by Sarah Bailey
“Kiss me, Avery,” I whispered before I pressed my lips to hers again.
I held her face in place when she tried to turn away.
“Kiss me.”
“No, stop it. I don’t want this.”
“You do. You want me even though I’ve hurt you. Let me take away the pain.”
She shook her head, more tears spilling from her doe eyes.
“Stop it, Aiden.”
“Kiss me.”
I pressed my mouth to hers and she did. She kissed me like she was drowning. Her hands threaded in my hair. Her tongue curled around mine, fighting against me for dominance. I wouldn’t fucking let her take control. She was mine. I owned her.
I pressed her legs open, settling between them. She ground against me, causing lust to flood my veins. Fuck. I needed to have her. She moaned against my mouth when I cupped her breast, my thumb running over her nipple. I tugged up her t-shirt, needing her skin on mine. I released her mouth so I could pull it over her head. Her hazel brown doe eyes stared back at me with desire and pain.
I unhooked her bra and threw it halfway across the room before I bit down on her nipple. She arched up against me, crying out. Fuck. Such fucking perfect tits. Her fingers went to my t-shirt and I let her take it off me. She dug her nails into my chest, scraping them down my skin. Fuck. She knew that made me crazy.
“I hate you,” she whispered.
“I know you do.”
I claimed her mouth again and she dug her nails in my back, holding me closer. I tugged at her jeans, unbuttoning them before I tore them off her legs. I didn’t even bother taking her underwear off. I ripped it in half, desperate to see her naked beneath me. Fuck. She was so beautiful. So stunning. And I needed in her.
I unbuttoned my own jeans and struggled out of them, freeing my cock from my boxers the next moment. I pressed her legs open and lined myself up against her opening.
“Do you want this, Avery? Do you want my cock?”
“Yes. I want you even though I hate the sight of you right now.”
That was enough for me. I pressed inside, feeling her heat encase me inch by inch. Our mouths crashed together again. I pinned her to the floor, thrusting into her without any sort of gentleness or mercy. I made her take all of my cock and she whimpered in my mouth. Fuck. She was so wet. Even when she was angry and hurt, her body responded to mine. Something she could never hide and neither could I. Couldn’t hide my need for her. The need to own her. Possess her. To make her understand she’d be mine forever.
“Are you still mine?”
“Yes, I’m still yours. I’ll always be yours,” she whispered. “Please, fuck me. I need you so much.”
I thrust harder. She cried out. Her nails dug into my back. Fuck. She felt so fucking sweet. So fucking tight. I could feel the anger and desire radiating off her. The hurt. The pain. So I fucked her because it’s what we both needed. Two lost souls drowning in each other. That’s exactly what Avery and I were.
And I’d just fucked everything up between us.
“Aiden, fuck, please. More, give me more.”
I gripped her hips, grinding into her harder, faster. Fuck. Too perfect. She was much too perfect for me. Her body fit mine like it was made for me.
“Only me, Avery. You’ll only ever want me for the rest of your life. My cock in you. My mouth on you. Me. The only fucking one who gives you what you need.”
“I’m yours. Aiden… My heart is yours.”
I almost fucking stopped in my tracks, but I was so hell-bent on driving us to an explosive climax. Had I fucking heard her right? Who fucking knew because the next moment, she screamed. Her pussy fucking clenched around my cock so hard, it almost hurt. I couldn’t hold back. Grunting in her ear, I came too, my cock pulsating and spurting wildly inside her.
We lay there in a sweaty mess together. I couldn’t get up. I knew as soon as I did, she’d bolt. She’d run from me. So I kept her there instead. I kissed her and she cried.
“Please don’t do what I know you’re going to,” I whispered.
“I have to. You’ve hurt me too much.”
I knew I had. She could only stand so much pain. I’d already given her too much. By telling her the truth about her family. By wanting her. Needing her. Caring for her. All I’d done was cause her pain even though I’d brought her so much fucking pleasure too.
“Don’t break your promise.”
She let out a rasping sob. Her hands met my chest and she pushed me.
“Let me go, Aiden. Please.”
“No.”
“Please.”
How the fuck could I keep saying no when she begged me like that? I felt like I was fucking dying inside. This type of pain was unwelcome.
“I don’t want you to leave me.”
“You don’t have a choice.”
She was right. I moved, letting her get out from underneath me. She left the room, her chest heaving with every step. And mine fucking burnt. I pulled my boxers and jeans back up, not bothering with my t-shirt. I sat against the wall, running my hands through my hair. Fuck. Everything was utterly fucked.
I had no idea how long it was before she came back. She was dressed. Her shoes were on and a coat and scarf.
“I don’t want to do this, but I have to, Aiden. I can’t do what you want me to. It’s better this way.”
I stared at her. Her eyes were bloodshot and her face still wet with tears.
“How is it better, Avery? How is us being apart better?”
“It’s better for me because you can’t hurt me if I’m not with you.”
As if her words couldn’t fucking kill me any further, those just about tore my fucking heart to pieces. The stupid fucking useless piece of shit organ I wanted to forget. But she’d made me remember. She’d made me feel and now those feelings threatened to destroy me entirely.
I got up off the floor and strode over to her, taking her face in my hands.
“Don’t leave me. You promised.”
“You’ve made me break it, Aiden. This isn’t my fault. It’s yours. You broke us.”
“Let me fix it.”
“You can’t. You can’t just kiss me and fuck me and expect it go away. It doesn’t work like that. You’ve never let me in. That’s the problem. You expect me to just obey you and do everything you want. I can’t do what you’re asking. You have to find another way. But I know you won’t. You’re leaving me with no choice. I have to go because if I don’t, then you’ll destroy this entirely. You’ll ruin me.”
She took my hands from her face and placed them by my sides. Rising up on her tiptoes, she kissed me. She was fucking leaving me on Christmas Day. The one fucking day I promised myself I’d give her without there being any shit between us.
I’d broken everything.
She was right.
I broke us.
And I really fucking died inside.
She wrapped her arms around my neck and brought her lips to my ear.
“I’m sorry. Please believe me when I tell you I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to leave you. The stupid fucked up part about all of this is I thought I’d found the one person in this world who made me feel complete. I thought we’d get through everything. I believed in you. I trusted you. And the stupid girl I am fell in love with you. I love you. I love you so much it hurts.”
She let go, not meeting my eyes.
“Goodbye, Aiden.”
And then she fucking walked away. My heart fractured entirely. She loved me. Avery loved me. I couldn’t comprehend it. Why the hell would a girl like her fall in love with a man like me?
I wanted to chase after her, but my feet stayed stuck to the floor.
She opened the front door of my flat and walked out, not looking back at me.
And I fucking let her go.
This hurt worse than anything I’d ever experienced before. Not even that fateful day my whole world fell apart compared. I
thought it was my worst fucking memory. I was wrong. So fucking wrong.
~~~
“Mummy? Wake up, Mummy.”
I shook her. Her eyes were glazed over. Blood poured out of her neck sluggishly.
“Please, please wake up.”
Blood everywhere. Covering her clothes and seeping into the rug. Blood that now coated my hands. I lay my head on her chest, holding her in my small arms.
“I love you. I love you. Please don’t leave me, Mummy, please.”
In the back of my mind, I knew she was dead, but I didn’t want to believe it. I couldn’t cope. How could my mother be gone? I cradled her to me for the longest time, humming the lullaby she always used to sing to me. Rock-a-bye baby. Stupid really. I wasn’t a baby any longer. But I wasn’t a man either. I was just a kid. A kid who’d lost his mother.
“Aiden? Lizzie?” I heard Tina’s voice.
I couldn’t move. All I wanted was my mother back. I heard the gasp as her footsteps stopped next to me.
“Oh my god, Aiden? Are you…?”
“Hello, Tina. Mummy has gone to heaven. I tried to wake her up, but she won’t. She’s gone.”
She gently pulled me away from my mother. She looked down at the body between us. Another gasp caught in her throat.
“Oh god. Oh god.”
“She’s dead, isn’t she?”
Tina looked at me.
“I’m sorry, Aiden. I’m so sorry I wasn’t here.”
Her eyes reflected my own pain. Shaking herself, she put a hand out to me.
“You’re covered in blood, Aiden. I think we should get you cleaned up, okay?”
I nodded, placing my hand in hers. She led me into the bathroom and ordered me to strip. Turning on the shower, she pointed at it.
“Make sure to wash thoroughly, okay? I will deal with this. I’m sorry, Aiden. I’m so sorry you had to see her like that.”
I didn’t respond. I got in the shower and did what she asked of me. I made sure to wash away all the blood coating my skin. When I got out, the bloody clothes were missing. I went into my bedroom and put some clean ones on.
Tina was in the kitchen on the phone when I walked in.
“Look, you get over here and deal with it… I don’t care… Yes. I’ve kept him away. He hasn’t seen her… I really don’t care how it happened or why he did it. Unless you want me to phone the police and report her murder, then I suggest you clean up his mess… Of course, I know it was him. Who else would it have been?”
Tina looked up at me, her expression grave.
“Good. I’m taking him and you aren’t going to stop me. Understood?”
She hung up a moment later, giving me a tight smile.
“Aiden, honey, go put your coat and shoes on.”
I nodded.
It was just me and Tina now.
My mother was dead.
And whoever killed her was going to meet the same fate one day.
~~~
I dropped to my knees and did something I hadn’t done in a very long time. I cried. Tears ran down my face. Fuck. My heart hurt. It physically hurt.
Avery.
What the fuck did I do to you?
What the fuck did I do to us?
I could hardly breathe.
Pain.
So much fucking pain.
I hated how she made me feel.
I hated myself.
I hated everything.
Avery… I’m in love with you too.
Acknowledgements
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this book. This has been quite the journey. Writing in a completely different genre has been a challenge for me as my previous published works have been paranormal romance. This book came about after reading a lot of dark romance books and deciding I really wanted to follow in some of those author’s footsteps. I didn’t have any intention of writing a new series whilst still in the midst of writing my After Dark series, but Avery and Aiden came along and demanded I write them.
It all started with a single question – what would happen if you fell in love with the man who murdered your parents? I didn’t really know going in how their story would end up as I’m not the type of writer who plans anything. I just started writing and the words flowed and flowed until I ended up with Betrayal. I knew at this point their story wasn’t finished, which is why they have two further books on the way. Writing these two has been an absolute joy. I really hope you all love these characters as much as I do.
Thank you to Sabrina for being my sounding board and encouraging me to write this story. You’re my best friend and number one fan. I couldn’t ask for anything more. I very much doubt this book would even be in existence without you since you’re the one who recommended I start reading dark romances. And yes, I fully respect your claim on Aiden as your book boyfriend for life.
Huge thank you to Thunder Team Alpha Force - Sean, Katie, Gil, Corry, Kenny, Jordan and Paul. Your support is invaluable. You all make me laugh every single day. Having you in my life is an absolute blessing.
Thank you to everyone who supports and follows me on Twitter. You guys are the best. The writing community has changed my life. I had no idea there was such a huge support network out there until I joined up. And I can never forget you gave me #TTAF!
Thank you to my family, friends and everyone who supports me in my writing endeavours. I value each and every one of you. Especially my mum who proofreads all my books for me. I’ve long since got over the embarrassment of having her read the steamy bits.
And last, but not least, I have to thank my husband. He’s made it possible for me to pursue my dreams to be a writer. I love you to the moon and back!
Sacrifice
Corrupt Empire
Book Two
Sarah Bailey
Sacrifice Copyright © 2019 by Sarah Bailey
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Please note the spelling throughout is British English.
Cover Art by V Designs
Published by Twisted Tree Publications
www.twistedtreepublications.com
[email protected]
This book is dedicated to Matthew Burroughs
You’re an awesome reviewer and advocate of authors
Thank you for being you
You can find Matt on Twitter at @MJBurroughs
He won my competition to have Sacrifice dedicated to him
This one is for you!
Prologue
Avery
My heels clicked against the marble floor. The receptionist looked up at me, eyes going wide, but I ignored her. She knew who I was. Everyone knew my face. They just hadn’t seen it around here since I went missing.
“Miss… Miss Daniels?”
I pressed the button for the lift.
“Miss Daniels?”
It dinged just as she came out from behind her desk. I smiled at her before getting in. I hit the button for the top floor. She hurried over to the lift.
“Don’t tell him I’m coming,” I said.
Her face was a picture of bewilderment as the doors closed in her face. Fifty floors later, I stepped out of the lift. I walked along the hallway, my footsteps muffled by the carpet. Arriving at the secretary’s desk, she looked up.
“Hello, how can I… Oh my god,” Clara said.
“Hello Clara. Is anyone in with him?”
She shook her head slowly.
“Good.”
I walked towards the door to his office.
“Miss Daniels…?”
“It’ll be fine, don’t worry. Just don’t let anyone disturb us.”
I opened the office door and walked in. He stood by the window, looking out at the skyline with his hand glued to his ear.
“Yes… Yes… No, I understand… Well, just get it to me by next week. Right… Okay.”
He clearly hadn’t heard me come in.
“Yes… No… Okay, speak soon.”
He let out a long sigh, his shoulders drooping.
“Fuck.”
I took further steps into the room. His back stiffened, but I spoke before he could turn around.
“Hello Uncle Charlie.”
Chapter One
Avery
I slid down his front door, unable to go any further. My heart broke a thousand times over. I’d walked out on him. I’d walked out on the man I loved without a backwards glance and it killed me. I felt dead inside.
Aiden.
He’d successfully ripped out my soul and stamped all over it. I had no idea what I was doing or where I was going. I just knew I couldn’t stay there with him. Not after what he said.
Stupid girl. Stupid, stupid girl.
Idiotic enough to believe he ever had my best interests at heart. He only had one goal. Destroy my family. And apparently, take down Frazier Shaw and his business in the process. Aiden wanted to dismantle it all. Use everything at his disposal. Including me.
Me.
The girl he professed to care about.
He had a fucking shitty way of showing it. How could he think I would ever say yes? He was fucking crazy.
But he’s the fucking crazy guy you’re in love with.