We were all going out to lunch and I was fucking starving, but first I wanted my mum to meet the love of my life. At least in the only way she could. A couple of minutes later, we were both stood in front of Mum’s grave and I was trying not to let my emotions run away with me.
“Mum… this is Ellie. You told me once you hoped I’d find a girl who made my heart sing. Well, I did. She’s one of a kind and you’d have fallen in love with her on sight. I guarantee it.”
When I looked over at Ellie, she had tears in her eyes, but there was also a determined look on her face too.
“Hi Margo. Thank you for bringing such a wonderful son into the world. I promise I’ll take care of him and love him the way he deserves. He’s done so much for me. I think you’d be proud of who he is. I know I am… more than words can express.”
Two tears slipped down her cheeks. I was desperate to reach up and wipe them away, but I didn’t want to interrupt her. The warm feeling I got in my chest that she was talking to my mum was unlike anything else.
“He means everything to me. I don’t know what I’d do without him. So I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate everything you did to help raise him to be the man he is today. He misses you, but he knows you’re watching over him, Dante, Jen and Fi. You’ll always be right here.” She reached up and placed her hand on my heart, her eyes catching mine. “Where you belong.”
I placed my hand over hers, giving it a squeeze.
“Ellie…”
“She’s always here, James,” she whispered. “And now so am I.”
Could I love this girl any more than I already did? Today proved to me I could. Now more than ever I hoped what I had planned for her would make her happy. That’s all I wanted. To give her the world and make her happy.
“I love you so much, sweetheart.”
“I love you too.”
Her smile set my whole damn world on fire and I couldn’t help dragging her towards me and kissing her right in front of my mother’s grave. I knew Mum would be okay with it. She knew exactly how I felt about Ellie. I’d go to the ends of the earth for her.
When I pulled away, Ellie was smiling, her blue eyes shining with happiness. I cupped her cheek, brushing away the tears which had fallen.
“I promise, sweetheart, no matter what the world throws at us in the future, we’ll face it together.”
I don’t know why I needed to tell her that. I just did. I’d make a thousand promises to Ellie if it meant we could stay like this. The two of us at one with each other.
I’m going to love you forever, Ellie.
I promise.
Chapter Twenty Eight
Ellie
If I’d known six months ago I’d end up meeting the love of my life and be living with him in such a short space of time, I probably would’ve laughed because that just sounded like fairy tale bullshit to me. Except it wasn’t a fairy tale at all. Even during my years of captivity, I hadn’t felt this much for another person. I hadn’t experienced heartache and emotional pain quite like the way I had with James. But what surprised me the most is how all of that turmoil was worth it. It was worth the pain because I had him. My handsome, complex, smart, caring and kind boyfriend who would go to the ends of the earth for me. At least he’d said that last week after he’d found me crying in the bathroom. They’d set the date for my dad’s trial and the relief I felt at knowing it was almost over overwhelmed me.
What I hadn’t expected to be doing was standing outside the bar where we’d first got to know each other mid-morning on my twenty fourth birthday. I hadn’t been to Frankie’s in a while because of everything with James and my parents. I missed the place, but I still had no idea why James wanted to come here. He’d woken me up with toe-curling sex, followed by breakfast in bed before shoving me in the shower and ordering me to get dressed. Not wanting to ruin his good mood, I didn’t complain, but I did wonder what had him looking so nervous now.
“It’s not even open,” I said, looking up at him.
He said nothing, merely took my hand and dragged me down the steps with him. He produced a key from his pocket and unlocked the door. This was the first sign I had that James had clearly been up to something I wasn’t meant to know about until now.
We walked in together and he flipped the lights on. The bar looked exactly as it had the last time I’d been in here except it was empty. I turned to him and I was pretty sure he could see the confusion written all over my face.
“What did you do?”
He pointed to the bar. There were papers sitting on the countertop. I eyed them for a moment before glancing up at him again. There was a hint of concern in his eyes, but he quickly masked that with a smile.
“Go and look, Ellie.”
I left his side, feeling apprehensive as my palms started to sweat. What the hell had my perfect boyfriend done? I hopped up on one of the stools and dragged the papers towards me, scanning the front page. My stomach dropped out from underneath me, but before I had a chance to say a word, the door to the bar opened and in walked a very smartly dressed man.
“James,” he said, his voice deep and disarming. “It’s nice to see you and I take it this is the lovely Ellie.”
“Felix, thank you for coming down,” James replied, giving the man’s hand a shake before the two of them walked over to me.
The man James had called Felix walked around behind the bar and stood before us.
“Uh… hi,” I said, completely dumbfounded by this whole thing.
“I’m Felix Williams, the Benson’s solicitor. Normally I don’t do house calls, but this is a special occasion.”
I shook his hand on automatic.
“What’s going on?”
Felix looked at James who had the decency to look sheepish.
“You didn’t tell her?”
“It was meant to be a surprise,” James replied, shrugging.
Felix turned back to me, shaking his head with a smile on his face.
“Well your boyfriend here bought this building from the owner who’s retiring and will continue to live in the accommodation above us, but this,” he waved around the room, “this bar will be yours once you sign these papers.”
I stared at Felix for a long moment unable to comprehend his words. Sitting in front of me were papers that detailed the transference of ownership of Frankie’s which confirmed Felix’s words.
My boyfriend had bought me a bar for my birthday.
He was completely insane.
I turned to James, tears welling in my eyes.
“Why?” I whispered.
He took both of my hands, giving them a squeeze.
“You loved working in the bar at the hotel and I know how much you love this place. When it came up for sale a couple of months ago, I decided then and there I wanted to give you this for your birthday. Felix and Dante helped me rush through the sale. I just want to make you happy, sweetheart. So I’m giving you something you can make your own.”
I had no words. James was the sweetest man in the whole entire world. There was no way I could thank him adequately for this. So I did the only thing I knew how. I launched myself off the stool and into his arms, kissing him with everything I had. Trying to pour all of my love and appreciation into that single kiss. I wasn’t even mad he’d gone and done this behind my back without asking me.
“I love you,” I whispered against his lips. “I love you so much.”
I buried my face in his shoulder when I pulled away, breathing him in because I was a little embarrassed by my over-enthusiastic display of affection.
“Thank you, James.”
My words were muffled by his coat, but I knew he’d heard me.
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.”
Even though this was the most ridiculously extravagant gift he could give me, I couldn’t refuse it. Not least because the moment I saw what he’d done, it’d filled me with so much joy I could barely contain it.
I’d never had huge aspirations in life, but he was right, I had loved working in the bar at the hotel and I really did love this little jazz bar.
I pulled away and looked up at him. His blue eyes were shining and my heart stopped in my chest. I was the luckiest girl in the world to have this man in my life. To have his love. To have his affection and most of all… his kind and considerate heart.
“I can’t believe you bought me a bar.”
“Not just any bar, the one where I first learnt how amazing you are and you gave me an introduction to Amaretto Sours. I blame you for my addiction.”
I smiled, feeling my cheeks heat up. One of the things he’d bought me was a very expensive cocktail shaker a couple of weeks ago so I could make them at home.
“Can I sign the papers then?” I asked.
He let me go, his blue eyes twinkling. I could tell he’d been nervous I wouldn’t accept this, but James knew me better than I knew myself sometimes. I needed this. A project to work on and throw myself into after all the turmoil of my father’s arrest and upcoming trial. I’d been bored at home. And James’ flat really was home now. Last week, we’d moved all of my stuff out of my flat, getting rid of what we didn’t need as my notice period was finally up.
I sat at the bar and Felix indicated where I needed to sign. It took some time as I had to sign a few copies, but once we were done, he handed me the keys to the bar and left us to it, saying he’d have all the rest of the necessary paperwork delivered to us within the week.
I turned to James, the hugest smile on my face as I launched myself back into his arms and kissed him again now we were alone. This kiss wasn’t remotely innocent. My hands were under his t-shirt within moments, running across his bare skin as he groaned in my mouth.
“Lock the door,” I told him as I shrugged my coat off and hung it up on the back of the stool.
His eyebrow raised, but he soon got the message because he was jogging over to the front door and flipping the lock. The next half an hour was hands, tongues and bodies crashing together in a hot mess all over one of the tables in a booth at the back. Our booth. The one where I’d first revealed something about my past. James knew the whole story now. I’d opened up to him about it further and he’d told me more about his father. We’d promised to lay bare our true selves to each other one night when he’d taken me to dinner. We’d signed it on a napkin as usual and it was stuck on the fridge in our kitchen as a reminder.
I lay on his chest, running my hand along his stomach. His eyes were closed and his breathing heavy.
“I should buy you bars more often,” he said.
“Why?”
He opened his eyes which were dark with lust.
“Because that, sweetheart, was hot as fuck.”
I laughed, shaking my head and kissing his chest.
“Don’t even think about buying me another bar. I’ll have enough trouble working out how to run this one.”
“The current manager is very experienced, I’m sure he can help you.”
“And who would that be?”
James’ eyes twinkled.
“Your good friend, Sandro.”
I groaned, hiding my face in his chest. Sandro the certifiable flirt. At least I knew him a little already so that might go some way to making this an easier transition for me.
“I bet he was happy when he realised it was you buying the place.”
“Maybe… I did have to tell him I didn’t bat for the other team.”
I was shaking with laughter for the next five minutes because I couldn’t get over the thought of James having to have that conversation with Sandro.
“It wasn’t funny, Ellie. Honestly, I feel like a piece of meat whenever he looks at me.”
That set me off further and I almost fell off the table. Thankfully, James caught me in time. He was shaking his head at me when I’d calmed down again.
“He can look but he can’t touch.” I ran a finger down the centre of his chest. “You’re all mine.”
He raised an eyebrow at me.
“Is that so?”
“Mmmhmm, so don’t forget it.”
“I’d never, sweetheart. You and I belong to each other.”
I never thought I’d find happiness like this. Not with someone who understood me in ways no one else ever did. James and I were meant to be. I should’ve known that from the day I met him at his brother’s wedding. I’d felt something back then but I hadn’t realised what it was and from what James told me, the feeling was mutual.
Suddenly realising something, I jumped up and ran over to the bar, grabbing a napkin and a pen, not caring I was completely naked. When I got back to the table, James was sitting up on it running a hand through his hair.
“What’s this?” he asked, but I’m pretty sure he knew.
“This, my sweet, kind and incredibly generous boyfriend who has given me the best birthday present in the world, is possibly the most important promise we’ll ever make to each other.”
I wrote it down and showed it to him. It was so simple and yet it was the only promise I ever wanted to make to him. His smile was radiant as he took the pen from me and signed his name next to mine.
I promise to love you
Signed
Eleanor Kirkwood and James Benson
I sincerely hope you enjoyed reading this book as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you did, I would greatly appreciate a short review on Amazon or your favourite book website. Reviews are crucial for any author, and even just a line or two can make a huge difference.
***
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Promises Playlist
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***
Prohibit
I was her therapist. She was my lifeline.
You think having a one night stand with a woman in a bar would be simple, right?
She was everything I wanted.
This little dark haired beauty who let me do exactly as I pleased.
And gave as good as she got.
Everything about that one night was perfect.
Until she walked into my office with her twin sister.
I tried to stay away and deny what was between us.
She was too young. Too innocent. Too sweet.
And worst of all, my client.
She got under my skin, making it impossible to forget her.
I’ve had a taste of the forbidden.
And once was never going to be enough.
Fiona Benson made me throw caution to the wind.
I watched the flames crash and burn.
Coming Soon!
Titles by Sarah Bailey
Dark Romance
Corrupt Empire
Betrayal
Sacrifice
Revenge
Benson Siblings
Provoked
Promises
Paranormal Romance
After Dark
Demon’s Destiny
Vampire’s Kiss
Witching Night
Cursed Heart
Death’s Angel
Lucifer’s Cage
Blood Magic
Acknowledgements
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this book.
What a journey James and Ellie have taken me on. I hadn’t planned on writing any further stories in this universe until one of my readers, the lovely Petra, suggested she would love to read James’ story as well as perhaps the twins too. What’s a writer to do when her characters start talking her ear off? Write them of course. I just wasn’t anticipating quite how emotional this story would be for me.
James was never going
to be an antihero like Aiden and Dante were. He’s far too sweet and kind for that, but he did end up surprising me at every turn. I especially wanted to explore his relationship with his father because Zach was a huge part of the siblings lives for so long. He might be behind bars, but the past has a way of catching up with you no matter how hard you try to bury it. James’ story needed telling and I’m so glad I got to meet his love interest, Ellie. Writing her backstory was heartbreaking for me, especially since I’ve never really gotten to tell the stories of the women who were affected by the Daniels from the Corrupt Empire trilogy. Whilst Ellie’s circumstances were unique to her, we also got a wider insight into how the Daniels preyed on young women and what they managed to get away with for so long. I just hope this story was worth the wait and that you’ve loved these two characters just as much as I have writing them.
A huge thank you to all my readers for sticking with the Corrupt Empire universe. Your enthusiasm for these characters and their stories has kept me going. And don’t worry, there’s more to come! The twins are next.
Thank you to my writing family. All of you give me life. My besties, Sabrina and Sean, you’ve always got my back and never fail to support me in my hour of need. You know just how hard I work to get these books written and how much my characters drive me crazy at every turn. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you.
I dedicated this book to Elle, but she has been my lifeline this year. From listening to me rant about my characters, getting excited about James’ story with me and knowing exactly how hard the life of an author is when you’re constantly bombarded with new ideas. You never fail to inspire me. I’m so glad I have a fellow author who understands my writing process and is on the same page as me.
Thank you to my family who give me their complete support despite the hard times we’ve had over the past couple of months. Especially thank you to my mother for proofreading James’ story and loving the journey the characters have been on.
Promises Page 29
