“That’s exactly why I have to let her go. I should have known never to let anyone close, because humans break and then they break our hearts.”

Sera had tears rolling down her cheeks, but Bhal and Alexis looked at Byron with admiration.

“You’re doing a noble thing, Principe,” Bhal said.

Byron got up and walked to the door. “Alexis, get Miss Honey a first class ticket to London for tomorrow. One way.”

“Yes, Principe.”

Byron walked out of the conference room fighting to stop her emotions from overwhelming her. Somewhere inside she’d known this was inevitable. She wasn’t good enough for Amelia, and if Victorija ever hurt her, she knew she would lose her perfect control and destroy everything that the Debreks stood for. She had to make the hard choices to put Amelia and her clan first, and that meant walking away.

* * *

Amelia lay in bed, her eyes puffy from crying, praying that Byron would come back to her, apologize, and tell her the truth. Everything she had seen and heard whirled around her mind and she just couldn’t make sense of it. It had crossed her mind that perhaps the Debreks weren’t bankers after all. Maybe they were criminals? Why else would they need security armed to the teeth, and fear being attacked? But then she dismissed the thought. Debrek banks were everywhere.

She jumped when the bedroom door opened and Byron walked in sheepishly. “May I talk to you?”

“If you want.” Amelia got up and saw Byron’s eyes devour her body in the new lingerie she was wearing, and despite everything that had gone on, her body responded to Byron, as it always did. It was like she had no control.

Byron appeared distressed, tense, and emotional, not her usual controlled demeanour. Amelia stopped in front of her and said, “Well?”

Byron gulped hard. “I came here to tell you that whatever happens from now on, whether you forgive me or not, everything I’ve done or will do is because—” Byron looked down.

“Because what, Byron?”

She watched Byron take a breath, stand a little taller, and say, “Because I love you. I think I’ve loved you since I first set eyes on you.”

Amelia’s heart soared, and she momentarily forgot about all their other trouble. She had dreamed about Byron saying those words. “I love you, Byron. I wanted to say it for so long, but I was worried I’d scare you away.”

Byron raised her hand and cupped her cheek. “You’re so beautiful.”

Amelia melted into Byron’s touch, and her overwhelming emotions couldn’t be stopped. They came together in a desperate passionate kiss. Byron kissed her like it was her last, and Amelia met her with equal passion.