Page 135 of Contract of a Billionaire

“No,” she croaked. “I don’t have much time. I wanted to hear your voice. And K-Kol’s.” Her voice broke on our son’s name.

“Everything will be fine,” I told her. “I’m coming to get you.”

“No. Promise me you’ll stay away.” Her voice grew smaller with each word.

Byron’s phone rang at the same time, but I ignored it all. I locked eyes with Nico and mouthed, “Track my phone.”

I put the call on speakerphone and had the number displayed. Without prompting, Byron typed it into his phone too.

“Whose phone is this?” I asked her.

“It’s a satellite phone,” she mumbled. “I have no idea where Kian found it. Please, Alessio. Promise me you won’t come.” She dropped her voice to a whisper. “For Kol.”

“It is for Kol that I’m coming for you,” I rasped. “I’m no good without you.”

I didn’t give a shit who heard my admission. It was true. I needed her back in my home, my life, my bed.

“No. Stay home. Be safe.”

My heart clenched. It sounded too much like goodbye. I didn’t like it.

“C-can I hear Kol’s voice?” Her voice broke. “I miss him so much. I want to hear him, just in case I don’t– “

“Don’t you fucking say it,” I growled. “Don’t you dare think it, Autumn. I’m coming for you. I have a way in. Tell me where you are.”

“We’re hiding in the mountains.” I locked gazes with Byron. Mountain was the right call.

“Drop me your location pin.”

“It’s a satellite phone,” she explained. “I don’t think it has a pin. Alessio, I need you to listen to me; I don’t have much time. Just in case I don’t make it back, promise me you’ll keep Kol out of the underworld. Please.”

“You’re going to make it back,” I vowed, my voice trembling. For fuck sake, my voice was shaking and cold sweat formed on my skin. This fear was like ice in my chest. “I’m coming to get you. We’ll keep him out of the underworld together.”

I could hear gunfire in the background. It sounded like it was getting closer. The sounds of bullets were louder than when I first answered the phone.

“Please take care of Kol,” she whispered, her voice hard to hear. “I should have–” A long pause. “Four years and then this.”

“We’ll have the next forty years. You stay safe until I get there,” I ordered stubbornly. “You’ll be home before the week is out.”

Sobs followed. “I-I don’t know–” Her voice broke.

I needed to see her. Protect her. “Youwillcome home. You can even break my heart and I won’t be an asshole. Ever again. We’ll fight and make up. But youwillcome home.”

Her whimpers were my answer. She lost faith. She was scared. And it was tearing my soul to shreds. I could tolerate anyone’s pain but hers.

“P-please, can I hear Kol’s voice?” she choked out. More soft sobs followed. “Just in case– ”

Bianca was in front of me, Kol in her arms. She chewed on her bottom lip, her eyes shining with tears. Fuck, I wanted to cry too. But I couldn’t break down now.

“Hey, buddy,” I murmured softly. “Maman is on the phone. Can you say hi to her?”

“Maman,” Kol’s eyes stared at my phone.

“Oh, baby. Yes, it’s me,” she cried. “I miss you so much. D-did you have a nice Christmas?”

“Daddy can go on the plane,” Kol babbled. “Bring Maman home?”

“I-I don’t know, baby.” Her voice trembled and it gutted me. It twisted an invisible knife in my heart and made me bleed.