointments to wait.

Tess tugged on my hand as I strode through the floor, nodding at passing workers. I didn’t have a fucking clue who they were.

I only needed to know the top of commands; the rest of the workforce was their problem.

“We’re not going to your office?” Tess asked, dodging a woman carrying an armful of files.

Her eyes danced around the floor, taking in the large windows that let washes of natural light and the amazing view of Paris inside. Plants and paraphernalia gave the place a homely feel.

No partitions separated workers—everyone had free rein on where they wanted their desk to be. Some were clumped together in a circle, others were lined up neatly.

But all surrounded a large break area with a big TV, gourmet coffee and food, and a full-time masseuse to work out any kinks.

“We can’t,” I said.

“Why not?”

“It’s gone.” I waved back at a man I distantly remembered, who’d helped with a local merger. Frederick’s office was at the end, next to mine—or rather my temporary one.

“Gone?”

I looked into her blue-grey eyes—looking more grey thanks to the color of her jumper. “You seriously didn’t think I’d be able to let it stay standing after what happened.”

Tess shook her head. “You destroyed it?”

I nodded. Just like the room where I’d let her hit and scar me. It was demolished. Forever. Good fucking riddance.

The moment I saw her hair on the bathroom floor and the empty syringe, I knew I couldn’t let the diabolical thing remain. It was empty rubble up there now.

“I’ll convert it to a helipad eventually, but right now, the birds can have it.”

She pulled on my hand, yanking me to a stop. Her eyes locked onto mine. “Thank you.”

My forehead furrowed. “For what?”

“For getting rid of it. I can handle a lot of things but I don’t think I could’ve stepped foot in that space again.”

I looked around to see if people were watching. People pretended to be busy, but I knew we were the entertainment. But—oh, fuck it. I dragged her close and kissed her. Her fingers squeezed my chest.

Pulling back, I whispered, “Don’t you think I know that?”

Stepping back, I added, “And I didn’t do it just for you, Tess. I couldn’t go back there either.

“I would rather my entire company came crashing down than ever go back into a room where I failed to protect you.”

Tess’s eyes swam; her cheeks pinked as she blushed. Blushed? What the hell was she blushing about?

I’d had her hanging upside down with my tongue as far as it could go inside her while I drove my cock into her mouth.~ That ~was blush-worthy.

Having me admit I tore down an office in her honor was not.

“You’re far too good to me.”

I shook my head, hating the twisting in my gut. I wasn’t. I was the opposite. Complete fucking opposite.

She lowered her voice. “Q…I’ve been so wrapped up in me, I haven’t asked what’s going on with your business. Did everything that happened ruin your company’s reputation?” Her shoulders stiffened.

“I didn’t cost you your livelihood, did I?”

Before worry could consume her, I grabbed her chin. “Now is not the time to talk about it, but no.

“It didn’t.” I placed my hand on her lower back, pushing her the remaining distance to Frederick’s office.

If she started asking questions about my unspoken hobby, I didn’t want it to be on the busy floor with overeager ears.

Little did she know that yes, what I’d done had gotten out. And no, it hadn’t ruined my image. In fact—I couldn’t quite believe what was happening. Another reason why I needed to talk to Roux.

Arriving at his door, I rapped my knuckles against the frosted glass.

I kept telling him he needed a receptionist, but I suppose he’d taken my job while I focused on Tess, and Helen worked for him now.

Frederick opened the door with his back to us. His hair wasn’t its usual perfectly slicked style, seeing as one hand was lodged in the strands.

His attire of understated three-piece navy suit with elegant purple tie made me very aware I wasn’t exactly dressed to impress.

I missed wearing a tailored wardrobe—but I didn’t miss why I wasn’t wearing them—I’d much rather be bone-fucking-naked if it meant I could ravage Tess twenty-four-seven.

His voice raised in a French curse as he removed the Bluetooth headset from his ear, spinning to confront us.

His face, with its perfect skin and manicured eyebrows, looked about twenty years old not thirty.

His bright blue eyes landed on Tess, then shot back to me before his jaw fell in shock. “Mercer! Man, I thought you’d run off to get hitched.”

Tess stood a little straighter, watching him with a fierceness I started to recognize as defense.

She had history with Frederick—I still didn’t know what they talked about the night he watched me almost rape her, then tuck and run after she used the safeword—but she knew Frederick was my closest friend.

The only thing close to family I ever had.

Until her.

“Had a few loose ends before tying that particular knot,” I said, entering his office and slapping his shoulder. ~“C’est bon de te voir.”~ It’s good to see you.

He nodded, lips spreading into a smile. “You too. Missed your angry face.

“What’s it been, three weeks?” It didn’t sound like a long time, but in the scheme of things, seeing as we used to spend ten hours a day together—it was a long fucking time.

“Bet Angelique’s happy you don’t have to babysit me anymore.” By babysitting he damn well knew I meant traipsing around the world murdering psychopaths and bribing twisted assholes.

He laughed. “Well, she got pissed that you left me in charge of this place, leaving me to work double hours, but she got over it.”

I rolled my eyes. “How did you make it up to her?” Did I even want to know what they got up to behind closed doors?

I genuinely liked Angelique with her straight black hair and intelligent pretty face, but I couldn’t see any kink in her.

I often wondered if Frederick was as completely straight-laced as he liked to believe.

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” Roux laughed.

“Well, seeing as you’ll find out soon enough, I’ll tell you now.” He motioned us forward, spreading his arm to encompass the heavy oak desk and black leather couches facing each other. “I hired her.”

“You what?” My head snapped up as I sat beside Tess on the supple leather.

“Hey, you couldn’t expect me to work here every hour of the day and not get nagged when I got home, could you?

“I figured I’d put her on the payroll—that way we’d see each other all the time.” He sat down, hoisting his navy trousers before sitting with his legs spread on the opposite couch.

“Don’t tell her this, but she’s amazing. That stupid law degree she’d been practicing—hell she’s doing wonders for ~Moineau~. Not to mention, she’s great at bringing me coffee—amongst other things.”

I blinked. Did he just hint at office sex? In ~my~ building. Who was I fucking kidding? I was happy for him. I’d worried I’d put too much responsibility on him and was glad he’d flourished.

Frederick turned to Tess, looking her up and down. “How are you?”

Tess’s eyes flickered to mine, adrift with questions. I kept my face unreadable but it only took a second for her to slot the pieces together. Damn intelligent woman.

She nodded, keeping her back straight and face impassive. “I’m better. Thank you. Without you pushing Q—I don’t know where I’d be.”

To anyone who hadn’t whipped her with a whisk last night, she looked poised and collected. Only I knew the stiffness really meant wariness, not aloofness.

Frederick shrugged. “No thanks necessary. I’m glad it worked out. I couldn’t stomach the thought of you walking away from what you two obviously have.”

I huffed, glaring daggers at him. Frederick got the message and shut up.

Tess said, “I never got a chance to thank you for helping Q find me, either. I know you were there. I vaguely remember parts of it—your voice. You holding me.”

My muscles locked down. She fucking ~remembered~? I thought she’d been so cracked out she hadn’t recalled what I’d done on her behalf.

Frederick shot me a glance, raising his eyebrow as if to say: ~I told you. You should’ve just killed him and not put more awful memories in her head.~

I glowered at him. ~Fuck off.~

“I’m glad you’re doing better. I knew Q would bring you back. Had every faith.” Clearing his throat, he looked at me. “You know, I got a call from Suzette yesterday.” Amusement shadowed his features.

“Seems you’ve let her go a little wild.”

Tess’s eyes narrowed. “What did she say?”

I leaned forward, clasping my hands between my spread legs. “Yes, Roux. ~Qu’est-ce qu'elle a dit~?” What did she say?

His eyes twinkled. “Nothing much. You know she never tells me anything. Closed book.”

I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “Bullshit. I happen to know you’re on her speed-dial.

“She spills everything to you.” I glared harder, knowing full well he knew far too much about my ridiculous meltdowns—thanks to a meddling maid. “You know what I’m talking about.”

Tess looked between us, trying to unravel what we left unsaid.

“She knows she can call me. She and Angelique are getting rather close, too. It’s nice to see her making friends.”

“Oh, fuck me. My maid and your wife talking?” I couldn’t think of anything worse. I’d have to fire her.

Frederick laughed—a large timbre that drew a genuine smile from Tess. I wasn’t surprised; Frederick was a smooth son of a bitch. “You know she’s the most loyal staff member you’ll ever have.

“And she knows we would never do anything to hurt you. Leave her alone when you see her next.” He raised his eyebrow, hinting that he knew.

Knew about the wedding.

He’d been invited to a wedding that I had absolutely no idea about. Who else had she invited? Goddammit, I really better call her before she invited all of Paris.

Frederick clapped his hands together, reclining into the black couch. “So, as nice as it is to see you, Mercer, I’m taking this isn’t just a pop in. You want something.”

Tess looked to me, her eyes wide with curiosity.

I smiled, loving the thrill of anticipation. I couldn’t wait for her reaction when I told her what we were here for.

“There’s a file in your cabinet under my personal record. Can you get it?” I asked, looking Frederick straight in the eye.

He frowned, trying to work it out. The funny thing was—he knew. He’d watched me write it.

Hauling himself upright, he traversed the office before unlocking one of the filing cabinets and pulling out my particular portfolio. It was empty but for one piece of paper.

Everything of importance I kept on encrypted hard drives and in a safe hidden at my chateau. But this—I needed a witness to make this legitimate.

Cracking open the file, his eyes flew to mine. Clearing his throat, he asked, “You sure about this?”

I locked my fingers together, focusing on the rush of blood rather than snapping at him. Ridiculous question. I wouldn’t deem it with an answer.

Frederick nodded slightly, grabbed a pen from his desk, and came to sit back down.

Tess scooted forward as Roux placed the file on the small table between us, spinning it around to face her. He smiled, holding out the pen. “You’re up.

“Have a read, and if you’re okay with it, sign away.”

I rolled my shoulders, dispelling some of the rapidly building tension in my spine. Tess vibrated with questions mixed with apprehension.

Frederick never took his gaze off her as she reached for the file. Asking me, he muttered, “Do you think it’s a good idea... after all, the current market is rather... volatile.”

Tess froze. Her eyes snapped up. “Volatile?” Looking to me, she added, “What’s going on? Do I even want to know what’s in here?”

~Yes, you damn well do because then you can get over my wealth because it won’t just be~ mine~ anymore.~

I glared at Roux, before glancing her way. “Yes. Frederick is only aware that if you sign it, you share equal risk.

“If the business crashed tomorrow you would be held accountable, same as me, for any debts payable.

“But I have no debts outweighing my assets, and it isn’t going to crash tomorrow, so there’s no fucking risk to worry about.” Grabbing the edge of the folder, I opened it.

“Stop delaying and read the damn thing.”

Tess flat-out ignored me. Planting a hand over the writing on the page, she asked Roux, “Tell me. Did you mean that or something else? I think I have a right to know.”

Goddammit, why was everything so hard with her when it came to money?

I leaned back, seething in the chair. My arms crossed; I wished I’d gone with my other idea of forging her signature and never showing her the damn will.

I’d been so close to doing it, but Frederick talked me out of it. Bastard.

Roux placed his hands on his thighs, thinking through his answer carefully. As he should. Because he was a bastard.

“Q’s right about the debt. But I’m not worried about~ Moineau~ Holdings going under. That won’t happen. It just can’t—not with the strength of the company.

“What I am—not so much concerned about but definitely interested in seeing future projections—is a new side of the company that is brand new last week.”

I rolled my eyes. This was the part where Roux made me sound like some Mother fucking Theresa and for Tess to fawn all over me. I didn’t mind the fawning, but it wasn’t like the newspapers portrayed.

It wasn’t at all like they said.

I got my hands dirty. I put motherfuckers in the ground where they belonged not turned them into a law enforcement that was almost as corrupt as they were.

“What new part?”

Frederick grinned. “Well, ever since Q tore off his mask and flew out of his birdcage—get it?” He waved his hand, chuckling at his own joke. “People know what hobbies Mercer is into.

“They’re aware of some, not all, of the details of what he did to get you back.” His eyes flickered to mine.

I wanted to clamp a hand over his mouth, but I looked away, effectively giving him permission to continue. “Q’s contact at the local police force spoke to the press.”

I growled at that. I’d sworn him to secrecy for over ten years, and now he’d fed me to the paparazzi.

Frederick pointed a finger in my direction. “You know he had no choice.

“He stood up for you when people were painting false accusations.” Looking to Tess, he finished, “Anyway, the company has undergone some changes, and we’re still not sure where those changes will lead us.”

Tess breathed hard, tucking a riot of curls behind her ears with a rapid twitch. “What changes?”

Roux met my eyes. “Care to jump in and explain, Mercer? After all, it’s your fledging.”

I scowled. I didn’t want to hear what I already knew, and I had no desire to talk about it either—even though I was secretly pleased and rather honored how the news had gone down with the world.

~You want her to inherit everything. It’s only fair she knows exactly what she’s accepting.~

I sighed, unlocking my arms to sit forward. “You’re doing such a good job. Finish it.”

Frederick nodded. “Fine. Well, the bad news is, the company lost its backing from over forty-eight percent of its regular investors.

“Overnight they cut association with all subsidiaries of~ Moineau ~when they heard the news Q accepted sex slaves as bribes to finalize developments.

“There was an uproar when they heard he not only accepted them as bribes, but kept them in his home.”

Tess gasped, a hand flying to cover her mouth. “Oh, my God.”

Frederick sighed, enjoying the theatrics of telling a sordid tale. “I know. Terrible. Death threats were sent, a few properties were defaced, and we prepared for the end of Mercer’s empire.”

I rolled my eyes. He made it sound like the apocalypse. None of that mattered. It was superficial at worst. Even disgusting rumors couldn’t hurt us in the long run.

Tess wrapped her arms around her waist, leaning forward. “This is awful. Can’t someone explain?”

Roux held up his hand, his blue eyes grave and bleak. “Then the rumors started flying that Mercer used them for his pleasure.

“That he killed them once he’d finished—seeing as no one ever saw a harem of women running around his estate. And believe me. They searched.

“Local villagers spread filthy lies about Q inheriting more than just ~Moineau ~Holdings but also his father’s side business as well.”

At that my stomach knotted into a trillion pains. Fucking people saying I was like him. It didn’t matter they were lies. It still tarred me with the same brush.

Still made me seem like the monster I never wanted to be.

“But that’s not true!” Tess cried.

Frederick pursed his lips. “International law enforcement got involved; they seized most of our files—not that they’ll find any wrongdoings there. We’re pristine in every area of the business.”

I snorted. Yes, everywhere apart from my red binder full of sadistic sons of bitches, bribes, dates, and names of the girls I’d taken as payment for buildings constructed on their behalf.

I’d broken the law by dealing with criminals, but in a business point of view, we’d done nothing wrong. I delivered a service for a transaction rendered.

It didn’t matter I used a barter system of women rather than capital.

Tess twisted her fingers. “Someone has to sue them for slander, surely. How can they say such a thing?”

Frederick held up his hand, a smile tugging his mouth. “But then other villagers stepped forward claiming Q was nothing like his predecessor, and they had it all wrong.

“Local doctors broke their Hippocratic Oath to stand up for Q, explaining his outstanding care of the women who’d been broken by bastards.

“And that’s when the local police chief came forward and spilled the truth.

“No names, but an approximate tally of all the women Q saved, along with an estimate on the dollar value of what he’d spent repairing what others had broken.”

Tess swiveled to face me, her eyes glowing with unshed tears. She looked at me as if I were some celebrity or even worse…a god. I wasn’t. She ~knew~ that.

Shit, I’d fucked her like a beast possessed only a few hours ago. She knew me better than anyone at how close to home those first rumors were.

Frederick muttered low, purely for my ears. “Thanks to them, they saved your business, but no thanks to them, they’ve taken—”

“Enough, Roux.” My eyes narrowed, warning. Tess didn’t need to know the other rumors. The ones whispering in the dark alleys of misery. ~They’re coming.~ And there was nothing I could do to stop it.

Tess went white. “So…what happened?”

Roux fell silent, waiting for me to answer. None of this was interesting. It was a waste of time. A waste of precious fucking time where I could be kidnapping her somewhere else.

Time.

The traitorous bitch was once again working against me. In more ways than one.

My heart hammered. “Nothing until ~someone~”—and if I ever found out whom, I’d shoot them—“told a tale of how a woman I’d saved from traffickers in Mexico fell in love with me.

“They spun a ridiculous love story of a man berserk with terror when those same bastards came back for her to teach him a lesson.”

The tears in Tess’s eyes broke the confines of her lashes, trickling down her cheeks. My heart physically hurt at the love beaming from her—it was tangible, heating, hugging me.

“Online tabloids and international magazines spread the story like wildfire—embellishing, editing, but ultimately getting it surprisingly right.

“And when the news got out I’d found you but you were almost irreparable—well, that’s when the phones started ringing for an entirely different reason.”

Tess didn’t say a word, blinking in shock. My headache grew as stress layered my system. I didn’t want to talk about this.

I’d deliberately kept it from her—I refused to let myself think about it as it made me feel…I didn’t fucking know. Humbled. Honored. ~Amazed.~

I felt loved by more people than I’d ever met, and after a lifetime of never being cared for, I had no idea how to deal with it.

“So what happened?” Tess prompted.

I laughed softly, unable to believe what the future of my company—my ~father’s~ company—faced. “Being heralded as a savior didn’t exactly ruin my image.

“It didn’t matter people were calling me sick and so entrenched in the underworld they couldn’t believe a word of truth.

“There were more people who believed in the good than the bad, and it’s been used to my advantage.” Taking her hand, I pulled her toward me. My muscles shuddered as her warm weight rested along mine.

Her hair tussled over her shoulders; smudges of sleeplessness marked under her eyes. “You’re going to be the face of the new ~Moineau~, Tess. Be prepared.”

Her lips parted. “Wait…how?”

Frederick jumped in.

“The forty-eight percent of investors we’d lost were rapidly replaced with smaller donations, lesser scale projects, and a ~lot~ of interest to join Q’s crusade against trafficking.”

Tess turned in my arms, annoyance shining on her face. “Why didn’t you tell me any of this?”

“That’s not all,” Frederick continued. “His good deeds will be recognized by the prime minister himself. Q’s business no longer deals with the filth of the world in order to save the innocent.

“Rather, he is now supported by organizations who will fight against that filth by pooling resources and authorities Q didn’t have on his own.”

My heart thudded, sending heated blood through my veins at the thought of all the extra women I’d be able to save but never see. All the sorrow I could fix; all the families I could reunite.

My company had branched out. Property and slaves. Who knew there would ever be a correlation.

Frederick beamed, his blue eyes practically blazing like daytime stars with happiness. “~Moineau~ Holdings is no longer just a property empire.

“In fact, half of the company’s equity has been channeled into a new venture under the ~Moineau~ umbrella.”

Tess froze beside me, holding her breath.

“The latest enterprise is called Feathers of Hope, and we’ve donated exactly half of all ~Moineau~’s proceeds to fund the worthy cause.”

Tess looked between the two of us, the file on her lap completely forgotten. “What does it do?”

Roux answered, “Feathers of Hope provides homes, rehabilitation, and therapy for all the women involved in the sex slave industry.

“It also backs private law enforcement along with larger firms in order to shut down slavery rings and prosecute men responsible.”

Tess started to quake. I cinched her harder against me, hating the onset of shock. Fuck, it hadn’t been my intention to make her panic.

This is why I wanted to keep it simple and not drag her into everything. She’d probably have a heart attack to know how many people wanted to meet her.

Interviews were turned down every day for her exclusive story of survival.

I smiled. It was her face people wanted on the Feathers of Hope logo—not the two feathers linked together with a red bow that we had now.

She’d be immersed in my company—whether she wanted to be or not. It was just a matter of time.

Time I might not have.

Goddammit, I promised myself I wouldn’t think about it. Roux had no right to remind me—especially in front of Tess.

Tess looked up, her face whiter than a ghost. “You’re a hero. ~My~ hero. Their hero. My God, Q—”

I snarled, hating the word. “No, ~esclave~, I’m not. I’m making up for the sins of my past.

“The sins of my father and all the fucking bastards I’ve had to deal with in order to free a small fraction of women. I’ve so many things to pay for, including my own sick perversions.”

And nothing made up for those sins more than handing over the red folder with every sick fuck who’d raped and traded women.

Tess’s fingers suddenly clutched my shirt. “Wait...are you safe?” Her eyes flew to Roux, her muscles locking with panic. “Please tell me he’s not painting a bull’s eye on his back by doing this?”

Shit. Why the hell did she have to ask that damn question? I’d deliberately kept her from TV broadcasts and webpages unfolding the latest allegations and threats on my life.

Most of them were false—I was still alive after all.

But some...some were real.

Frederick laced his fingers together, placing them in his lap. “That’s not for me to discuss.” He gave me a pointed glare.

“But rest assured he has a legion of supporters and an army of people willing to protect him.”

An army could only do so much against determined murderers. It was all up to me in the end. And I had a plan.

Tess spasmed in my arms; her skin went frigid with fear.

“Before, when he operated on his own, he was in worse danger. Pretending to be a devil among devils would’ve always ended badly,” Roux said, noticing Tess’s anxiety.

I didn’t have the heart to tell him I never had to pretend. I just shed my humanity and allowed myself to be free. I fell into the role of master looking to purchase a slave.

I might never have touched one, but it hadn’t stopped my mind from conjuring depraved acts I would never speak about.

As sick as it was—I would miss that part. Miss stepping into the dark.

I would miss being dangerous and walking amongst the blackness of the world, rubbing shoulders with men who were so like me—men I belonged with but would never let myself be a part of.

Living in the light was fucking hard. But it was the sacrifice I paid to keep my sanity. I had no choice but to embrace the sun and leave my darkness behind.

~Enough talking.~

“Read the file, Tess. I won’t ask again.”

I was done talking about this. I wanted to leave, and we couldn’t until the matter of signing in front of a witness was complete.

Roux cleared his throat. “Um, I know you’re going to bite my head off, but it’s my job as your business partner to ask.”

Tess looked at the paper.

I ground my teeth. “I know what you’re going to say, and no it’s not your job as my business partner—or friend. So drop it.”

Tess held up the pen, sitting straighter. “Wait—tell me.”

Oh, for fuck’s sake.

Frederick rolled his shoulders, chagrin loud and clear in his body language. “It’s nothing against you, Tess. I’m just looking out for a friend. Don’t take it personally.” His eyes zeroed on me.

“So—you’re sure?”

I shoved Tess away, ready to stand up and show him just how sure I was. Tess tugged on my hand, keeping me seated. It took everything I had to stay in control. “Did you and Angelique sign a prenup?”

Tess relaxed. “Ah. I get it. I’ll gladly sign one—it’s no issue, really.”

Frederick smiled at her.

I swore, “You’re not fucking signing one. End of story.” Shoving a finger in my supposed friend’s face, I growled, “Answer me, Roux.”

His cheeks flushed as he ran a hand through his hair. “Well no, but only because we met in high school around the same time I met you. I was penniless before you asked me to come work for you.

“I never had the wealth you do—even now when you’ve been totally generous.”

Memories flickered of his friendship through those awful days with a drunkard for a mother and an asshole for a father.

He’d been the only one who I let get close, and only once my mother died and I shot my father. I still remembered the afternoon he met Angelique. In a way—I was responsible for that, too.

Shaking my head, I scattered the memories. “You could’ve had one drawn up. What stopped you?”

Frederick stiffened, anger creeping up his neck. “My love and trust in my wife stopped me.” He flung his hands up. “Fine. I get your point.”

Smiling at Tess, he softened his voice. “Sorry. My mistake.” Motioning to the unread paper, he said, “Read it. It won’t bite.”

Tess laughed nervously. “Are you sure about that?” Risking a look at me, she added, “If the paper doesn’t—Q might.”

Roux laughed, slapping his thigh as if it was the funniest fucking thing he’d ever heard. Bastard.

I growled, tearing the paper out of Tess’s fingers and shoving it in her face. “Read. It. Now.” Plucking the pen from her slack hand, I added, “Then you sign and we’re gone.

“We’ve been here long enough as it is.”

~I want out of France~. The temptation to return to ~Volière~ was strong—at least there we might be safe.

Tess threw me a look, her eyes glinting. Ripping the page from my grip, her gaze settled on the waxy seal at the top.

Decorated with my logo of a sparrow flying over skyscrapers, she skated down to the small but extremely life-altering paragraph.

~Quincy Mercer II hereby agrees that all his wealthy possessions, fortune, investments, and all goodwill are henceforth owned jointly by Ms. Tess Snow soon to become Tess Mercer.

Upon his death, Tess will be the sole recipient of Mr. Mercer’s fortune and any living heirs they might have.~

The moment I knew she’d read it, I stole it again and slammed it on the table.

Tess said something incomprehensible, trying to steal it back, but it was too late. Uncapping the pen, I scrawled my autograph onto the parchment and held it out to her.

My heart swelled with knowledge she would be forever protected, looked after, and kept healthy by all things money could afford.

Even if I wasn’t around.

“Sign it, ~esclave~.”

She shook her head, eyeing the paper as if it had herpes. “I can’t…let me think for a moment.”

Too bad. I wasn’t a patient man.

Capturing her wrist, I shoved the pen into her right hand and jerked her forward to place the nib against the paper. “I’m not letting go until you sign.”

“Mercer,” Frederick muttered.

I threw him a look; he wisely shut the fuck up.

Tess bit her lip but hesitantly obeyed. Her penmanship was compromised by my grip, but I didn’t care.

The moment she finished the little flourish at the end of her name, a weight lifted off my shoulders. One more way she was joined to me for life. One more way she’d proven she was mine.

One more way I could make sure she was always cared for regardless of my future.

I loved my wealth for one thing only: to save women. And now it had saved the most important woman of my fucking life.

Her.

Always her.

Eternally her.

I tossed the paper at Frederick. “File it with the lawyers. We’re leaving.” Reaching down to hoist Tess to her feet, she whispered, “Q…how much…how much did you just sign over to me?”

Ah, the moment she’d find out the truth and know she could no longer hate my fortune because it was hers.

A shot of jittery happiness erupted down my spine. ~Get ready, Tess. I’m going to love watching this sink in~. No more running from it. No more pretending her life hadn’t changed forever.

Not removing my eyes from hers, I demanded, “How much, Roux? The joint owner in ~Moineau Holdings wishes to know.”

Tess shuddered as Frederick came close, patting her on the shoulder. His eyes were gentle, understanding—from one person who’d had no wealth to another.

“You’ve just inherited nine billion, seven hundred thousand euros, as of this morning. But that figure is growing daily.”

Tess promptly fainted.