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 matter of time.

Time I might not have.

Goddammit, I promised myself I wouldn’t think about it. Roux had no right 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’m not. I’m making up for the sins of my past. The sins of my father and all the f**king bastards I’ve had to deal with in order to free a small fraction of women. I’ve so many things to pay for, including my own sick perversions.”

And nothing made up for those sins more than handing over the red folder with every sick f**k who’d raped and traded women.

Tess’s fingers suddenly clutched my shirt. “Wait…are you safe?” Her eyes flew to Roux, her muscles locking with panic. “Please tell me he’s not painting a 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 from TV broadcasts and webpages unfolding the latest allegations 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 them in his lap. “That’s not for me to discuss.” He gave me a pointed glare. “But rest assured he has a legion of supporters and an army of people willing to protect him.”

An army could only do so much against determined murderers. It was all up to me in the end. And I had a plan.

Tess spasmed in my arms; her skin went frigid with fear.

“Before, when he operated on his own, he was in worse danger. Pretending to be a devil among devils would’ve always ended badly,” Roux said, noticing Tess’s anxiety.

I didn’t have the heart to tell him I never had to pretend. I just shed my humanity and allowed myself to be free. I fell into the role of master looking to purchase a slave. I might never have touched one, but it hadn’t stopped my mind from conjuring depraved acts I would never speak about.

As sick as it was—I would miss that part. Miss stepping into the dark. I would miss being dangerous and walking amongst the blackness of the world, rubbing shoulders with men who were so like me—men I belonged with but would never let myself be a part of.

Living in the light was f**king hard. But it was the sacrifice I paid to keep my sanity. I had no choice but to embrace the sun and leave my darkness behind.

Enough talking.

“Read the file, Tess. I won’t ask again.”

I was done talking about this. I wanted to leave, and we couldn’t until the matter of signing in front of a witness was complete.

Roux cleared his throat. “Um, I know you’re going to bite my head off, but it’s my job as your business partner to ask.”

Tess looked at the paper.

I ground my teeth. “I know what you’re going to 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 f**k’s sake.

Frederick rolled his shoulders, chagrin loud and clear in his body language. “It’s nothing against you, Tess. I’m just looking 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 him just how sure I was. Tess tugged on my hand, keeping me seated. It took everything I 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 smiled at her.

I swore, “You’re not f**king signing one. End of story.” Shoving a finger in my supposed friend’s face, I growled, “Answer me, Roux.”

His cheeks flushed as he ran a hand through his hair. “Well no, but only because we met in high 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 now when you’ve been totally generous.”

Memories flickered of his friendship through those awful days with a drunkard for a mother and an ass**le for a father. He’d been the only one who I let get close, and only once my mother died and I shot my father. I still remembered the afternoon he met Angelique. 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 my wife stopped me.” He flung his hands up. “Fine. I get your point.”

Smiling at Tess, he softened his voice. “Sorry. My mistake.” Motioning to the unread paper, he said, “Read it. It won’t bite.”

Tess laughed nervously. “Are you sure about that?” Risking a look at me, she added, “If the paper doesn’t—Q might.”

Roux laughed, slapping his thigh as if it was the funniest f**king 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 from her slack hand, I added, “Then you sign and we’re gone. We’ve been here long enough as it is.”

I want out of France. The temptation to return to Volière was strong—at least there we might be safe.

Tess threw me a look, her eyes glinting. Ripping the page from my grip, her gaze settled on the waxy seal at the top. Decorated with my logo of a sparrow flying over sky rises, she skated down to the small but extremely life-altering paragraph.

Quincy Mercer II hereby agrees that all his wealthy possessions, fortune, investments, and all goodwill 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 might have.

The moment I knew she’d read it, I stole it again and slammed it on the table.

Tess said something incomprehensible, trying to steal it back, but it was too late. Uncapping the pen, I scrawled my autograph onto the parchment and held it out to her. My heart swelled with knowledge she would be forever protected, looked after, and kept healthy by all things money could afford.

Even if I wasn’t around.

“Sign it, esclave.”

She shook her head, eyeing the paper as if it had herpes. “I can’t…let me think for a moment.”

Too bad. I wasn’t a patient man.

Capturing her wrist, I shoved the pen into her right hand, and jerked her forward to place the nib against the paper. “I’m not letting go until you sign.”

“Mercer,” Frederick muttered.

I threw him a look; he wisely shut the f**k up.

Tess bit her lip but hesitantly obeyed. Her penmanship was compromised by my grip, but I didn’t care.

The moment she finished the little flourish at the end of her name, a weight lifted off my shoulders. One more way she was joined to me for life. One more way she’d proven she was mine. One more way I could make sure she was always cared for regardless of my future.

I loved my wealth for one thing only: to save women. And now it had saved the most important woman of my f**king life.

Her.

Always her.

Eternally her.

I tossed the paper at Frederick. “File it with the lawyers. We’re leaving.” Reaching down to hoist Tess to her feet, she whispered, “Q…how much…how much did you just sign over to me?”

Ah, the moment she’d find out the truth and know she could no longer hate my fortune because it was hers.

A shot of jittery happiness erupted down my spine. Get ready, Tess. I’m going to love watching this sink in. No more running from it. No more pretending her life hadn’t changed forever.

Not removing my eyes from hers, I demanded, “How much, Roux. The joint owner in Moineau Holdings wishes to know.”

Tess shuddered as Frederick came close, patting her on the shoulder. His eyes were gentle, understanding—from one person who’d had no wealth to another. “You’ve just inherited nine billion, seven hundred thousand euros, as of this morning. But that figure is growing daily.”

Tess promptly fainted.

Chapter Nine

body of body, shared thoughts and lustful need, we bow to this swirling new greed

I must be dreaming. This can’t be happening.

I pinched myself for the billionth time.

Hah, billion.

I’m a billionaire.

I put my head between my legs. I’d never felt so…surreal. There were no words to describe the euphoric weakness or the heart-numbing flabbergast.

Q’s hand landed between my shoulder blades, rubbing gently in circles. His loving touch belied his true feelings. I’d never seen Q like this. I personally thought he’d gone insane; he’d finally cracked, and I’d never find the sometimes sullen, always temperamental man I fell in love with.

The plane’s engines suddenly increased in decibel, shooting us down the runway like a rocket. Looking up, I steeled myself against Q’s handsome face. The same face that hadn’t stopped smirking since I woke up from my stupid fainting episode.

“It’s not the end of the world, esclave.” His pale eyes danced, not showing me any mercy.

I glowered and looked out the window—pointedly ignoring him. It was the end of the world—my world. He’d had a lifetime to get used to the luxury and complications of money. It wasn’t fair to force me to sign a piece of paper—under duress no less—and accept his entire fortune when I had no right to it at all.

Turning to him, I snapped, “I want to go back. I want Frederick to tear it up.”

Q reclined; his long legs stretched in front of him, crossing at the ankles. His hair shone from the sun streaming in the circular window as the plane swooped into the sky. In his black trousers and white shirt, he was a splash of sophistication in the otherwise hushed cream world of the private jet.

“Now why would I do that?” He couldn’t wipe the damn smile off his face. “Struggling to come to terms with something, Tess?” Chuckling, he leaned over and cupped my cheek. “Perhaps you’re having second thoughts about falling in love with a man who just changed your perception on how you see the world.”

My belly fluttered. He’d already done that. He’d made me a lover of pain. He’d made me an accomplice in a charity I hadn’t known about until an hour ago. He’d turned my life completely inside out, back to front, bleached it, then cut it up and sewed it back together.

All while keeping something from me. The comment from Frederick, the tension echoing in Q’s limbs. No wonder he’d been cagey whenever I tried to watch TV or go online. He’d hidden all the news from me. He also downplayed just how dangerous it was to have people know the truth.

Foreboding sat like a heavy smudge on my heart.

This is too much! All of it. I needed to know the truth. How much jeopardy was he truly in? He needs to stop being so damn blasé.

“Can you be serious for one second?” I hadn’t been cross with him before but his smug grin really flipping annoyed me.

He laughed, throwing his head back, elongating his perfect neck. My mouth went drier than a desert.

Holy hell, how was I supposed to concentrate when everything about him exuded raw sex?

His gaze locked on mine. “What seems to be the problem?” Reeling off on his fingers, he said, “It can’t be the fact you’ll never go hungry, or cold, or homeless. It can’t be the fact you’ll always be safe and be able to afford the best protection and healthcare. And it certainly can’t be the fact that you can use that money to help others.” Rolling his eyes, he smirked again. “God, you’re acting like I made you sign a death sentence and not a life improving sentence.”

Swivelling in my chair, holding onto the cushioned arm rest as the plane banked suddenly, I said, “You don’t get it. You’re giving away half of the money that’s rightfully yours, and you’re treating it like it’s nothing.”

And hiding your safety from me.

His eyes flashed, losing his mirth, trading it for his well-known aggression. “Ça y est tu peux passer au dessus.”It is. Get over it.

“No. Not until I’ve processed it. Don’t you understand I’d won the lottery by finding you? That all my wishes were granted when you fell in love with me? How can I justify being a billionaire in monetary worth, when I’m already beyond wealthy by having you?” My eyes burned as tears puddled from nowhere. Damn, I didn’t want to cry. I didn’t want to appear weak. I didn’t know how to formulate my real concerns because I didn’t even understand them myself.

My real fear stemmed from Frederick’s veiled comment.

“They’ve saved your business but taken—” Taken what? How soon? I couldn’t stomach the thought of Q being hurt.

Q frowned; he lost the edge of anger, confusion filling his gaze. “Tess—it’s because of those reasons why I gave you the money. I’ve never trusted anyone to use my wealth in the same way I do. I never had the urge to share that responsibility. It’s because you love me that you’re perfect to accept the weight of the Mercer fortune.”

I looked out the window again, swallowing the lump that had the audacity to choke. I’m afraid I’m not worthy of all of this. I’m afraid life will expect me to pay another toll, and I’m terrified I won’t be able to afford it.