Page 136 of Bite Me

“How . . . Where were you?” Emma asks as the door closes.

“My grandfather had Liam lock me up at one of the estates, and they took my phone. I . . . I’m so sorry, Em.”

She shakes her head. “I have something to tell you. It’s important.”

I wait while she fishes what appears to be a bent-up old notebook from her purse.

“I hated to damage it, but I was so afraid that it would get confiscated. It belonged to your father, and it has these journal entries in it about this girl. I don’t think your grandfather is the man you think he is.”

“Yeah, I know.” I take the notebook and press my hand over the worn pages. “That’s the lesson I’ve been learning. Liam said I was trouble, like my father.”

“He locked your dad in a room, too. And there are all these entries from your father. I think you should read it yourself. I tried to contact you because I knew I had to get this to you.”

“Liam took my phone.”

This is the final piece I’ve been missing. Getting closer to Emma has me closer to the things I didn’t know I wanted all along. I’m so close to figuring out all the secrets my family has kept and stored away, and for the first time since my parents died, I feel closer to them in some way. The smell of the notebook feels so familiar, and even some of the handwriting.

But right now, all I can think about is how this beautiful girl is mine.

“Well, you’re about to be my wife. You can tell me all about what I missed tonight on our honeymoon.”

I pluck a pen from my breast pocket. I made up my mind the minute I heard she was going to be bid on at the gala. She’s worth more than the entire Everhart legacy combined.

“How much did you bid from your trust?”

“Most of it.” All of it.

“Dacre, what about your sister?”

“I warned her things might change . . . But I’ll make it work. If you let me, I promise I’ll be the best fucking contractual husband ever.”

She smiles with glitter all over her cheeks, squeezing in closer to my chest till there are no more inches left. I missed her smell.

“I know you would . . . But I can’t let you do this. If I sign this, you’ll lose all the money your parents left you, and your grandfather will get exactly what he wants.”

“Emma, if you don’t sign this, your arrangement with my grandfather won’t be fulfilled. He’ll have leverage over you, and that’s not something I’m okay with.”

He likely had her sign some kind of contract for this.

“I know . . . And maybe it’s crazy to think there’s another option . . . But I really want to tell you there is and to run with me.”

I stare at the wooden door between us. Only I know it’s not that easy. Nothing is. Can I risk her being in my grandfather’s debt?

“Please.” She wraps her hand in mine, bringing them to my chest. “Can we try?”

She’s right. I vowed to burn my grandfather’s empire to the ground, and this is the first step. I think this woman has taken many leaps of faith in her life, some of which have likely turned out, and many that have not.

I’m ready to leap with her so she never has to leap alone again.

“Then we’ll run,” I say, wiping some of the glitter from her cheek. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little disappointed I don’t get to call you my wife, though.”

“Promise me that this isn’t the only time it will be you and me in a suit and a wedding dress because if I’m being honest, that’s the only reason I’m still considering it.”

I answer her with a kiss.

Then I can’t stop.

Chapter Fifty-Four