Page 52 of Beautiful Unity

“Fuck you, Darcie,” Chase snapped. His face turned red, and a vein in his forehead throbbed.

I studied my fingernails. “No, thanks. You already tried that, and I declined. Do you need another lesson in consent? I can give you a matching stab wound on the other side if so.”

Bingo! Chase charged forward, his intent clear. He wanted me to pay. For denying him. For stabbing him. For belittling him in front of his father. He’d been easier to play with than I’d expected.

Before he could touch me, he met Maddox’s closed fist and fell unceremoniously to the ground in a heap. He’d passed the fuck out.

“Ah, pity. You still haven’t learned I’m not your fucking princess, asswipe.” I reared my leg back to kick him.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Stanley boomed. “I’ll forgive your lapdog’s hit because my son brought that on himself and needs to learn a lesson. But I won’t have you kicking him while he’s down.”

My heart rate skittered, and I balled my hands into fists at my side. The stinging of my nails grounded me, and I focused on the pain. My time to ignore Stanley had run out.

Faking a smile, I lifted my head and met him head-on. I wouldn’t hide any longer.

“Very well. I believe we have some business to conduct.”

Shock passed through his eyes but quickly left, and his blankness returned. But it felt different this time. Fascination and craving ran under it, giving it a different vibe. It was no longer flat and calculated but energized, giving me hope it could be used against him. If he became reckless, it would turn the tide in our favor.

“Do we? I was under the impression I was meeting with the Pres of a new club.”

I smiled wide, showing all my teeth. I would show no fear. This was my moment. “You’re looking at her. Well, actually, I prefer Queen to Pres. I’m sure a man like you understands.” I flicked my gaze to the makeshift throne he’d assembled himself.

“Queen. Hmm.” He assessed me, his gaze far more critical this time. Maddox played his part and stayed quiet behind me, acting as my sentry. “I suppose King does have a nice ring to it.”

“That it does. I see you’ve done well for yourself since I’ve been gone. Taking over the Mavericks. Impressive.” Bile churned in my stomach, but I kept up the facade. “You’ve taken them to heights I never thought the Mavericks would achieve.”

“Your father would disagree,” he stated, watching me. It was a test, one I was prepared for. I walked over to the throne Chase had occupied and leaned against it.

“My father was stuck in the past and only thought of himself. Not of what this club could be. You have a true vision. And if what I heard is true, you finally took care of the trash last night.”

The question hung in the air, and a lifetime passed as I waited for Agonizer to answer. Would he give me a clue if my father was still alive? One side of his mouth quirked up in an impressed sneer, only slightly different from his normal one, but I caught it.

“Yes. That was some of my finer work. Too bad he’s not here to see your return.”

My gut sank at the news. He really was dead. Steeling my features, I didn’t show any emotions. Now was not the time to grieve.

“That is too bad, but if I still cared what my father thought of my choices, I wouldn’t be here now. Would I?”

“No. I suppose not.” He tilted his head, his gaze flicking to Maddox and then back. “So, what’s your proposal? The message you sent was cryptic.”

I glanced at the burly men with guns. “Is there somewhere more private we could go?”

“Not scared of a few guns, are you?”

Licking my lips slowly, I hopped up on the crate and crossed my legs over the other in a slow, hypnotic dance. I needed to make him want me more so he’d give in to his recklessness. His gaze tracked my movements, and I smiled, leaning back on my elbows and my boobs lifted in the process.

“Not at all. I didn’t want to presume how you ran your club. If you were the type of man who kept his plans close to his chest or if he trusted those beneath him. I’m sure Chase has never kept anything from you.”

I flicked my gaze down to emphasize my point. I caught his jaw twitching out of the corner of my eye, sending my pulse racing. I was getting closer. I just needed one more push, and I could reel him in.

“Like how he was the one to give me money to escape that night or knew exactly where I was for years. Hell, he even watched me online. Stroking himself as I cleaned my apartment…naked. He was a very generous tipper.”

All lies, but it worked for this scenario. Stanley’s eyes flashed with anger before he blanketed it again. He was good. I needed to be better.

“He boasted he’d be able to stretch me more than you did. That he’d make me cry harder as I fought against him. Of course, he never got the chance since I stabbed him and left him for dead. And to think, if he hadn’t been so greedy, you could have had me months ago. Long before I became a Queen.”

Agonizer seethed, his control slipping as he listened. The words tasted dirty and bitter on my tongue. Still, I’d keep telling them if it got me what I wanted—Stanley Driscoll incapacitated.

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