Page 82 of Queen Of Dark Money

Straystrands of her wavy hair had fallen over one side of her face, obscuring her line of sight, soIbrushed it back and tucked it behind her ear, smiling to myself at the sheer beauty that radiated off of her.

Shelooked so innocent there, unaware a monster lurked just above her.Whatdid angels dream about?Thethought stuck in my head and refused to be dislodged once it had taken root.Still,Ihad to wake her.Icouldn’t keep theKingswaiting, especially not these two.

“Wakeup,Kenzie.Wehave company.”Ishook her lightly, hoping she’d wake on her own.Ididn’t want to have to get rough with her, andIhated waking a heavy sleeper.

Shestirred and moaned softly, stretching her arms and legs as the fabric of her shirt rose on her midriff and bared a length of skin that made me want to shove theKingsright back out the front door and tell them to fuck off.Asingle eye on herface peeped open, and she smiled when she caught sight of me standing there.

“Dom,” she breathed, sitting upright. “Ididn’t mean to fall asleep–”

“TheKingsjust arrived.Well, two of them–ArthurHale, their leader, and his muscle.Areyou ready to do this?”Itook her hands in mine, watching her for any sign of doubt or reluctance.Shemight not know it, but ifIdoubted she could handle this,I’dcall the whole thing off.Thiswas my house, andKingsor not, my word was law here.

Shenodded, her gaze unwavering, spine stiff and straight. “Ican do this.”

MissDiazwas stronger than any of us ever gave her credit for.She’dsurvived a kidnapping, confinement, an attempt on her life, and now prepared to square off with theKings’ leader himself.

Sheunfolded herself from the couch and stretched again, her long legs sinfully bare in the shorts she’d been wearing around the house.Notthat theKingswould be looking–they had a fierce, crazy bitch of their own to keep them entertained.Butsomething in me made me want to cover her up, keep her from their prying eyes.

Shecaught me watching, and her gaze traveled down to her legs like she expected to find a tail there or something. “Isthere something wrong thatIdidn’t catch?” she asked, her brows drawing together as her blue eyes squinted in concentration.

“No,”Itold her, my lips pursed. “Ijust didn’t realize how little fabric there is in women’s shorts these days.”

Hertinkling laughter was like music to my ears as she shoved past me and marched to the door. “Youact like you’re ancient,Dom.You’vegotta be in your early fifties, at most.”

Sheopened the door with a heavy sigh, andIalmost felt bad for her.Shehad to face some of the most brutal criminals in thiscity, and there was no telling what they would bring up, ask, or demand of her.I’ddo whatIcould to protect her, but there was only so far my reach extended.

KingandSoldierwere posted up on the left side of my long sectional, andItook the seat directly across them in a high-backed armchair.Ihalf expectedKenzieto remain standing or perhaps sit as far away from them as possible, so when she plunked down on top of the coffee table between us and tucked her legs underneath herself,Istruggled not to laugh or let my mouth hang open.

Hereyes scanned them both but turned toKing, picking him out as the obvious lead. “SoIhear you want to talk.”

Arthurleaned forward and grinned like a big cat about to devour his meal whole.Hishands steepled in front of him, elbows on his knees, as he met her challenging gaze with his own. “ThatIdo,MissSinclair–”

“Diaz.Myname isKerenzaDiaz.I’mnot aSinclair, andInever will be.”

Anod was all the conceding he planned to do. “MissDiaz, then.”Iwatched as he made eye contact with me over her shoulder, then looked back at her, something changing in his demeanor. “Doyou know whyI’mhere?”

Sheshrugged, glancing down at her fingernails as if they’d suddenly become the most interesting thing on the planet. “Isuspect it has something to do with my identity, or lack thereof.”

“Correct.”

Hersigh carried the weight of the world in it.Iwas the only one, apparently, who noticed. “Well,Ihate to burst your bubble, butI’ma nobody in a sea of nobodies.Clearly,Imean nothing toEddySinclair.”

“EdwinSinclairis an idiot,”Arthursnapped, hisKingmask slipping for just a moment. “He’sbeen an idiot since he wasborn, and he’ll continue to be an idiot until the day someone puts a bullet in his head.”

Kenzdidn’t even flinch. “Theday couldn’t come soon enough,” she muttered, flicking away imaginary dirt from under her nails. “Getto your point,Mr.Hale.”

Ooh, she was feisty today.Ihadn’t had the chance to see this side of her, butRiverandJasperhad both explained it to me in detail over the phone while she slept last night.Apparently, she swung wildly between absolute menace and cunning seductress, depending on who you spoke to.Neitherone of them agreed with my assessment of her being a woman in need of rescue.

Itwarmed a part of me inside that she felt safe enough to expose the vulnerable side of herself in my presence.

Kingleaned back and cracked his knuckles in a way that was supposed to be menacing.Butwith his lanky frame, relaxed posture, and absolute perfection of an image,Ihad a hard time imagining he’d put those fists to use.Menlike him rarely did; it was why he had some of the best muscle in the business at his side.

“I’dlike to propose a partnership,MissDiaz.”

Theroom was so silent in the wake of his admission that you could have heard a pin drop.Hell,Iwasn’t even sure a soul in this room had taken a breath since the words fell from his lips.

Whatkind of deal does the kingpin ofKhulaCity’scriminal underground have to offer a stranger who isn’t even from around here?

Herbrow lifted, those cunning eyes not missing a thing. “Whatexactly do you stand to gain from this partnership?”

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