Page 112 of Ashes of Saints

“It’s fucking incredible, sweetheart.” I pull her into my arms. “This—this!—is who you are.”

With her cheek against my shoulder, she stared at the painting. “Is it? How do I know?”

I tilted her chin up and smiled down at the woman I loved. Jean Michelle wanted to sell her paintings. He’d been hounding me.

When the time was right, I’d tell her and make her a very, very rich woman.

Soon.

When she was ready.

“What happened to you was fucking terrible. No excuses. I’m not taking anything away from that. But on some level, everyone is searching for who they are. I don’t think many people walk out of childhood knowing. Some maybe, but most don’t.”

“You did.”

“No. I was full of hate and desire for revenge. Becoming rich was a tool to do that,” I admitted.

“And I was part of that plan.”

“Were. But I fell in love, and you are teaching me every day how to do that unconditionally. It’s terrifying and painful.”

Aurora blinked.

“If you choose to leave, I will still love you. That won’t ever change.”

Our gazes held as I lowered my mouth gently, giving her the choice to accept me or not. When my lips pressed to hers, Aurora leaned in, deepening our kiss.

I pulled her tight against me, and nature took over. My cock hardened.

“Make love to me,” she whispered.

I didn’t need to be asked twice. I scooped her up and carried her down to our bedroom.

Our.

Because I’d lied one last time.

I wasn’t letting her go.

DURING THE NEXT few days, I shared what we’d learned about Marianne Baker.

She’d run a large underground child prostitution organization for decades. Adults, including my father, would bring their children and join in the activities. For the want of a better word. Many made an enormous amount of money.

“Will we ever find out who my real parents are?” Aurora asks, taking a bite of her eggs.

There was a strong chance we would, but I wasn’t going to say yes when it might not be true.

“I will throw every resource I have at it for the rest of our lives. I can’t promise we’ll be successful, but we might get lucky with technology available.”

“I’m going to sell her penthouse and donate the money to a charity which helps children.” Aurora shares, and I kiss her.

She’s a better human being than I am.

“I want your permission to send the tapes to the authorities now.” I reach out and place my hand on the side of her thigh. “Our teams have everything they need and, while they’ll probably learn more, faster, the authorities are the only ones who can, obviously, arrest those still alive.”

I’d rather kill them, but I’m going to marry this woman and would rather do that on this side of the bars.

“Yes. Put them all behind bars.” Aurora rubs her tummy, and I frown.

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