Read White Collared Part Four: Passion for Free Online

happened to your husband?”
    Camille sighed and applied the new bandage to her thumb. “I’d like to think so. The alternative is too awful. That the man I fell in love with all those years ago wasn’t the man I’d thought.” The corners of her mouth tugged up in a sad smile. “Perhaps it’s the only way I can live with myself. There was a time when all he wanted was to save the world. Take down big business on behalf of the little guy.”
    Miles Joseph’s clients were some of the largest auto, aviation, and banking corporations in the world. That didn’t sound anything like the man whom his widow had described.
    She leaned on the desk with the palm of her hand. “What happened?”
    “Life. Representing the little guy didn’t pay the rent, and so he took a job that paid well, thinking once he’d made enough money, he’d give back.” Camille glanced at the broken glass on the floor. “And in a way, he did. Once he made partner, he didn’t represent any company he didn’t believe in. Still, I can’t help thinking we would’ve been better off had he never taken that first job.”
    Isn’t that what Kate was doing? Choosing the path with money and stability when she’d rather help those who truly needed it? But she’d planned for this for years. What else could she do?
    She knew from experience that second guessing decisions wouldn’t help Camille heal. “I understand. But we can’t change the past. We can only learn from it and move on.”
    The widow tilted her head. “You’re very wise for such a young woman. I see why Jaxon is so enamored of you.”
    Her breath caught in her chest. “Jaxon? I don’t know what—”
    “I know it was you at Benediction. The mask may have given you a sense of security, but we all knew your identity the moment you stepped inside.” Camille moved closer as if to tell Kate a secret. “But you don’t have to worry. No one there would ever out you as a fellow kinkster.”
    A slow leak of panic seeped from her lungs in the sound of a gasp. “Oh, I’m not—”
    “Honey, you are. Don’t be one of those people who lie to themselves.” Camille took Kate’s hand in her uninjured one. “Embrace it. I’m sure Master Cole would welcome you at Benediction any time.”
    Would he? She wasn’t wealthy or part of the upper class like the other members. As comfortable as she’d felt there, as much as it had felt like coming home, she’d only been pretending. “I couldn’t afford it.”
    “You belong to Jaxon. That makes you a member.”
    She pulled her hand back, uncomfortable with the woman’s unwarranted compassion. “Jaxon and I aren’t together anymore.”
    “I’m surprised to hear that. Everyone was talking about his collaring you.” She eyed Kate’s neck. “And you’re still wearing it.”
    She slid her fingers across the circle of gold. “I can’t seem to make myself take it off.”
    “That’s because the only one who can is Jaxon.”
    “He may not have removed it, but he made it clear that he needed time away from me.”
    She hadn’t heard from him since the police station. Nick had gone with Jaxon to his exclusive interview with Rachel Dawson, and he’d requested Nick come alone.
    Jaxon obviously didn’t want anything to do with her.
    Shocking her, Camille gave her a motherly hug. “Don’t give up hope, darling. As long as you wear that collar, you’re his and he’s yours. Give him some time to grieve. After all, he’s lost more than his wife.”
    “What do you mean?”
    Camille threw her bloody tissue in the trash. “Even though he was innocent of Alyssa’s murder, people will always associate him with the crime. He’s been outed as a Sadist and Dominant, and as long as he’s head of his venture capitalist firm, no one will work with it. The board is going to remove him and force a sale of his stock, which at the moment isn’t worth much. He’ll face prejudice wherever he goes.” Narrowing her gaze on Kate as if she were