Page 135 of Wicked

My mind churns fast. “Just get the dog passport. Leave the jet to me.” I ring off and I call Nico. He answers fast. Nico, Lorenzo, and me always do for each other.

“How was home?”

“Messy,” I say. “Listen, I need a favor.”

“Anything.”

“You still in France?”

“Correct.”

“Can I borrow your jet?”

“Of course. Where?”

“Send it to Rome. I need it for a day. Two max.”

“Done. It’ll leave in thirty.”

“Thanks, I’ll call later with details.”

I end the call and phone Thomas. I know we have shadow contacts in Interpol and also intelligence. It is standard in billion-dollar companies, and the protection of global empires is key. Knowledge, data, and detail is sadly the oil that makes the modern world go round.

“Shoot,” Thomas says in the zone.

“I don’t care how you do it, and I don’t want to know. Just find her.”

“Consider it done,” Thomas says. “Next?”

“The company Raven worked for, I’m going to buy it,” I say, yanking on my jacket.

“Seriously?”

“Always,” I say. “Call me in an hour with the company owner details, company valuation, and details on that CEO slut who burnt my girl. I’m going to burn the witch down.” There is silence as I grab my bag. “And prepare to offer the owner thirty percent more than it’s worth. Just make sure they do not know who is purchasing it.”

“Or they’ll double the price. I get it. Consider it done.”

I hit end, reach the door, and turn to Tito. “Come on, boy. It’s time to get your mom back.”

As I racefor Rome in the old Ferrari, I feel pumped. I missed the hard-core fashion industry edge while in the castle and suspect I took all that energy out on Raven’s body.

I’m now focused on getting Raven back. I’m focused on doing it fast, and I’m focused on burning that bitch for messing with her.

Another detail our mystery hacker found is that Raven sold her first book. I’m excited for her and proud. Word is, she is working on a second book, and my girl really is now flying.

The butterfly is complete, and her beautiful wings are in full use.

Only one thing worries me… I’m nervous about getting her back.

The idea of males anywhere near Raven also makes my blood feel like fire. I don’t like it one darned bit.

The thing is no one in the world is like her. No one has her purity of soul. Her vitality of spirit. Her vibrant soul that somehow… Somehow matches mine.

I need to get Raven back. She is far more important than my company and my billions.

I would throw it all away if I could have her as mine. I am Raven’s, and she is mine.End of fucking story.

She is the one!

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