Page 123 of Queen Of Dark Money

“Yougot a call from the daughter you abandoned, and she needed money.Soyou took advantage of that and offered her a lifeline–come body double for her estranged twin, in exchange for money in the bank.”Ishoved the top of the bat into his ribcage, grinning wider when he winced from the pain. “Stopme ifIgo off track here, okay?Iwanna make sureI’mtelling no lies.Unlikeyou.”

Hesnarled at me, his eyes bloodshot, whole body straining against the very extensive restraints. “You’reworthless, you know that?”

Iwaved my hand at him, ignoring his words. “Sure, sure, likeIhaven’t heard that before.Now, where were we?”Riverhelped me hobble to the other side of him, already knowing the trajectory my brain was on. “Ah, right!Youwere going to admit you used me as cannon fodder while masquerading this as a much-needed mental health break for my sister,Cait.”Ileaned over, lowering my face to his level. “DidIget that part right?”

“Goto hell.”

WhenIstraightened,Ishrugged for the camera, preparing to show him just how worthless this bitch really was. “I’vebeen there sinceIstepped into this shitstain of a city you think yourun.WhentheKingskidnapped me, the people you built your whole re-election campaign on eliminating, they offered my return in exchange for terms you refused to meet.Andknowing the damageIcould cause simply by existing, you went on the evening news and showed my sister alive and somewhat well, claiming theKingswere posturing for clout.Then, you hired my ex to kill me so you could tie up all your loose ends, just in case theKingsdidn’t take care of the job themselves.”

“Youcan’t prove shit,” he spat, growling through gritted teeth. “WhenIget out of here,I’llhave your ass, you hear me?!?Youcan’t just kidnap theD.A. and expect to get off without a life sentence.”

“Wronganswer,”Ilaughed, lifting the bat above my head. “Youknow what you get for wrong answers?”

Thesound of his kneecap shattering was the most glorious thing to have ever reached my ears.Secondwere the screams that escaped his mealy mouth when it hit him.Ibrought that bat down on his leg so hard the impact reverberated up my arm and rattled my shoulders, reviving the slight twinge of painI’dbeen fighting sinceIhobbled out of the hospital.

I’dneed to take some painkillers soon, orIwas going to feel like shit after all this.

“Now, now,Eddy, let’s try this again.Stopthat screaming and grow a pair, would you?”Ilaid the bat in his lap, tip against the juncture of his thighs. “Youtried to have me killed to solve all your problems, didn’t you?”

Whenhe wasn’t quick to answer,Ilifted the bat an inch, raising my brows in question.Hesputtered in protest, his face turning a shade redder.

“Wait, wait,wait!”Iwatched in amusement as he stared me down and let all the hatred in his veins flow out through that single glance. “Yes, yes,Itried to have you killed, okay?Areyou happy, bitch?Ifthat asswipe would have done his job, we wouldn’t be here now.Mymoney was wasted, apparently.”

Rafe’shands slipped around the base of the bat and took it from my hands, setting it against his shoulder as he looked on, quite the fucking menacing sight. “Soyou admit to hiring a killer to take out your own flesh and blood.Wow,Sinclair, even for you, that’s low.”

Eddyglared daggers in his direction, realizing the situation was bleak. “You’rewasting my time.”

“Onthe contrary,Sinclair,”Rafetaunted, walking around him in a circle likeI’ddone earlier. “You’reon borrowed time, and that clock is about to run out.”

Hehanded the bat back with a wink and took his place at my side, waiting to see whatIwould do next.

Iopted for the quick route because my back was killing me, my shoulders ached, andIwanted nothing more than for all of this to be over soIcould crawl into someone’s comfortable bed and sleep for an eternity.

“So, when you failed to kill me after several attempts,Iembarrassed you in public by trashing your cop entourage, and to retaliate, you burned down a club and then kidnapped me from the hospital whereIwas being treated–”

“Theodid that,” he spat, “not me.Ifyou’re going to tell the story, fucking get it right.”

Iwas growing tired of his bullshit.Ibrought the bat down on his other knee, not as hard this time, just enough to make it really hurt.Hedidn’t scream as loud, but it had the intended effect, andIlaughed as he wheezed from the pain, sweat pouring off his forehead now.

“Fine, fine, he was following orders!”

“Wouldyou like to tell the audience what you did once you had me in your slimy grip?”Iwaved a hand in the direction ofthe camera and watched as he visibly paled. “Carefulnow,Eddy, your adoring fans are watching.”

Hishead hung in defeat as he eyed my bat apprehensively. “Westrung you up from the ceiling, beat you, and thenIsent a video of it to theKings.Itaunted them with your inevitable death and then turnedTheoloose on you.Hepromised me you’d die before these fuckers got to you, but clearly he was incompetent all around.”

“‘AndIwould have gotten away with it, too, if it weren’t for you meddlingKings!’Jesus,Eddy, do you realize how cliche you sound?It’slike a horrible children’s cartoon.You’rethe quintessential villain.Rightdown to the fact that the bad guys never win.”

“Ha!Whata joke, a criminal, hanging with a syndicate of criminals, calling yourself the good guys.Don’tmake me laugh.”

Ifelt the cold steel of a pistol in my empty palm and gripped it without question.Igot the feeling the guys knew there was a limit to my violence.Iwould forever have a special place of hatred in my heart forEddySinclair, butIcould never bring myself to do to another human what had been done to me.Evenif they did deserve it.

Rafeslipped the bat over the back of my shoulder and stepped back, standing besideRiveras they watched on, waiting for my next move—my final act of mercy for a man who didn’t deserve it.

Ilifted the pistol in my grip, pressing it against the center ofEddySinclair’sforehead, and frowned, realizing this would be the first–and last–timeIwould ever hold another human’s life in my hands.

“Anylast words to your constituents,Father?”

“Rotin hell, bitch,” he muttered, gritting his teeth. “Justkill me already.Endit.”

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