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“We’ll take it under advisement. Thanks, Merrick.” Evander tilted his head in Tamsyn’s direction. “I spoke to a couple people this afternoon about that other matter we discussed. Explained the situation and the likelihood that there’ll be more like Tamsyn heading in their direction. Eli and I have talked about it, and we’ve put forward a proposal to the relevant departments about funding the operation.”

“It’s an operation now?”

“It will be once the others have been liberated. Tamsyn’s been fortunate—she found her way here, she met you. You’ve been integral in her healing and integration into society, and she’ll have your continued support for the rest of her life.” Dark eyes turning a little distant, Evander tapped his fingers on the table in an out of character sign of agitation. “The other women in that compound, the children, are not going to have that advantage. The majority are not going to have homes or families to return to, or a safe place to hide once they’re removed from everything they know.”

“My husband has a soft heart,” Eli commented, reaching over to lay his hand on Evander’s solid forearm. “Tamsyn’s situation is a reminder of how fortunate we are—successful businesses, a home, each other. We have the resources and connections to make the community victims’ transition back to reality a smoother one.”

“Someone will be in touch with you about Tamsyn’s paperwork. Once it’s completed, she should be fast tracked for official documentation—it’s part of the deal we’ve put together. We will pay for the community women and children to be documented—all through legal channels once the deal is approved—and relocate them to safe houses across the state, further if they need more distance. We’ll provide medical care, psychologists, and help them with their educational needs. Everything they require to get back on their feet will be offered until they have the resources to make their own lives.”

Merrick’s jaw dropped. “That could cost you thousands, Evander. Hundreds of thousands.”

Unperturbed, the big guy just shrugged. “Current estimate is into the million mark. Until we have exact survivor figures, the numbers are flexible. It doesn’t matter; I’m a self-made man who is fucking lucky with the cards I’ve been dealt.” His eyes drank in Callie with utter devotion. “I have more money than I can spend, and once my father finishes arguing with God and drags his sorry ass off this mortal coil…”

Elias snorted. “Van’s the heir to one of the biggest chocolate empires in the world. Although he hates the notion, when his father dies, he stands to become a billionaire.”

Merrick glanced at the bowl of chocolate drops in the middle of the table, plucking one with a raised eyebrow. “One of yours?”

“For all my father’s faults, he knows how to pick excellent chocolatiers.”

Huh. Who would’ve guessed?

Unwrapping the small chocolate, Merrick pressed it to Tamsyn’s lips. “Open, darlin’.”

Grumbling sleepily, she parted her lips wide enough for him to slip the drop onto her tongue, then her eyes opened, filling with pleasure as the flavor hit her taste buds. Her quiet moan of appreciation perked his cock up.

“Are you gonna save the world, Evander?” Merrick mused.

Was that a flare of heat in his cheeks beneath that blond beard? “I don’t want or need credit for it. The system is slow and corrupt; too many people in need slip through the cracks. We have the means to help, so why not start with those who are close to someone we care about?”

Oblivious to the conversation, Tamsyn tipped her head back, smacking her lips until Merrick supplied another treat. Humming happily, she closed her eyes again, sucking on the chocolate this time.

“Well, I guess this is as good a time as any then.” Lifting his glass, he waited for the others to catch on, bringing the entire group together. “A toast. To men with big wallets, bigger hearts, and the vision to create a family from scratch. To Evander and Elias.”

Callie squealed and enthusiastically clanked her glass of juice against the others. “Daddies!”

“To Evander and Elias,” the group repeated, followed by a lot of clinking glasses.

Merrick tossed back his drink, set the glass down, then peered down at Tamsyn. Her eyes were at half-mast, her lips curved in a beatific smile. The body he’d put through hell earlier was loose, relaxed, conforming to the contours of his while her hand kneaded his chest.

She was going to be his wife.

Thanks to Evander’s generosity, that blessed event wouldn’t take months while they waited for paperwork and red tape, bureaucracy and regulations. With any luck, it might only be weeks, if not days.

The sooner the better as far as he was concerned. He wanted a ring on her finger, his life bound to hers, with their future stretching in front of them for years to come.

There was just one more hurdle standing in his way.

Chapter Fifteen

Tamsyn

This was stupid.

Reading was stupid. Writing was stupid.

Her brain was the stupidest thing of all.

Utterly frustrated, Tamsyn threw the pencil down, watching it bounce off the exercise book in an impressive arc. It clattered to the floor, joining the three other writing utensils she’d disposed of in the last hour. She picked up the book, intending to hurl that next, but a reprimanding voice chimed up before it could flutter in the same direction as the pencil.