Page 98 of Fierce Monarch

“What about the other one? Greyson. Dude’s been her shadow her whole life.”

I snorted, knowing the kid had probably heard that from someone else. “He’s hers too.”

He jerked to a stop. “And you’re okay with that?”

I shrugged like it didn’t matter. “She’s the queen.”

“Fuck me, I want that job.”

I cuffed him on the back of the head, groaning when it pulled at my wound. “Don’t be disrespectful. It’s an honor to be hers. We don’t take that shit lightly.”

The kid lifted his hands, though that lecherous look was still on his face. “I bet you have the best orgies.”

I was seriously going to take his nickname from him if he didn’t shut up.

The visit to the infirmary was quick and painful. No numbing drugs for me, but the stitches weren’t awful, and I hid the bandage under a new shirt that Killer got for me. We were about to head out when I peeked toward the hallway and saw one of the Aces posted in front of the door.

“Have they ever helped a Marcosa before?”

“No.”

Give the kid our best.

Nate. He’d been on the phone with Mari when the cops pulled up, and I knew they’d talked since he left. Had he done this? Had he given me extra protection? If so, why?

It would be easier for him to get Mari if I was dead, either to kill or keep.

Even though I despised him, I couldn’t see him as the type. Not when it was obvious that he wasn’t letting Mari go. I’d take the protection he offered, but it didn’t mean I had to like him.

After I was fixed up, we went back to the chow hall, hoping to get something to eat. Our cellblock had already cleared out, but no one told us off, so we got in line, grabbing things we could take back to the cell. I was waiting for Montgomery, idly watching the heavily armed tables with a frown, positive there were more guards than before when the voice rang out.

“Beckstrom, back in the cage!”

My head whipped around, and I caught the eyes of a man who looked so similar to Nate, it was uncanny. There was some of Cash in him too, but Mari’s boy toy was front and center in the man’s face. He sneered at me, spitting on the floor, only to grunt when the guard clipped him in the kidney with the butt of his gun.

“Ace Beckstrom. He was in gen pop when I first got here, but he killed three prisoners and two guards after his son came to visit him, so he’s been in isolation pretty much ever since.”

“Which son?”

“The eldest.”

Cash.

Made sense. I wanted to ask if he was unhinged too, but a guard barked my name next. I turned, making sure the only one who got my back was Killer. “Yeah?”

“Get your shit together. You’re out.”

Oh, fuck yes.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Mari

Controlling myself was a struggle, and the second Dominic and I were locked inside the car, I launched myself at him.

“Fuck, it’s good to see you. Are you okay?” My hands were roaming his body, desperate to make sure he was in one piece. All was well until I touched his side and he hissed. Anger froze me. “What. Happened?”

The idea that Dominic had been hurt outside of my care had me this close to homicidal rage. “We’ll talk about it later, but there’s someone we need to get out of there immediately. Can we do that?”

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