Page 105 of Queen Of Dark Money

TheKingshad been on us for a whole day, trying to convince us to put her life on the line and make an appearance that made a statement.Ofcourse, when shit hit the fan and we all stopped,Ididn’t expect the urge to hold her to race through my body.Iburned with a need so powerful it moved my feet for me, rushing to her side to make sure she was fine, that she hadn’t been shot.

ThereliefIfelt at knowing she was okay was palpable.Ilooked her over again, really taking her in this time, and my brows raced to my hairline. “Whothe hell got you this costume?”Iasked, bewildered by the hot pink slut suit.Hell, ifIdidn’t know any better,I’dhalf expect someone with the stage name ofBubblegummight’ve given it to her atRiver’sclub.

Sheshrugged, her eyes unfocused and far away. “Somechick.Rivgot it for me whenIwas staying with him.Idon’t think he expected them to give me a stripper costume.”

Iwatched her toy with the toe of her boot in the dirt, eyes downcast.Sucha pretty face should never look so forlorn.Iwanted the mischievous chaos gremlin back, the one who thought it’d be funny to pour my sugar out and replace it with salt.Thegirl who put a lime wedge at the bottom of my coffee maker.Whoinconvenienced me in tiny ways to get her revenge–the only wayIgave her to vent her frustrations when she came to me.

Iwanted the spitfire back.

“Youlooked amazing on top of those cars, swinging that bat around like a fiery angel of hell, all dressed up in pink so brightIbet they saw you in outer space.”Myfingers brushed the bottom of her chin asItipped it up, wanting her to look me in the eyes. “Itwas hot.”

Herarms moved then, hands smoothing up the front of my shirt. “Itfelt empowering,” she whispered, closing her eyes as she inhaled my aftershave. “Mmm,Ididn’t take you for a mint sorta guy.”

“There’sa lot you don’t know about me,”Imumbled back, dragging her lips to mine with a hand on each side of her face.Icradled her jaw, refusing to let go, our mouths melding as one in the heat of the moment.

Shewas so sweet it should be a sin, andIwanted nothing more than to drink her up and never stop.Iwanted to take every second she was willing to give me.AndIdidn’t want to waste another second more denying whatI’dcome to realize.

Iwanted this fiery little hellcat.AndIwanted hernow.

“Let’sget in the car, yeah?Letthese two morons duke it out.”Igestured to her clothes–or lack thereof–and smiled knowingly. “Ibet you’re a bit cold.”

Herhead bobbed as she nodded, her eyes half-hooded and staring up into mine with an intensity that melted my cold heart. “That’dbe nice,Ithink.”

Islid into the backseat with her, closing the door on the sounds of the two idiots squabbling still, and locked us in–and them out.Andthen, beforeIcould turn toKenzieand ask her to forgive me for being a heel, she was climbing into my lap, all pretense gone, her skirt already hiked to her hips as she situated herself atop me.

“Thankyou for coming for me,” she breathed, her hands twining around my neck as she leaned into me. “IknowRafedidn’t mean to put me in danger–”

Ishook my head, knowing damn wellRafedidn’t give a damn but unwilling to tell her that.Shedidn’t need more drama on her doorstep than she already had. “Don’tworry about it.Wewere against this whole thing from the beginning.Buthow did you even end up withRafein the first place?”

Shesettled in my embrace and told me beginning to end–the encounter withDom, the subsequent blackout, the quick relocation, and the fight for her life as she fled a killer on foot.Findingout she’d tried to call us, only to get nothing, stung.

Weshould have been there for her.Itwas our fault she was in this situation.Tothink she had to turn toRafeto save her–Iwondered what he’d made her do to pay for it.

“Jesus,”Imuttered when all was said and done. “That’sinsane.”

“Iassume theKingschecked in with their man, or thatRafetexted them, becauseIdidn’t have a chance to do it."

“Runningfor your life is a bit tasking,I’msure.”Iran my hand over her hair, brushing the stray strands out of her eyes and tucking them back with her ponytail. “Whatdo you want to do now?I’mnot letting that psycho take you back–”

“Ineed to talk to him.Heneeds to know–”Sheclammed up and looked out the window, watchingRafeandRiveras the fight drew to a close. “Heneeds to know.”

Igot the feelingIwasn’t going to be let in on thewhataspect of this conversation, soIlet it be.She’drearranged herself so she sat across my lap, butIstill held her around her middle, loosely, reassuringly.Iwasn’t sure who needed the touch more, she orI.ButIgot the sense we both needed a grounding point.Icould be that for her; she didn’t need to know she was that for me.

Itwas enough to hold her.

“So, you andRafe. . . ?”Ileft the end open, hoping she’d fill it in.Idoubted they’d just lay around his house while theKingsplotted a new plan to get her accidentally killed while serving their purposes.

“Youasking if we fucked, or are you commenting on the unlikelihood that we worked together, considering he hated my guts?”

Damnit, she was too smart for her own good.Howmuch had life had to throw at her to mold her into such a resilient woman?

“I’masking if he forced you to do anything you didn’t want to.”Rafecould be pushy, and after hearing fromRiverthat he’d gotten a little too handsy the last time they were all at the club,Ididn’t put it past him to coerce her into something she hadn’t wanted to do.

“I’mthe one that fucked him, not the other way around,” she said, as if it were the weather she were commenting on. “Heneeded put in his place, andIfigured, why not me?”

“I’msorry, did you say put in his place?Howexactly did you manage that?”

Shesmiled up at me, the intensity of it blinding me for a moment. “Well,Imade him eat me out in the elevator, and then when we got to his apartment,Imade him edge himself until he gave me whatIwanted.”

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