Page 94 of King

“You mean the Zane you couldn’t wait for me to break up with? Oh wait, you didn’t,” the words escape my mouth without me taking a second. But it’s true.

Like most of the guys I dated, Shauna always had a crush on Zane. She even acted on it the minute we fought. I’m surprised she didn’t sink her claws into him the minute I left The Grove.

She laughs, “What? The hot ones always went for you. I had to play the game the best way I knew how. Seems the hot ones still got a thing for Jo Row.”

“How do you even know about Damien? I didn’t know about him until I met him."

Her phone rings but she ignores it. “How can I not? King Financial is all through this town. They want to buy up Nelly’s Records, The Blue Spot, the library and everything between.”

“Of course they do.” I take another big glug. “They seem to think the entire world belongs to them.” Shauna’s phone rings again. I gesture to it. “You can take that.”

She’s quick to flip it over and wave it off. “Thirsty fuckboys.”

I laugh and we continue the rest of the night like we used to. Drunk, laughing about boys. I don’t even realize how late it is.

Shauna’s the one to cut things short, “Okay, it’s almost two and I have work.”

“Where do you work anyway?”

She hesitates but I blame it on the whiskey. “Just a small errand job.” Shauna takes the blanket from her legs and puts it over my shoulders before getting up.

I hear her flop in the bed in the corner.

“Shauna?” I call, cozying up on her sofa.

“No, we can’t go to The Blue Room.” Her pillow muffles her tired voice and I laugh.

“No, I wanted to thank you.” I smile, letting the whiskey calm my body as I snuggle further into the cushions.

"Yeah and I bet you'll be thanking me when you wake up with a headache."

Laughing again, I close my eyes. Body tired from our drinks.

So Shauna’s not perfect. But it seems that I do have people who care after all.

I don't know what tomorrow will bring but for now, I'm back home. In The Grove.

“Where’s the money, Little Mama?”

Zane's voice is in my head when I wake up.

When I open my eyes, his hazel eyes meet mine. "Jo? Where's the money?"

My heart is pumping and the room is still a blur. “Zane? Wh…” Shauna's room and the memories of yesterday start to move in like clouds. When my vision clears, there's a wad of cash in Zane's hands.

Zane is here. In Shauna's apartment.

He's in a green sweater, hoodie over his head. I recognize the money clip in his hand from the Acres party. His voice is gruff, impatient, “This all you got?”

My head is pounding, streams of light coming in through Shauna’s broken blinds. “Where’s Shauna?”

“Looks like she happened to be in the right place at the right time last night.” He smirks, gripping me by my shirt. “I’m not going to ask you again.”

I'm too confused to give him what he wants. "Right place? Where's Shauna?

“Just give him the fucking money, babe,” Shauna’s voice comes from behind him. “If you’ve been fucking Damien King I know you got it.”

“Tell me where it is, Jo." Zane’s hands come to my cheeks, making me stare into those lost eyes. His pupils are massive, eyes glossy. “Tell me where it is and you can go back to your rich boyfriend."

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