Chapter Eight
Adam
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TAKING CAROLINE’S HAND, I pointed to the bank on the opposite side of the road.
“There,” I told her.“That’s where we’re headed.”
“I’ll follow you, Sir.”
She fluttered her eyelashes at me, as though she was innocent in our delay, but I couldn’t chide her.The morning had turned out to be unexpectedly pleasing, and I bit back my smile as her fingers curled with mine.
So much for not having time for pleasure.
My lips twisted into a knowing smirk.Caroline was always so damn alluring.I should have known I wouldn’t be able to resist her, yet somehow, I’d persuaded myself that I knew better, that I was setting the tone, that I was in charge.
Who am I kidding?
I’d barely held on to control whilst I’d been running Fortorus, the pressure of Ian’s visit and his intention to slaughter tens of thousands of women he deemed ‘unworthy’, including Caroline, pushing me right to the brink of my sanity.If it hadn’t been for her, I don’t know how I would have coped in those bleak moments of realization, but then, perhaps without her, I might never have come to them.
I shuddered at the thought, disgusted at who I’d allowed myself to become.
“Are you cold?”she murmured, leaning closer as we crossed the street.
“I’m fine, sweetheart,” I assured her, but standing on the sunshine-drenched Swiss street, I had to be honest with myself, if not with her.
I could play the dominant, order her around, and know we were both enjoying every fucking minute, but in the end, it was Caroline who held the true power between us.
It had always been her.
“Remember what I told you,” I whispered into her ear as we crossed the street and stepped into the large, air-conditioned branch.“Let me handle this.”
“Of course, Sir.”Her reply was instantaneous, belying the mischievous glimmer in her gaze.“I’m just here to look pretty and do as I’m told.”
“Hmmm.”My tone was predictably unconvinced.“Good.”
I’d seen that glint before, most recently when she’d successfully goaded me into the most incredible orgasm that morning.I’d had every intention of just getting dressed and leaving another pile of cash for the sleeping Hans before we slipped away to find the bank, but Caroline’s delicious detour had meant the hours had played out quite differently.
Hans had offered us the use of Anneke’s shower, a dilapidated-looking device that scarcely managed the job, but we’d accepted thankfully, appreciating the chance to clean up before we donned the remaining clothes we’d brought with us.Over coffee and a few of the cookies Andrew had given us, our unusually friendly driver had given me directions to the branch I wanted, while Caroline insisted on stripping our bedsheets.By the time we’d started the long walk into the center of the city, we were both upbeat, holding hands, laughing, and chatting like any regular couple.
But we weren’t like other couples, were we?
We never would be.
Our love had been created in the dirt and ash of crippling authoritarianism.It would take time to discover how it bloomed in the light of the better days I hoped lay ahead.
“Guten Morgen, sir.”A young clerk from the bank stepped forward, his attention running up and down the length of our attire before returning to my face.“Mein Name ist Anton.Kann ich Ihnen helfen?”
He was asking if he could assist us, but something about his conceited smirk riled me.I’d dealt with my fair share of cocky young men before, but it had been a long time since I wasn’t their commanding officer, able to demand their cooperation without complaint.
“Ja, ich habe ein Schließfach in Ihren Tresoren, Anton.”Informing the judgmental prick about my deposit box, I switched back to my native tongue.“I want to access it now, please.”
“At this bank, sir?”Yet again, his focus flitted between Caroline and me, resting on the bag slung over my shoulder.It contained what little cash we had left, my gun, our dirty clothes, and the remaining cookies we hadn’t already devoured.Evidently, we weren’t dressed the way his usual customers were, and a quick glance around at the other clients confirmed the disparity.“Are you sure?”
