Billion Dollar Bad Boy (Big City Billionaires)(54)

His eyes were hooded, no light touching the black centers. The sun hit him from behind, extending his shadow so that as it stretched over the room, floating an inch from me on the rug.

Finally, he must have realized what he'd done to me years ago. What he was still doing by continuing to reach out to me. Did he feel regret? Did he feel anything at all?

Silver's voice was so low that I had to strain to hear him. “You were the first person I'd ever met that knew that money wasn't as important as someone's life.” His chin touched his chest, I couldn't see his expression. “I'll say it again. I never planned to hurt you that day.”

With great effort, I kept myself steady. “What about now?”

His eyes shot up, raw and wild. “Excuse me?”

Silver had hacked another bank, the radio had told me. If the first hadn't been enough, why was this one any different? There was a chance people would get caught in the middle the longer he was on the streets.

People who might not be lucky enough to survive with just emotional scars, like me.

My stomach ate itself as I weighed my question. “Do you even think about anyone else, or do you just want more money?”

“Why would I...” He locked up. “Ah. You've been watching the news.”

Pulling my numb hands up, I gestured around the luxurious office. “You have all this, why are you stealing more?”

“You're right, I'm rich. Why would I rob anyone?”

He was challenging me to come up with a reason. As I hunched there, my hands balling into fists... I slowly let my arms drift to the floor. He was right, why would he risk robbing another bank if he didn't need the money?

Licking my lips, I said, “You wouldn't. You're saying it's not you.”

A flicker of relief glowed in his handsome face. He was happy I believed him. “It's not me. Though I'd love to know who it is.”

Rattled by all this information, I cradled my head in my hands. Silver had led me on the road to hell, he'd stolen my confidence and I'd wallowed in the despair of that for years. But who I'd been back then... and who I was now... was as different as night and day. I'd changed again and again.

What about him?

Before I could react, his long arms curled around my huddled body. Everything in him flexed, he lifted me like I weighed nothing. The front of his shirt brushed my cheek, his scent comforting me.

Sitting back on the desk, he held me tight in his lap. “Do you believe me, that I wouldn't hurt you?” His lips were so close. So damn close.

He saw me staring, following the energy that connected between our bodies. “I'm not sure.”

Silver cracked a surprising smile. “That honesty again. Then how about this.” The same fingers that had dug into his desk gently rolled down my cheek. “I'm going to prove to you that you're safe with me.”

A layer of tingles moved with his hand. “How?”

“By spending every waking moment—and some non-waking ones—at your side.” The sunlight flared behind him, finally catching the edges of his perfect teeth. “I told you before. Now that I have you back, I'm never letting you go.” He nuzzled my ear, eliciting a whimper. “My beautiful hostage. My Pet.”

“I have so many more questions,” I said, turning his way.

“You know so much already, what else is there?”

I watched him from under my eyelashes. “You said I forgot you. But the you that I knew back then... he was a monster. Did you really want me to remember that?”

“No, not at all. Selfish or not, I never wanted you to remember that day. In just a few months, we've created something so hot, so addicting between us.” He nuzzled the hollow of my throat. “For awhile, I'd hoped I could satisfy my curiosity with you... and then forget you.”

I hugged him harder.

“But I couldn't do it. I couldn't shake you off. When you remembered who I was, I was distraught, and also happy. You finally knew me. I didn't have to hide anymore. What finally jogged your memory?”

The reminder of the video on my phone had me tensing up all over again. Silver sensed it, embracing me like he could squeeze the pain away. “That guy who was facing off with you outside my work, Detective Roose? He sent me a video of the robbery.”

“Is that so,” he mused softly.

Eyeing him, I was reminded of one of the reasons I'd come here. “He's been talking to me for weeks. He really wants to find you, Silver.” Ice settled in my veins. “You have to be more careful.”

“I'm very careful.”

“No you aren't! You kept talking to me even when I told you not to!” Under my barrage of words, his expression was calm. The corner of his mouth was begging me to kiss it, his eyes warm as an Indian summer. “Weren't you worried I'd turn you in to the police?”

Running a knuckle across my forehead, he brushed my earlobe. “When you're in love, you stop caring about the risks.”

Love.

My heart took all of my focus. It spun and swelled, it possessed my mind.

Love.

Heat settled in my skin, my vision focusing solely on Silver. “You love me?” I whispered.

“If you hadn't figured that out by now,” he said, cupping the back of my head. “Then I've done a very poor job.” Stroking my hair, he cradled me against him. “I'll never forgive myself for being the one that f*cked up your life.”