Page 40 of Queen Of Dark Money

Shescrunched up her brow, looking from him to me as if we were going to answer the question for her.Surelyshe knew what her father was up to?Therewas no way she was that absent from his everyday life and his running platform.Hell, they’d swiped her from a damn gala filled with political campaigners who no doubt heard his election schpiel at least twenty times that night.

Shehad to have picked upsomething.

“Idon’t know,” she said finally, her lips turned down in a pretty pout thatIwas tempted to run my fingers over. “Youtell me what the hell they want from him.”

Rafeburst out into laughter, rolling onto his side on the couch. “You’retelling me you have no idea your own father’s entire running platform is based on taking down theKings’Syndicate?”

Thatnews only seemed to infuriate her.Shehonestly didn’t know what his plans were.Ihad to applaud a man who could keep a woman so close to him in the dark for so long.

“Whywould he want to take you all down?”Shequirked a brow, the sass back. “Imean, it’s not like you’re going around kidnapping women, holding them for ransom–”

Rafemet her eyes and chuckled. “Ilike you.You’resassy.”

“Andyou’re drunk,” she snapped back, looking him up and down in disgust. “Youremind me of a frat boyIused to know in college.Couldhold his alcohol just fine, but he was . . . lackluster in the bedroom.”Shesquinted, pinning him to the cushions with a stern glare. “Ibet you’re no different.”

Rafelaughed and shook his head, tossing those gorgeous curls atop his head around. “Ah, you like to fight, huh?Shouldwe tie you back up?I’mtempted to say you’d be likely to stab us while we slept and slip out the door.”

“Toomany guards, and all of 'em armed,” she pointed out, shocking me with her observant tendencies. “Twoat the front door, one at the side, one at the end of your private room hall, another at the bottom of the stairs to this place, andIassume one more on the door itself when you’re home.”Iquirked a brow, but she paid me no mind. “Ithink you should probably put a second man on the end of that hallway, though.Especiallyif your girls need assistance with something so that one can stay on the hall and the other can go where he’s needed.”

Shesure knew an awful lot for a prissy, sheltered socialite. “Youknow an awful lot about strip club security,”Iremarked, watching her carefully. “How?”

“Iused to work in one,” she tossed out, flexing her shoulders as she rubbed the red marks on her wrists. “LikeItoldStone,I’mnot theSinclairgirl.Yougot the wrong woman.Caitis my twin.Iwas standing in for her at the gala.”Shenodded at the pocket of my jacket and grinned. “JustaskSinclairyourself.”

RafeandIstared at each other momentarily, then burst into laughter.Themere idea that she thought we’d buy that outrageous story–

“That’sa joke, right?You’rejoking with that stupid ass story.Gottabe.”

Thelook on her face was very muchnota joke. “I’mnot.”Herwhole attitude shifted into one of combative chaos as she crossed a leg over her other and stared point blank at me, watching like a predator asItook the seat on the couch next toRafe. “Butit’s not surprising you don’t believe me.”

“Stonedidn’t believe you, either,”Rafepointed out, “or he’d have set you loose instead of bringing you here.”

Aslight nod in his direction was the only agreement she gave him. “I’mnot stupid enough to run.AndI’mnot about to try and kill you in your sleep.Iwouldn’t make it out of here alive ifIoffed the bosses.”

“Boss,”Isaid suddenly, jerking my thumb at my chest. “Thatidiot is just a friend.”

“Notwhat you called me last week,River,” he quipped, his grin widening.

Irolled my eyes, a sigh escaping my lips reminiscent of a hiss. “Shutup, you dolt.”Iturned toMissSinclairand frowned, trying to decide what to do with her. “I’vegot a spare bedroomIcan put you in until we sort things out–”

“Ohno,” she started up, her posture shifting defensively. “I’mnot being shoved in another bedroom for a week while you assholes just do whatever you want.I’mnot some fucking doll you can stuff in storage.”Shecrossed her arms and slumpeda bit, leaning back in the chair. “I’msitting right here until someone puts a call intoSinclairand gets me freed.”

“Well, that’s gonna be awhile,”Rafedroned on boredly, “because theKingssaid he’s not accepting their calls right now.”Heshrugged at her look of astonishment. “Lookslike you’re stuck with us, sweetheart.”

“I’mnot stuck with you.You’restuck with me.”

Soit was a power struggle she wanted, huh?I’dindulge her, then.

“Well, since your arrival chased off the other girls,Iguess we’ll just have to find other ways to have our fun.”

Herbrows shot up into her hairline so fast it made me choke on my laughter. “Ifyou thinkI’mgoing to put out for you because your hookers dipped out on you, you’ve got another thing coming.”

“Oh, honey, we don’t plan to touch you,”Icrooned, turning inRafe’sdirection. “You’reoff limits.AndsinceIplanned to put this couch to good use tonight, either you can hurry off down the hallway to the first door on the right, or you can stay and watch.Butit’s only going to be awkward for one of us, and that person isn’t sitting here on this couch.”

Islipped my hand intoRafe’spants, lips curling into a slow grin as his head fell back and he let a low moan escape his lips.Mygaze turned on her, our eyes meeting, both of us refusing to break.

Shecrossed one of her legs and settled in, that thirty yard stare crawling over our bodies asItightened my grip onRafe’scock.

“Idon’t break easy,” she muttered, “andI’mno stranger to sex.Byall means, have your fun.I’mnot going anywhere.”

---