Page 102 of Queen Of Dark Money

WhenIfound out that night resulted in an accidental pregnancy,Ipanicked.Dannyhad blocked me on social media, refused to take my calls, and was a ghost in the wind.Whenmy roomie found out, she put him on blast, telling everyone who would listen that he was a shrimp-dicked piece of shit who raped a girl who was too drunk to consent.Iwas so trashed mentally thatIdidn’t notice the damage she was doing on her own.Andby the time the rumors got back to me, there was no undoing them.

Iheld onto that necklace soIcould apologize one day.SoIcould find him and tell him about the child he left me with.

Theone thatImiscarried weeks after finding out about it, because my deranged stalker chased me through a park and into the freezing river in the middle of winter and stressed me so much that my body shut down on me.

DannySanchezandRafeWeatherstondidn’t line up perfectly in my head, but it was hard to deny the pieces that had finally fallen into place in a nice, neat little put-together puzzle.Myearlier feeling of recognition, the strange things he’d said to me, the similarities were there.Isuspected they’d always been there,I’djust been repressing the truth becauseIdidn’t want to face it.

AndnowIwas about to trust this man, the same fucker who up and ran out on me all those years ago, to watch my back whileIwalked into the lion’s den, a target on my head the size of a blimp.Inever fucking learned, didI?

Rafepulled his bike into the valet parking line, staring down the teenager who sauntered over to take it from him.Heslipped off it with his practiced move, andIscampered around after him, a little less gracefully, thanks to my baggy pants.

“Don’teven think about taking it for a spin, you little twerp,” he growled at the attendant, his eyes narrowed.Thepoor kid looked ready to piss himself whenRafehanded over the key andgot nose-to-nose with him. “Pushit to the parking garage and put it in the slot markedA5.Ifit’s not there whenIget back for it, it’ll be your head on the chopping block, you hear?”

“Yes, sir,” the boy squeaked, grabbing the handlebars asRafestrode up the stairs like he owned the place, dragging me behind.

“Now, you know what to do?”Rafedidn’t even look back at me, he just mumbled over his shoulder as he nodded to various people he passed on the ground floor. “Walkme through it soIknow you got it straight.”

Irolled my eyes as we approached aTSA-style guard post, where various people entering the building were being stopped and searched. “I’mgoing to go to the bathroom on the second floor, change into my costume, and head down the rear stairwell.Then, onceI’mpast the media room,I’msupposed to sneak out the fire escape exit and head to the parking lot where the cop cars will be.”

“Holdthat thought,” he said suddenly, his fingers loosening in my grip before he switched his hold to my bicep.Nothinguntoward about that, now.Justa lawyer and his client heading into the courtroom.

Anice, orderly cop approached us, his face gentle and smiling, unaware that we were about to ruin his fucking day. “Heythere,Mr.Weatherston.We’rechecking everyone today, being media day and all that, so if you could step this way–”

“Actually, this is a witness under protective custody due to threats against her life in my recent high-profile case.I’mgoing to have to pass on the search—you understand,I’msure.Butwe’d be happy to let you wave your wand over us, if that makes you feel better.”Rafeleaned in conspiratorially, waggling his too-perfect eyebrows in that chummy way that made you feel at ease. “ThoughI’vegot a pin in my knee, and there’s no telling what kind of work she’s had done–if you follow me.”

Theyhad their little conspiratorial chuckle at my expense, and the cop waved us through, muttering toRafeabout howhe could let this one go,Rafewas, after all, an upstanding member of this court, and very trustworthy.

Isnorted to myself.Trustworthy, sure.He’snot even going by his real name.

Oncewe were past the police barricade,Rafetook my backpack from my shoulders, slipping something into the front pocket.Atmy quizzical, puzzled look, he grinned. “It’sa new phone.Makesure you put it somewhere it won’t get lost.Iwant you to call me if anything goes sideways.”

Heshoved me gently toward the stairwell and nodded ever so slightly, encouraging me with a smirk.

Ibalked, suddenly unsure about all this. “Areyou sure this is safe?”

“Safeas theFederalReserve,” he assured me, motioning his hands to shoo me off. “Go, before you miss your window.”

Ishuffled off, fighting back the panic and the lingering feeling that something bad was about to happen.Surelythis wouldn’t go off without a hitch like they all seemed to believe.Andwhere were the others?River,Stone, evenDom.Therewas no way they didn't have something to say about all this.

Didn’tthey?

Theupstairs bathroom was empty, so changing was a quick affair.LikeI’dbeen instructed,Idropped the bag at the end of the hall in a trash chute that led to the dumpster out back.It’dbe a shame to see it go, but all it had in it wereRafe’sspare clothes.Thenew phone he’d stowed away was now safely tucked into the straps on the topIwore.

Iwas dressed up exactly howI’dbeen the night he’d tried to force me in the club.Theirony wasn’t lost on me.Itugged the skirt up a teensy bit, making sure to go for just dangerously high enough to tease the cameras.Iwas sure there would becameras.Imean, what would all this have been for?Ifnot for the exposure, there would be no reason to wreck some cop cars on aFridaymorning at the courthouse.Thewhole purpose here was to put me in the public eye and reveal the biggest secretEddySinclairhad.Makeit impossible for him to kill me, or, at least, make it harder.

Ifthere weren’t cameras,I’deat my shirt.

Iwasn’t about to let that summer of acting classes go to waste, soIchanneled my inner brat, put on my bunny mask, threw my hair up in a high ponytail so it hung down my back and swung around like a flag in the wind, and pulled the bat out of the utility closetRafehad assured me it would be in.

Iwasn’t sureIwanted to know how he’d gotten a barbed-wire-wrapped bat inside the courthouse when he wasn’t even here.

Itossed the bare spot over my shoulder, whistling to myself asIdescended the stairs to the parking lot.AsIpassed the media room,EddySinclair’svoice carried out into the hall whereIstood, making me smirk.

Fora moment,Ialmost walked right in and revealed myself that way.Theurge to ruin his little press conference was so strong it was like a siren call.

ButIhad to be smart.Ihad a goal, and theKingsexpected me to see it through.

Icould do this.

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