Chapter Nine
Damien
I crawl out of bed at the crack of dawn and silently pull on the jeans I discarded on the floor last night. My gaze stays on Rose, taking in the finger marks around her neck, and my gut clenches at the near miss she had yesterday.
I could have lost her…
A deep well of anger surges through me as I think of the bastard who put his hands on her. He should be dead, but there are other ways to get him.
I gently lean over Rose and glide my gaze over her gorgeous features—her long lashes resting over creamy skin, her perfect nose and soft, pink lips. A wave of tenderness fills me, and I know my feelings for her will only grow deeper. I lean in to kiss her gently on her lips, reveling in her honeydew scent.
Careful not to disturb her, I head out of the room, down the long corridor to my study. The familiar scent of leather and paper envelops me, instantly grounding me. I close the distance to my desk in long strides, my bare feet gliding over the cold tiled floor, until I’m settling into my soft leather chair.
Rose asked me to help investigate her asshole stepfather, and with her evidence, I think she’s right to be suspicious. I consider who else from my company I trust to bring in on this. It’s Daniel’s day off, but I grab my phone and dial his personal number.
“I need you for a job today,” I say, going straight to the point. My employees and I aren’t much into pleasantries. It’s a mutual understanding that works for all of us.
“I’m all ears.”
“I need you to get some listening bugs and camera to the Beaumont mansion,” I say, then proceed to explain Rose’s suspicions. “I want you to watch till he’s gone to work, then place the bugs and cameras in his home office and bedroom. Those are the places he likely thinks are private.”
“Alright, boss.”
“Listen and watch. Don’t miss out on a thing. Relay it to me ASAP,” I urge.
“Will do.”
I end the call and recline in my seat.
I have faith in Daniel. In all my employees, really. Most of them are veterans, discharged from the army, and have the same code of honor I live by, which fits well with my vision for the company. I would’ve done the surveillance myself, but I hate to leave Rose alone while she’s still grieving her mother.
I turn my attention to my laptop and start working until Rose wanders in, looking like a temptress in my shirt.
“Morning, princess. How are you feeling?” I ask, rising to my feet to sweep her into my arms.
She smiles against my neck. “Much better, I think,” she says softly. Her voice still rasps a little, but it does sound like it’s getting better.
Frowning at the bruises still visible on her neck, I head to the kitchen to make her some tea with honey to soothe her throat as we eat breakfast together.
The rest of the day passes by with me alternating between comforting Rose and distracting her. I regale her with tales of my childhood and tease her until she laughs and blushes a gorgeous pink. And then I urge her to tell me more stories about her mom, holding her when she ends up in tears more times than not. It’s in those moments that I feel like tearing my heart out or finding Jared and beating the shit out of him.
When Rose becomes sleepy in the afternoon, I pick her up and carry her back to our room. I tuck her into bed and lie down with her, cuddling her until she drifts to sleep.
Then I return to my office to continue from where I left off.
It isn’t long before I’m staring at the evidence of Jared’s crimes on my laptop, wondering how Rose will handle it all. It was quite easy for Daniel to get it. In fact, it was given to him on a silver platter. Jared is just as stupid as I assumed. He couldn’t wait to gloat and rant in the privacy of his office.
I move away from my desk and head to the living room, where I find Rose standing in front of the glass panes and looking down into the street. I walk over and pull her into my arms, pressing a soft kiss to her temple.
“You’re awake.”
She sighs, her body melting against mine. “I keep seeing Mom in my dreams.”
My heart breaks at the pain in her voice. I press a kiss to her temple. “I have news, princess,” I say, keeping my voice as gentle as I can manage. “You may need to sit.”
She turns around in my arms, her gaze pure and trusting, searching mine. “Okay,” she says on a soft exhale.
I pull her with me to a couch, sitting side by side. I hold her hands in mine and pin her with my gaze. “Daniel, one of my employees, found evidence that confirms your suspicions. There is proof that Jared indeed influenced your mother’s death.”
“How?” she asks softly, and my heart tightens at her tear-filled gaze.
“I told Daniel to bug his office and bedroom this morning. I didn’t say anything to you because I didn’t want to get your hopes up. But, this afternoon I got a recording of some calls he made and the conversation he had with a friend. He got in touch with a doctor friend who gave him a huge dose of Lorazepam. It’s a sedative that can be fatal when ingested in large doses. He injected it into your mother’s morphine, which led to her death. He also spoke about how he forced her to give him the right of attorney and also some of the things he did to you in the house. I’m so sorry, princess,” I say, drawing her into my arms.
She crumples against me, deep sobs wracking her tiny body as she gives in to her grief. I grind my teeth, my heart wrenching at the pain in her beautiful eyes. Her sorrow is like a sharp knife, piercing my heart, pulling it apart with every whimper.
My rage is potent and has nowhere to go. I want to punch something, preferably Jared’s face, but I force myself to remain calm. I continue to caress her hair, pressing kisses to her temple and the top of her head.
“I’m so sorry, princess. I’m so sorry.” I keep whispering words of comfort and rubbing my hands down her back until her tears subside into sniffs and hiccups.
She pulls back gently and looks up at me with tear-stained lashes. “I want him to pay for what he did,” she says hoarsely.
“It’s all handled, princess. I’ve forwarded the recordings to the authorities and the press. He’s not going to escape this time,” I assure her.
“Thank you, Damien.”
“I love you, princess” I declare, softly kissing her forehead.
I pull back. “Another thing. If you’re willing, I can have my lawyer start the process of retrieving your family’s company back into your control. Would you like that?” I ask.
“No,” she says, shaking her head. “I don’t want to run the company. I’d rather it be handled by the board of directors or an external CEO. I would appreciate it if your lawyer can help me with that instead.”
I press a single, deep kiss on her lips. “Anything you want, princess,” I say. Then I ask, “What would you like to do then?”
A soft smile spreads across her features, sad yet so bright it illuminates the darkest part of my soul.
“I want to open a flower shop,” she says, shrugging shyly. “My mom loved flowers. It’s one of the few things we bonded over before she got sick. She had a flower garden and we would prune and water them together. And when she was too sick to go out, I’d take care of the flowers myself and describe each flower’s growth to her.” I smile at the sudden sparkle in her eyes.
I’m a little taken aback by the simple request, but I’m not shocked. Rose is just as pure and warm as the flower she was named after, and now I can’t imagine her doing anything else. It’s so fitting. I lean to press another kiss on her lips. “I’ll help with anything you want, princess. As long as it makes you happy,” I whisper against her lips, chuckling at the happiness in her gorgeous blue eyes.
I gently tilt her head upward to capture her lips in a long, smoldering kiss.
Oh, bliss…