Tess froze beside me, holding her breath.
“The latest enterprise is called Feathers of Hope, and we’ve donated exactly half of all Moineau’s proceeds to fund the worthy cause.”
Tess looked between the two of us, the file on her lap completely forgotten. “What does it do?”
Roux answered, “Feathers of Hope provides homes, rehabilitation, and therapy for all the women involved in the sex slave industry. It also backs private law enforcement along with larger firms in order to shut down slavery rings and prosecute men responsible.”
Tess started to quake. I cinched her harder against me, hating the onset of shock. Fuck, it hadn’t been my intention to make her panic. This was why I wanted to keep it simple and not drag her into everything. She’d probably have a heart attack to know how many people wanted to meet her. Interviews were turned down every day for her exclusive story of survival.
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.