Page 20 of Queen Of Dark Money

Somethingabout her was familiar.

PrettyBoygiggled like a fucking girl as he plopped onto the couch beside his companion’s captive, making himself comfortable.Hisarms spread out along the back of the sofa and settled in, long fingers gripping the expensive leather in a manner that made my skin crawl.

“So, where do you want her?”

Iblinked once, twice, my mouth opening and shutting like a fucking fish on the docks in the hot midday sun. “I’msorry?”Imanaged to sputter coherently after several tries. “Who?What?”

Myvocabulary was a bit lacking at the present moment.Still, the thought process was there.

Hechuckled, ripping the bag off the head of the woman sitting patiently on the couch beside him. “Her, of course.Whodid you thinkImeant?”

Istared vacantly at the woman before me, her makeup smeared, hair tousled like she’d been tossed around without a care, and full recognition washed over me.

Fuckme, they’d brought meCatrionafuckingSinclair.Trussedup like a pig, bagged and tagged at four in the morning.

Andshe waspissed.

“Herrr-grumph-mmm-hkmmmm-shrrrrr,” she mumbled around the gag in her mouth, her brows drawing closer together with every misunderstood word. “hrr-hnnn-mmmm-hunnn-mghhhh–”

Iripped the fucking sock out of her mouth and earned a snarl of anger in return. “SomethanksIget for opening the pathway of understanding,Isee.”

Shespat in my direction, missing me entirely, much to her chagrin and my utter amusement. “Aboutfucking time someone took that thing out of my mouth.”Sheglanced around the room, eyeballing the wet piece of fabric asItossed it at the too-comfortable man in the leather pants and cheerful attitude. “Thischucklefuck stuffed it in my mouth to shut me up beforeIcould even tell him he had the wrong girl.”

“Sure,”he mocked, still laughing to himself. “I’vegot the right girl.You’reCatrionaSinclair, daughter toEddySinclair, the fuckwad trying to take down organized crime in this town.”

Itwas her turn to cackle now, a harsh, throaty sound at odds with the personableMissSinclairwe’d been told about.Thedemure woman in the picture that had circulated at our meeting with theKingswas no more, and in her place was a brash, rude woman whose hackles stood on end.Shewas spitting mad, andIshook my head in surprise.Ifyou’d asked me the night before ifIthought the girl in the picture had it in her to spar verbally with the likes of hardened criminals,I’dhave laughed you out the door and slammed it in your face.Butthe proof was sitting right in front of me.

Shewas madder than a wet cat in a summer rain.

“Well, does anyone want to explain to me why there’s a captive woman sitting on my couch at this unseemly hour in the morning?”

Spadesighed, his hands coming to rest onMissSinclair’sshoulders rather forcefully.Iwinced, expecting her to do the same, stunned when she only tilted her head to stare up at him in irritation. “Bosssaid pick her up and bring her to you for safekeeping.Wedon’t have room; he said you would.”

JokerandSpademade it a point to scan my spacious penthouse apartment's vast, open floor plan. “Lookslike you’ve got plenty of space to accommodate her,”Jokerpointed out, his hand lifting to encompass the apartment. “Lookat all this empty floor plan here.Andjust you to fill it out, amIright?”

Irolled my eyes and plunked elegantly down in my armchair, resting one ankle on my other knee asIbounced a foot and waited for him to explain in further detail.

“Isanyone listening to me?” theSinclairgirl spoke up, her teeth bared in a somewhat feral and menacing manner. “Yougot the wrong girl.I’mtelling you, man, this is fucked up–”

“Shutup,”Jokerhissed, his face flushed.Ihad the distinct impression he’d reached his limit, perhaps a while ago. “Forthe last time,Iknow who you are.You’reCatrionaSinclair, and we have orders to hold you until further notice—orders straight from the top.”

Thetop probably meant theKings.Iwondered if their fucking leader told them to bring her to me or ifIwas the only one who’d been home and answered the door.Eitherway,Iwasn’t in the mood to play babysitter to a grown-ass woman in the middle of what was working up to be a hell of a temper tantrum.

Ishook my head, pinching the bridge of my nose. “AndI’mjust supposed to keep her here?Howdoes this work?”Ipointed to my chest with a thumb. “I’mthe only one here in residence, so unless someone wants to stay here and watch her whileIgo to work, you can take her somewhere else–anywhere else–and make her someone else’s problem.”

Spadefinally opened his mouth to speak, the gravelly sound grating on my nerves almost immediately. “Sorry, no can do.She’sall yours.Ifyou don’t like it, take it up withKing, but our job is done.”

Withthat, he andJokerboth moved lightning-quick and fled like the rats they were to the doorway.Inseconds, they were gone, leaving me alone with a woman still hogtied, wearing the fine gown from the night before, a scowling glare the likes of which could melt steel, and rage so palpable it filled the room around us with a physical heaviness that threatened to strangle me.

Icleared my throat, already frustratedI’dlet myself be duped into such a situation. “So.”

Wherehad all my years of charm school and eloquence gone?Surely,Iwasn’t devolving into an imbecile around a pretty woman.

“So,” she replied, mocking me. “Whatbrings you here?”

“Ilive here,”Ideadpanned, staring her down. “Andyou’re an irritantIdon’t appreciate dropping in unannounced.”

“Well, it wasn’t exactly my first choice in overnight accommodations,” she sassed, her lips quirking up in a smile. “Butyou’re not bad to look at, buddy.”

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