by Geneva Lee
“Not after I kill you.” I felt no emotion as I said it, just a serene blankness.
“Unnecessary, but it may as well be you. Death seems kinder coming from a familiar face. That's why I'm here and not at home, you know. They want it this way. You didn’t come of your own volition, Smith. You were moved into place. Don’t you see that you’re still a pawn in their game?”
He’d had most of the bottle now, which accounted for how little sense he was making. “It won’t be kind, Hammond.”
“I suppose it never is.” He raised his glass. “A toast to our freedom.”
But I didn’t raise mine. I would have a drink with him, but there would be no celebration between the two of us. “You could have liberated yourself a long time ago.”
“Don’t be stupid. If you thought this ended with me, then…”
But he trailed away at a knock on the door.
“Expecting company?” I asked him coolly.
“All the ghosts of Christmas owe me a visit today.”
There would be no escaping consequences now. If I opened that door, I might lose my chance at catching him alone. I tugged my gloves, securing them more tightly. Not that it mattered. Too many people knew where I had gone; even Alexander couldn’t cover this up for me. The press would be all over the story as soon as it broke, and undoubtedly the House of Commons would be more fanatical in their pursuit of Hammond’s killer than they were of him.
In the end, I didn’t have to make a choice. The door opened, and Belle stepped inside. It took a moment to process that she was here. I’d spent the last hour trapped with Hammond in my past, and my future had just walked through the door. In the dimly lit room, her hair glowed, making it seem as if an angel had descended to save me from the darkness. But this was one hell I couldn’t escape—not until its gatekeeper was dead.
Her bright eyes flickered to my hands, widening when she saw my leather gloves. If she’d had any doubt about what I was doing here, she didn’t now. “You don’t have to do this.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, beautiful,” I said softly, sadness filtering into my blood. I wished there was another way to protect her, but there wasn’t. “You should leave.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” She planted her hands on her hips and stared me down. “Whatever you’re planning, I'm part of it, too. I suppose it's not worth it to kill in order to protect me if I end up in jail, too.” She pressed her lips into a thin line that dared me to challenge her on this.
“If I might interrupt,” Hammond said.
For a moment I’d forgotten all about him.
“I don’t really give a damn what you have to say,” Belle told him. “I’m not here to save your life. I’m here to save his.”
“You really chose an exceptional woman,” he said to me.
An exceptionally headstrong one. How she’d managed to stay out of trouble before we met was beyond me.
“Could you shut up?” she snapped.
I probably should have set Belle on him months ago. He would never have stood a chance against her.
She crossed the room and dropped to my side. Reaching into her pocket, she withdrew a small object and set it on the desk.
The copper bullet.
All our eyes focused in on it.
“I found that in your trousers,” she whispered. “I knew why you had it.”
It had been a symbol. Nothing more. In our haste to leave Stuart Hall, I’d left behind the hunting rifle. But I’d kept the bullet—as a reminder that I’d made my choice.
“Do you know what that means to me?” I asked her. “It was a decision I made, to leave Stuart Hall and find Hammond.”
I had no doubt she could fill in the rest of my plan.
“It’s not that simple, Price. Wouldn’t it be easier if it was?”
But it was that simple. “I would commit any crime to secure your safety. That’s my choice.”
“And you think I wouldn’t do the same?” She grabbed my hands, squeezing them. “If you’re in, I am, too.”
“No.” I closed my eyes and wrenched my hands from her grasp. Protecting her wasn’t just a matter of security, it was about keeping her pure. In my world of sin, she’d been the only innocent person in my life. I refused to compromise that.
“You have a choice,” she reminded me, “and so do I. We can walk away from here. We can leave, go to New York or Paris or Minnesota.”
I crooked an eyebrow, smiling despite myself. “Have you ever been to Minnesota?”
“Focus,” she commanded with a sigh. “You forgot about that bullet. Have you even looked for it?”
I hadn’t, but it hardly proved anything. I’d chosen to believe that Hammond was actually going to pay for his crimes. Now I knew that wasn’t the case. She was right. I hadn’t gone looking for the bullet because I needed nothing more than my own two hands to end his life.
“You changed, Smith, and no matter what he’s done, you deserve more than being pulled back into his world.”
I glanced up, meeting Hammond’s gaze.
“Listen to her. You have a conscience. You have something to live for. Don’t throw that away,” he advised.
“You are the last person I’m interested in hearing from.” He would say anything to survive. After all, it was what he’d always done.
“And I’m the first,” Belle said, gently calling my attention back to her. “At least, I better be.”
“You are,” I assured her, grinning.
“Then stop letting him have a say in our lives,” she pled.
I stroked her pale cheek, torn between the man I wanted to be and the man I needed to be. “I’m not sure what I need or what I want.”
“Me.”
“Cocky,” I accused as I picked the bullet up from the desk and shoved it into my pocket.
“Killing him is choosing him, not me.” Her throat slid as she stood up. She stared down at me wordlessly and then headed toward the office door.
Him or her—that wasn’t even a choice.
The door clicked shut behind her and neither Hammond nor I spoke. After a moment, I got up and walked across the room.
“You’re making the right choice,” Hammond called after me. “You’ll understand that soon.”
But I didn’t care what he thought. The chill of the night air stung as wind whipped across my face. Belle was standing at the end of the street, staring at me. She didn’t move as I strode toward her, increasing my pace until I was running. Catching her in my arms, I swung her around before I lowered her back to the ground.
“You. I choose you,” I told her as the first snow began to fall, coating the world like a soft, wintery baptism.
We’d chosen each other.
Chapter 26
We spent the next morning eating toast and jam in bed. After the last few weeks, all I needed was a proper lie-in with my wife, and after last night, I needed the rest. She hadn't told me she was ready to try again, but we’d already begun to practice. If anyone deserved a Christmas miracle, it was us.
Around midday, Belle crawled out of bed and returned fully dressed. “We should do something.”
“I couldn’t agree more, beautiful, but I don’t think we need clothes for what I have in mind.” Tossing off the sheets, I stroked my dick in invitation.
“Outside the house,” she said dryly.
“Sex in public.” I shrugged. “Works for me.”
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re a sex fiend?”
I shot her a crooked smile. “Coming from you, that’s a compliment.”
“Get dressed,” she demanded.
“A month of marriage and you’re already immune to my best panty-dropping grin.” I shook my head as I pushed myself out of bed. “I guess the honeymoon is over.”
“It’s just beginning,” she promised, darting out of the room before I could drag her ass back into bed, “and if you need incentive, I didn’t bother with knickers.”
“That’s not incenti
ve,” I called after her. “That’s meeting expectations.”
Walking into the closet, I stared at the suits hanging neatly on the racks. After a moment, I bypassed them and pulled a pair of jeans out of a drawer. Grabbing a button-down, I threw on the clothes. Later I would strip off her clothes and make her join me in the shower, where I could punish her for making me skip one now. My dick perked up at the thought of lathering up her perfect ass and spanking it until it glowed.
“Where are you taking me?” I asked as I joined her downstairs.
“I have a very dangerous mission for you,” she murmured, nuzzling my jaw. “After-holidays sales.”
I smirked at the idea. “Beautiful, you don’t have to bargain shop.”
“You are recently unemployed,” she reminded me.
“Did I forget to mention that I really don’t need to work another day in my life and I can still support your Louboutin habit?”
“Wrong answer.” She shook her head. “You do have to work, because Bless is going to need legal counsel.”
“I’ll have to take a look at the benefits package before I commit.” I ran a hand over her backside before giving it a quick smack.
“I think you’ll find it’s very…” She shifted, allowing her hands to drop to my benefits package. “Competitive.”
I had no doubt I would. “I’d be happy to look over that now.”
I didn’t wait for her to respond before I’d thrown her over my shoulder and headed for the stairs. She didn’t resist, which meant I’d be spanking her ass even earlier than I thought. Apparently Christmas was coming twice this year. But before I’d reached the second step, an insistent rapping on the door stopped me.
“If that is anyone short of Jesus Christ himself…” I grumbled.
Belle wriggled free and scurried over to the door.
Brexton Miles was on the other side. Yesterday he’d played the part of Edward’s friend well. Today there was no question that he was all business. His black wingtips had been recently polished and his black wool coat fell just above his knee. He smiled politely, even as Belle rolled her eyes. Apparently she’d figured out why he had come over the day before.
“I don’t suppose you two have read the paper?” he asked.
“Are you selling subscriptions?” I asked in a flat voice.
“Hammond is dead.”
I’d known it was coming, and I searched for some sort of emotional response: relief, sadness, concern. But there was nothing. I’d given that man more than he deserved for far too long.
“Shot,” Brexton continued. “The press found out somehow. It’s a circus. The gun rights activists will be up in arms, if you’ll pardon me, and the House of Commons will be conducting an inquisition, considering that his charges hadn’t officially been dropped.”
“Thanks for stopping by to let us know.” Belle crossed her arms and glared at him. We both knew that royal security hadn’t started making house calls.
"Can I have a moment?" he asked me.
I tipped my head in agreement. Placing my hand on Belle's shoulder, I leaned in. "I'll be right in.”
“You know, I think I’m going to call Clara and set up a time to see Elizabeth."
I raised an eyebrow. "Are you certain that's a good idea?"
"I'm ready. I'm not going to miss out on my goddaughter's life. It won't change anything."
That was the woman I loved, but I hated to see her going through this. I had mourned the loss of our baby, but I knew I'd never felt it as strongly as she did. I couldn't. I'd barely had time to process the reality before it was stripped from me.
I stepped onto the front stoop and pulled the door shut behind me.
"I'm afraid I have to ask you a very delicate question." He glanced down the quiet street before finally leveling his gaze at me. "Did you kill Hammond?"
"I'm not sure if I should answer that without a lawyer present." I knew I hadn't. Belle did as well, but it was our word against a mountain of evidence until someone figured out who had pulled the trigger. Once they did, I would be the first to shake the killer's hand.
"Honestly," he suggested, "I have no interest in pursuing you, Price. I've seen the files. I know what you did for this investigation. You put yourself in grave danger. Some people might be able to overlook that, but I'm a military man. We live by a code."
"I'm afraid I'm a civilian."
"Don't sell yourself short," he stopped me. "You were willing to join our ranks. You sought out justice. That puts you pretty high on my list."
“I didn’t kill him. I can’t offer you more than my word.” I stuck my hand in my pocket and pulled out the bullet Belle had brought me the night before. “And this. I’ve carried this with me for weeks. I was saving it for him. I had the opportunity last night, Brex. Do you know why I’m carrying this today? Because it represents my choice. Hammond was alive when I saw him last.”
Brexton’s green eyes narrowed, but a moment later he relaxed, shoving his hands in his coat pockets. “That’s good enough for me.”
“Do you have any other suspects?” I had my own list and it only had one name. Many people probably wanted him dead, but only one person I knew was capable of getting that close to him.
“Georgia Kincaid,” he said as if reading my mind. “She's certainly capable of it. I like her for it, but she has an airtight alibi."
"Which I suppose you aren't interested in sharing." No matter how much I fought, I couldn't seem to free myself from the mud.
"I'll leave that up to her to decide." Brexton crossed his bulky arms.
"I'll be honest with you. I'm ready to wash my hands of this. There was a time when this was a nihilistic pursuit. Now I have something..."
"To live for?" he finished for me. His smile was tight as he considered this.
"Yes." To live for and so much more. "And she's waiting for me right now."
"I suppose you don't care who murdered him then?" he asked.
I placed my hand on the doorknob. "I suppose I only care that the bastard is dead."
"Even if this isn't over?"
I wanted him to take back those words, but he could no more unspeak them than I could unhear them.
"It's over for me." That was all that counted. Whoever had taken the initiative to shuffle Hammond off this mortal coil had nothing to do with me.
“We could use you,” he said. “You have contacts within Hammond’s circle. Whoever did this was making a power play.”
Hammond had insinuated as much, but he’d also given me a parting gift.
No one will touch you now.
Hammond’s words. I could only hope he was right.
“I’ve spent most of my life in his shadow, I’m stepping into the sun.”
“I wish you the best of luck.”
He wasn’t going to press the issue. I’d opened the door before I realized why; turning back to him, I called out, stopping him on the steps. “She’s working for you.”
“I’m sorry?” he said casually.
“Never mind.” Georgia and I were headed on different journeys. Maybe she was finally ready to go legit. Not that I was certain that Alexander or his new private security team were entirely on the up and up, but who was I to question a king?
He nodded, but I had no doubt that he knew exactly what I’d said. “Happy Christmas.”
“You too.”
Belle was leaning against the wall in the entry, chewing on her lip, as I stepped inside.
“It’s over, beautiful.”
“Do they suspect you? I can call Clara. She’ll believe me,” she said in a rush.
“I’m not a suspect.” I didn’t bother to tell her that Brexton’s visit had been a mere formality. I was the obvious choice for a primary suspect. Now that he knew I wasn’t responsible, he’d be forced to look for a bigger fish. It was a witch hunt I wasn’t interested in, particularly because I didn’t know where to start. Hammond had been the top of my food chain. Last night had been the first indication tha
t his business extended much further than I’d suspected. I’d been privy to most of Hammond’s personal and business matters, and I couldn’t think of a single shred of evidence that he was working with someone else. There was nothing I could offer Brexton, and if he had Georgia, he didn’t need me.
“Then it’s over.”
I didn’t bother to remind her that I’d already told her this.
“Yes, beautiful.”
It was over, but our lives were just beginning.
Chapter 27
At the end of the week, while the rest of London rushed to the market for last minute champagne and hors d’oeuvres, I was on my way to the office. Lola had summoned me for an emergency business meeting earlier this morning. After fifteen minutes of panic-induced rambling, she finally assured me that she had good news to share. Given that I missed out on most of Bless’s initial beta launch, I wasn’t about to miss being around to celebrate even a small victory.
Lola was at the entrance, wrapped in a grey cashmere coat. As soon as she saw me, she held up a scarf. “No peeking.”
“Seriously?”
“I’m always serious,” she said, tying it around my head, “except for when I’m not.”
“This feels like some sort of corporate team building exercise,” I commented as she guided me inside the studio.
“Do you trust me?” she teased.
“That depends. Is this necessary?” I asked, my hands outstretched in front of me, afraid I’d walk into a rack of designer clothing.
“No,” Lola said, “but it’s pretty fun to watch.”
I could hear the smirk in her voice. Whatever was waiting for me in the office must be pretty amazing if it had her this excited about it.
“Some people take New Year’s Eve off,” I grumbled good-naturedly.
“Those people aren’t workaholics like we are,” she reminded me. “Besides, there is no way you want to miss this. Okay, keep your eyes closed.”
She tugged the scarf off my eyes and I stood there, feeling a bit idiotic. “This better not be a surprise party.”
“It's not your birthday.”
She had a good point. I could hear her flitting about the room, and I tried to zero in on exactly where her feet were falling for clues. Before I could decide if she was on my left or behind me, her movement ceased entirely.