Page 51 of Queen Of Dark Money

Heleaned forward, hands on his knees, and those steely eyes narrowed intensely on me. “Itmeans until we can get him to work with us or negotiate, she’s our prisoner.Soplay nice, keep her safe, and don’t let her out of your sight.”

“AndIdon’t suppose there’s any compensation in it for me, now, is there?”Idrawled, frustrated and ready for them to leave.

“Thecompensation is that you’re staying alive, and we’re still sharing our business with you.”

Isupposed that would meanIshould be grateful.Iwasn’t, though.Itjust meant there would be even more chances for her to torment me.

Menace, indeed.

“WhatamIsupposed to do with her?”

Soldierleaned back and tucked his hands behind his head, getting comfortable. “Justkeep her here, keep her quiet.Andkeep your hands off of her.”Hisgaze raked over me, judging and curious all in one. “Unlessyou think you can’t do that.”

Inodded at the purse sitting at his side and quirked a brow. “Andwhat, exactly, is that here for?Somehow,Ididn’t take you for a purse kind of man.”

“I’mnot.”Heglanced down at the purse and shoved it in my direction. “It’shers.We’rehoping to pressure her into calling her father for us.Spectrethinks he doesn’t believe we really have her.Thatmaybe he thinks she ran away from him or some shit, and that maybe a call from her, or even a text pleading for rescue, will solidify it in his mind and make him bend.”

“AndIassume you want me to supervise that phone call.”

Hissmile widened just an inch. “Bingo.”

Ifit wasn’t one thing, it was another.Irolled my eyes and sighed. “WhatifIdon’t feel like taking on one more fucking chore?Whatthen?”

Thesilence in the room was deafening.Intense.Anobvious threat.ButIcouldn’t let on thatIwas intimidated by this brute of a man, or he’d use it against me all the time.

Finally, after about a minute of staring me down, he caved and spoke.

“Then,MisterBlake, you will find out just how long of an arm theKingshave in this town.”

Withthat, he stood, tossing the purse at my head in a very abrupt manner.Iwas left with no time to react, taking the tiny thing to the face with a muffled curse.WhenIput it down and blinked away my shock, the asshole was gone, the front door swinging slowly closed behind him.Istrode over and locked it, determined to regain some control over this entire situation.

Sothey wanted me to influence her and convince her to call her father so she could, what?Soshe could guilt-trip him?Showhim proof of life?Provewe actually spoke the truth?

Iwhipped out my phone and shot off a message toKing, steam practically rolling out the sides of my ears.

Instructions unclear. Please advise.

Ididn’t planto be his fall guy if shit hit the fan.Imight work for theKings, but they didn’t own me.Ididn’t need them to be successful.Iwas the only one of their cash cows that had already been established whenArthurHaleand his minions came knocking years ago.

AndI’dbe the only one who could get blackballed by theKingsand still survive comfortably.

Soif any of us planned to take a stand, it would have to be me.Theothers had too much to lose.

“Fuckcalling anyone,”Igrumbled, flipping my phone back open soIcould see how salvageable the evening was.Ihit redial onTrixie’snumber, hoping she felt charitable.

Shelet me go to voicemail the first time.Thesecond, she hit thefuck youbutton.

Rude.

Idialed up a few other girls, but the pickings were slim, as most of them were shacked up with theirJohnof the night before two.Andthe clock now read three, so the odds of anyone picking up for me were slim to none.

Sureenough, the last phone call didn’t even go through, andIsighed, stuffing my phone in my pocket.Ithrew on a light jacket, grabbed my keys off the wall, and slammed the door on my way out.

Ineeded a fucking drive.

Flyingdownthe freeway doing almost a hundred and fifty was dangerous on a good day, let alone in the rain, butIwas cocky and pissed.Ididn’t give two shits about whetherIcourted danger, skirted at the edge of life and death.Withevery time the wheels skidded across the pavement, every time my ass end skated over a puddle,Ifelt the muscles in my body tense up, felt the nerves at the tips of my fingers tingle, felt the hammering of my heart as pure adrenaline pumped through it almost as fast as my tires ate up the roadway.

Thiswas freedom.Thefeeling of unhinged, unmitigated wildness that filled every inch of my body and buoyed me in this tumultuous sea of chaos.

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