Page 51 of King of Wrath

“Fuck,” Mason grunts. He’s the smartest of the bunch so I know it’s even worse than I thought by his reaction. “It’s probably not just a payout but a guarantee of business and labor. It’s Toni’s move forward to get out from under our debt and keep his family in the game.”

I can hear his worry. “Does that mean she’s in real danger?”

“It means…” Mason shakes his head. “We meant to take a pawn when we took Nia. But instead, we captured the queen.” He runs a hand through his hair. “And whoever holds her at the end, wins.”

Roman taps his fingers on the table in front of him. “We should move her here as soon as possible.”

I shake my head. “Is there any indication Toni is closing in? Because if not, I’m making really good progress here.”

“What else have you learned?” Mason asks, cocking his head to the side.

I have learned a lot but not just about her. I’m coming into focus too, not that I’m telling them that. In fact, I don’t want to tell them any of it.

“Your father wasn’t Maria Carcetti’s first affair,” I murmur pushing my fingers deeper into my eyes. I feel like I’m betraying her, and I take a breath, trying to decide how much more to share when I hear a strange thumping in the house.

I go silent, lifting my head and sharpening my focus.

“What’s wrong?” Roman asks quietly. As the man closest to me geographically, it’s his job to ask the question.

But I don’t answer, as I hear the noise again.

Is Nia in trouble? My chest swells, my hands curling as, without warning, I slam down the laptop, stuffing it between some towels in the workout room.

The muffled noise sounds again, even as my phone starts to blow up with text.

What the fuck happened?

Where did you go?

Is everything all right?

Pocketing the phone,I move into the hall, cocking my head to listen. I hear it again. It’s clearly coming from the bedroom. Nia is in trouble. I rush forward, knowing that I’ll do anything to keep her safe.

I grab the door handle, but that’s when I hear it…a soft moan.

My teeth grind together. Adrenaline pumps through me as I toss open the door, thoughts of Toni and the danger to Nia driving me forward.

But the moment I’m in the room, I stop.

Nia lies in the bed alone, her eyes closed. Her head thrashes to one side, a low moan falling from her lips. “Jake,” she softly whispers as her leg kicks out, crashing into the footboard of the bed. “Daddy.”

And that’s when I look down and see her hand between her legs.

Is my little girl masturbating while she dreams about me?

A jolt of sexual energy like I’ve never known pulses through me. She’s been tempting me for days but I’m not the only one who is tempted. Even in her fucking sleep, I’m who she wants.

Well, little girl, ask and you shall receive….

CHAPTER TWENTY

Nia

I know I’m dreaming.

I’ve had my fair share of sex dreams, and a girl can always tell. They are filled with wanting but light on satisfaction.

This one is no exception.

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