Page 75 of Contract of a Billionaire
That fucking last scene of us together four years ago played in my mind. Over and over again. Like a broken record. She reached out to see me, asking to talk to me, and I shut her down. Was she going to tell me about the baby when she came to see me? I never gave her the chance. Another thing to add to my list to be sorry about.
Would she forgive me?
Because letting go wasn’t an option.
I should have been there for her.I should have been there for her.
I focused on the positive. Autumn did a good job hiding my son from my father. It made me love her even more, if that was even possible. She protected him from that old bastard for the last four years.
I couldn’t wait to have her in my penthouse. In my bed. Because there was another organ that worked only for her. My dick refused to entertain the idea of any other woman. Just her.
Four years was a long time for abstinence and constant jerking off.
“You realize she’s your weakness, right?” There was no need to ask who we were talking about. Autumn Corbin, soon to be Russo, was my weakness. And I couldn’t even find the will to give two flying fucks. I’d keep her safe.
Her and our son.
She was the puzzle my heartbeats missed. That organ only functioned properly when she was around.
I forced thoughts of jet-black curls and hazel eyes aside for the moment. There was no need to broadcast my weakness.
“Mind your own goddamn business, Byron.”
“And here I thought you’d love me and be nice to me forever for killing your father for you.” Byron feigned hurt, sarcasm heavy in his voice. “And you have that deal with gun dumping with my cousin, Dante.”
“Yeah, I’d love for you to forever stay out of my sight,” I grumbled, then my lips curved into a sardonic smile. “I bet you a specific woman is demanding you stay out of her sight too,” I jabbed mildly.
Surprise coasted through his eyes, followed by annoyance and a hint of fury. “You didn’t really think your oldest brother wouldn’t know your secrets, huh? What kind of brother would I be?”
“It’s the first fucking time you called me your brother, and you’ve done it twice in less than a second,” he gritted.
I could see his anger pulsing in his jugular. It wasn’t at me; it was at a different kind of woman. If Autumn was my weakness, that red-haired woman was his.
Byron, despite his clean cut appearance, was just as ruthless as I was. The last person who dared touch something of his, a woman to be exact, ended up in a coma with missing fingers and toes and a face that would never recover.
This must have ruined Byron’s will for conversation because he stood up, buttoning his expensive Brioni suit. I fucking hated that we both liked those goddamn suits. Maybe I’d permanently change to jeans because Autumn did mention my ass was sexy in jeans. It’d make it harder for her to resist me.
Right? Fuck! I’d end up hitting an insecure stage in my forties. Lovely.
“Russo, I already have annoying brothers,” Byron grumbled, his expression irritated. “I don’t need another one.”
We were halfway down the large foyer when we both paused, the sound of Branka’s and Autumn’s laughter reaching us from the terrace.
“I think I’m a lightweight,” Branka announced, swaying on her feet and giggling drunkenly. “I used to be able to drink a whole bottle and not feel this impact.”
“Well, alcohol was scarce in the jungles,” Autumn mused, her own tone slightly slurred.
I could see Autumn perfectly from here. Both she and Branka sat on the marble floor of the terrace, their heads tilted backwards against the rails. The moon’s silver rays shone against their faces. My sister seemed happier. But it was my woman that made me unable to look away.
Her ivory skin reflected perfectly in the dark. Her dark curls blended with the night, leaving her neck exposed. I craved to suck on her pulse, lick her skin so I could taste her… like I did four years ago.
She was so fucking beautiful, it hurt to look at her.
“We have to stop drinking,” Autumn said, her speech slower as if she was too tired to talk. Even with her speech slurred, her voice was still melodious. “If I get shitfaced, I might do something stupid. Like get your brother naked.” Then as if she realized what she said, she gave her head a small shake. “That would be very bad.”
I stilled at that admission. It took my sister a few heartbeats to realize what Autumn said.
“So you do have the hots for him,” Branka slurred, grinning stupidly.
