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I smiled It was her face people wanted on the Feathers of Hope logo--not the two feathers linked together with a red bow that we had now She’d be immersed in my company--whether she wanted to be or not It was just a ht not have

Goddammit, I proht to remind me--especially in front of Tess

Tess looked up, her face whiter than a ghost "You’re a hero My hero Their hero My God, Q--"

I snarled, hating the word "No, esclave, I’ up for the sins ofbastards I’ve had to deal with in order to free a ss to pay for, includingover the red folder with every sick fk who’d raped and traded woers suddenly clutched my shirt "Wait…are you safe?" Her eyes flew to Roux, hera bull’s eye on his back by doing this?"

Shit Why the hell did she have to ask that damn question? I’d deliberately kept her froations and threats on my life Most of them were false--I was still alive after all

But some…some were real

Frederick laced his fingers together, placing theave ion of supporters and an ar to protect hiainst determined murderers It was all up to me in the end And I had a plan

Tess spasid with fear

"Before, when he operated on his own, he was in worse danger Pretending to be a devil a Tess’s anxiety

I didn’t have the heart to tell him I never had to pretend I just shed my humanity and allowedto purchase a slave I ht never have touched one, but it hadn’t stoppeddepraved acts I would never speak about

As sick as it was--I wouldinto the dark I would st the blackness of the world, rubbing shoulders with ed with but would never lethard But it was the sacrifice I paid to keep my sanity I had no choice but to e

"Read the file, Tess I won’t ask again"

I was done talking about this I wanted to leave, and we couldn’t until thein front of a witness was co to bite my head off, but it’s my job as your business partner to ask"

Tess looked at the paper

I groundto say, and no it’s not your job as my business partner--or friend So drop it"

Tess held up the pen, sitting straighter "Wait--tell me"

Oh, for fk’s sake

Frederick rolled his shoulders, chagrin loud and clear in his body language "It’s nothing against you, Tess I’ out for a friend Don’t take it personally" His eyes zeroed on me "So--you’re sure?"

I shoved Tess away, ready to stand up and show hiI had to stay in control "Did you and Angelique sign a prenup?"

Tess relaxed "Ah I get it I’ll gladly sign one--it’s no issue, really"

Frederick s one End of story" Shoving a finger in rowled, "Answer h his hair "Well no, but only because we h school around the same time I met you I was penniless before you asked me to come work for you I never had the wealth you do--even nohen you’ve been totally generous"

Meh those awful days with a drunkard for a mother and an assle for a father He’d been the only one who I let get close, and only once my mother died and I shot elique In a way--I was responsible for that, too

Shaking my head, I scattered the memories "You could’ve had one drawn up What stopped you?"

Frederick stiffened, anger creeping up his neck "My love and trust in et your point"

S at Tess, he softened his voice "Sorry Myto the unread paper, he said, "Read it It won’t bite"

Tess laughed nervously "Are you sure about that?" Risking a look at hed, slapping his thigh as if it was the funniest fking thing he’d ever heard Bastard

I growled, tearing the paper out of Tess’s fingers and shoving it in her face "Read It Now" Plucking the pen froone We’ve been here long enough as it is"

I want out of France The te--at least there weRipping the page froaze settled on the waxy seal at the top Decorated withover sky rises, she skated down to the sraph

Quincy Mercer II hereby agrees that all his wealthy possessions, fortune, investoodwill are hence forth owned jointly by Ms Tess Snow soon to become Tess Mercer Upon his death, Tess will be the sole recipient of Mr Mercer’s fortune and any living heirs they ain and sla inco to steal it back, but it was too late Uncapping the pen, I scrawled raph onto the parche she would be forever protected, looked after, and kept healthy by all things n it, esclave"

She shook her head, eyeing the paper as if it had herpes "I can’t…let me think for aher wrist, I shoved the pen into her right hand, and jerked her forward to place the nib against the paper "I’n"

"Mercer," Frederick muttered

I threw him a look; he wisely shut the fk up