Yes, I'm happy I'm loaded because without it, I would never have found you.
Be fucking grateful rather than afraid.
My heart raced and I opened my mouth to yell, but Franco jumped in before I could upset her. "It's called Volière."
My heart thudded at the word. At the time, it was perfect for the slice of paradise. Now, I wished I'd named it esclave. After her.
Tess whispered, "You named it Aviary?"
Everything inside me was hot, boiling, exploding. Did she have a problem with everything related to wealth, or was it shock making her look at me so intensely?
I scowled. "Yes, I own an island. Yes, I called it Volière. No, I don't feel guilty for owning it, and no, no-one else has been."
Franco chuckled. "Shit, boss. She was only asking." Grinning at Tess, he whispered, "You'll love it. Looks exactly like the owner." Spinning around, he slid the partition back into place, and the car rolled into motion.
What the fuck was that supposed to mean? Just like me? The entire island was overgrown and wild.
"I didn't mean to upset you, Q," Tess said, her eyes dancing worriedly over my face.
Shit, I couldn't do anything right. Not while I had so much bubbling inside. How could she know my anger was at her but not at her? It didn't even make sense. My frustration was at her nightmares not because she had them but because she didn't share them. My brain hurt.
"I know, esclave. I didn't mean to snap." Giving her a soft smile, I added, "I've owned it for a while. It was one of the first things I bought when I took over the family empire."
"Tell me?" Her hand shot to hold onto the door handle as Franco took a corner too fast. Her slim body slid on the shiny leather reminding me yet again she was so fucking tiny. She still had a few kilos to gain before getting back the stunning sexy curves she'd had before.
I frowned, letting my mind rewind to ten years ago. "I bought it off a floundering investor." I shrugged as if it was the most natural thing in the world to own a tiny haven. "He accepted a lowball offer, then I had to fork out three hundred thousand euros to have a water purifier installed."
I glanced at her, making sure she remained in the car and hadn't flown away from sheer fear. Fear of what? Money? I'd never met anyone so averse to wealth. Or not averse. Just overwhelmed.
A small burst of happiness soothed my annoyance. At least you know she'd marry you if you were dirt poor. She wasn't marrying me for my bank account or what I could give her.
She's marrying me because she loves me.
The knowledge sucker-punched me every fucking time.
"It's untamed. Uninhabited. Completely impracticable, but none of my associates knows I own it and no one will find us there." I'd protected Tess from a lot of things-things like the consequences of killing Red Wolverine and slaughtering his operation.
That sort of stuff had large ripple effects. Payback was coming. I was sure of it.
I didn't need to tell her why I had the sudden urge to hide her. If I didn't keep tabs on the need to shut the world out, I could easily become a recluse with sentries on my front door and drones flying overhead, ready to sniper anyone who came within fifty metres.
Might not be a bad idea.
Wolverine and his operation might be dead, but there were others. Way too many sick and twisted fucks in the world.
"And we're getting married there?" Tess asked. "How will that work if no one knows it exists?"
"Franco will source a justice of the peace or a celebrant-whoever you want to marry us-and he can be our witness."
Tess bit her lip, thoughts parading in her eyes.
I almost groaned or wrung her neck-either to get her to finally speak to me. "What are you thinking, esclave? You don't like this elopement idea?"
She smiled hurriedly, giving me reassurance I so stupidly needed. "No, I love it. I love the thought of our own private paradise. Just us. But … "
I swiped a hand over my face. "But … " Goddammit, get to it so I can annihilate your concerns.
"Well, not that I mind of course, but I don't have anything to wear."
"You don't need a white dress. That's just a gimmick."
She laughed. "I suppose so. I'm not a girly girl, so I don't mind not having the princess dress or the flowers or the food but..."
I sighed heavily. "Another but."
Her face flushed. "I want it to just be us, but … and I don't want my family there as they aren't part of my life anymore-" flashing me a shy smile, she rushed "-you're my new family. My chosen family."