Page 51 of Unholy Cross

“Joseph,” she relented.

“After I miraculously recovered, my father told me about you.How he thought you were being held against your will.I did some digging and the more I learned, the less I liked.”

His man came over and placed a sealed water bottle in front of them.Even though she said she couldn’t drink anything, she cracked the lid and took a deep drink.

“Thank you,” she said, wiping her mouth free of liquid.“Why are you here?”

“You should know that there isn’t much I can’t do.Or have done,” Joseph bragged unabashedly.“I moved to shut Noble Vale down and during that operation, I learned your name.Then I heard about what happened at Jessica’s Den.It was easy to track your movements once I learned Aera Cross’s name.”

Lorelei distinctly remembered Jessica.It made her sad to think about how she betrayed them.Especially Cross, because they’d been lovers at one point.

“But,whydid you want to find me?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

She shook her head.It had almost been a year since she escaped that place, and once her uncle had “disappeared,” she hadn’t thought of that time in captivity all that much.She refused to let it consume her life anymore.

“To offer you a life of complete freedom.”

She tilted her head.“I don’t understand.I’m free now.Costello Birsha can’t hurt me anymore.”

“But the biker you’re with can.”

Lorelei tensed.“He’d never hurt me.”

Joseph leaned forward, his penetrating chocolate eyes focused on her.“When I say freedom, all you have to do is name where you want to go, and I will handle everything.You’ll have a big, beautiful house.A car.And I’ll deposit two million dollars into your account to start.You won’t have to work ever again or worry about money.”

Her eyes widened.Twomilliondollars?“I don’t understand why you’re offering this.”

“You saved my life,” he said softly.“I would do anything for you.Give you anything you want.”

Her heart melted at his sincerity.“Joseph, all I want is for you to live a happy life.To make the most of your second chance.”

“I plan on doing that, but I want to take care of you.I don’t want you to ever be used again for your gift, unless that’s what you want to do.”

His sincerity took her breath away.

“Thank you,” she finally said, choking down her emotions.She held out her hand and he grasped it.“It means the world to me that you healed completely.”

His intense stare speared through her.“But?”

“But I’m where I want to be.I’m with the man I love.”

“Does he love you back?”

Ah.That was the question that kept burning through her mind.Did Cross love her?She didn’t know, and he had never even hinted at what he felt for her.

“I think your silence answers my question.”

“Maybe he doesn’t, but I still can’t leave him.”

“Can’t, or won’t?”

She shrugged, not sure how to reply.

Joseph sighed.“Then promise me something.Promise me, if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“You don’t have to—”

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