I shook my head, unsure. For the first time in my life, I didn’t know how to behave. Usually I just throw money at things, buying my freedom, buying my forgiveness, but in this case, it was different.
“I don’t know,” I rumbled slowly. “I don’t know, but I do know this, Anna Jones. I love you too, and I will always do my best by you and the baby for as long as I live.”
She took a deep breath, those brown eyes still unsure.
“I hear you,” she said softly. “But you have to understand. Words make things a little better, but they’re not perfect. After everything that’s happened, I can’t just give it up like a nincompoop. I have to see real change, Robert,” she said, looking at me seriously then. “I have to see something different. I’m not sure what, but something has to be different.”
And that was my opening. Immediately I was on my knees before the sweet girl.
“Whatever you want,” I rumbled, taking her hands in mine. “Whatever you want. We don’t have to get married if you’re not ready. We don’t have to do anything that you don’t want. We’ll take it slow,” I promised fervently.
Anna took a deep breath then, those beautiful breasts rising, her belly resting gently against our clasped hands.
“Okay then,” she said, her voice reserved, still a whisper. “Let’s see how it goes.”
And I knew that opportunity had just knocked. Because my best girl was giving me another chance. After everything I’d done, Anna was opening her heart a crack, letting me get a toehold as we began this phase of our lives together.
Because I was a fucking asshole. Worse than that, I was a criminal who literally abducted a girl off the street, keeping her locked up in my cabin with the thinnest of excuses.
And because Robert Morgan never makes mistakes, I hadn’t believed her protests. I hadn’t listened, when she said this was a case of mistaken identity. What other gorgeous redheaded temptress was there? Of course my stupid younger brother had fallen for the flame-haired vixen, it had to be her.
But as soon as Ann-Marie made her appearance, it was apparent I’d fucked up in a huge way. Because Anna is hardworking, generous, giving, and smart as a pin. Ann-Marie was the exact opposite, a shallow, deceitful little bitch, dark where her sister was light, evil where her sister was good. And me, Robert Morgan, had fucked this up, making a fatal error.
So it was up to me now, and I thanked god for second chances. I thanked whatever I’d done in a past life to grant me this opportunity, the nine lives I’d wasted, the tiniest hair which had allowed me to escape. Because none of the stupid shit mattered anymore. I had Anna. I had my gorgeous girl, and even more, she was pregnant with my child. I was going to work this out no matter what because she’s the light of my life, the star by which I sail my ship. After tooling around like an idiot for months, finally the female’s reappeared, and I’m determined to do right. More than that. I’m determined that our relationship will be perfect. After all, she’s my captive … and nobody will take her away again.
EPILOGUE
Anna
Two years later …
“Are you sure?” I gasped, looking at the wire cage. “Are you sure?”
The cage was human-sized, about seven feet tall and three feet across. It was big enough to stand in, with shackles on the sides and at the top. The wire mesh was a little scary to be honest.
But Robert wasn’t having any of that.
“Naw baby girl,” he rumbled, blue eyes gleaming. “It’s all good. You’ll be safe, I promise.”
And taking a deep breath, I stepped inside. Because safety is a big deal between us. For the longest time, I didn’t trust Robert, and for good reason. He was an alpha male who always got his way. He’d pulled me off the streets and thrown me into his car, keeping me prisoner in his cabin. So no, I didn’t trust him. Even though the billionaire gave me a big diamond and sweet words, it wasn’t enough, not at first. Not after everything I’d gone through.
So the first couple months were tough. He wanted me to move in with him in a fancy penthouse in Manhattan, but I wasn’t having it.
“No, I can’t,” I said slowly. “This is my life now. I have a job here, and my baby’s going to be born in Seattle.”
Robert looked at me carefully.
“There are four bedrooms in my New York apartment,” he rumbled. “You don’t have to share my bed, baby girl.”
But it wasn’t just that. At that point, I just wasn’t ready to change my life for him, especially not something as big as moving across the country. So I shook my head firmly.