Page 77 of Queen Of Dark Money

Shespun around in the tub, her face a mask of confusion and panic.Aww, hell.WhatdidIdo this time?“Yourson . . . isTheo?”

Myeyes narrowed to slits asIread between the lines. “Youknow him.”Therewas no question, just acceptance.Therewas no doubt in my mind she knew him.Hell, she knew his name.Butthe hows of knowing him intrigued me and worried me in the same breath. “Howdo you know him?”

“Senioryear, and the beginning of college.”Sheshuddered, andIfelt rage burn through my veins at her reaction. “Hewas . . . we dated.Andthen we didn’t.”

Icould tell there was something else there, but she wasn’t talking, andIwasn’t going to pry right now.Ifshe didn’t want to tell me,Icould understand that.Still,Ialmost felt likeIneeded her to know our relationship,TheoandI’s, was rocky at best.

“Idon’t–we’re not close, he andI.Ihaven’t had a hand in raising him since he was a boy, and even then,Iwas absent most of the time.Hismother andI–well, she was ready for kids, andIwasn’t.Shewasn’t who she claimed to be, either.Whenshe moved away, she took him with her, andIsort of turned into a long-distance dad.”Isighed, shifting behind her to alleviate the numbness in my leg. “Hecalls now and again for money, but to him,I’mnothing more than anATM.”

“That’sso sad,” she muttered, her mind clearly a mile away. “I’mcold.”

Ididn’t get a chance to react before she climbed out of the tub, streaming water everywhere in her haste to abandon this awkward conversation.

Shestill didn’t seem to be back to normal, a lingering hint of anxiety and desperation tainting her sassy and fierce demeanor from earlier.Iheard my phone vibrating in the other room asIrose from the tub myself, grabbed two huge towels from the nearby hooks, and tossed one to her to dry off with.

“Getout of those clothes and put on one of those robes on the wall,”Itold her, my finger pointing out the softest black robes money could buy.She’dlikely drown in my robes, but it couldn’t be helped.Shecouldn’t walk around in wet clothes all night.Andnothing of mine that was actual clothing would fit her.I’dhave to get creative.

Istripped off my shirt and wrapped my towel around my waist, reaching underneath to unbutton my now-soakedtrousers.Ina flash,Ilet them drop to the floor, uncaring thatIwas now essentially nude in the presence of a beautiful woman beneath this towel.She’dtucked her own towel around her body like a shield and looked ready to refuse to move untilIpointedly walked for the door.

Icouldn’t blame her for being skittish.ButIneeded her to understandIwasn’t here to hurt her.Ionly wanted to help.

Iknew what it was like to be alone and afraid, with everyone out to hurt you.

Sheshould never have to suffer through something like this, all for a man as corrupt asEddySinclair.

Ipassed up my dresser and closet in my haste to get to my phone, and barely missed the last ring of another phone call.Hittingredial,Ilifted the phone to my ear asIpadded down the hall, settling in on my couch as ifIwere alone.

“What?”

ItwasKing, the one fuckerIdidn’t want to deal with right now. “Youhave the girl,Iassume?”

“Whereelse would she be?Iknow you talked toGatt, or you wouldn’t be reaching out to me directly.”

Hepaused for dramatic effect, andIrolled my eyes.Kinghad always been a stuffy bastard, but his need to control literally any situation was beginning to get on my nerves. “We’regoing to need to talk to her.Canyou bring her to–”

“No.”Icleared my throat and glanced across the room, wishingI’dsat closer to the liquor cart.

“No?”Kingechoed, his whole demeanor shifting from professional to angry bear in a heartbeat. “Let’sget one thing straight.Youfuckers work for me, not the other way around.AndifIsay jump, your only answer should be to ask me how high.”

Isat up straighter on my couch, all pretenses of relaxation gone. “Ithink you forget that without us, there would be nomoney to fund your little empire.Somaybe you should treat us with a little more respect, like an equal, and less like the inferior dogs you want to pretend we are to you.”Istood and began to pace, the towel slipping lower on my hips. “Mynet worth is more than you’ll be worth over a lifetime,ArthurHale.Oldmoney or not.Soyou can come here and talk to her, on my turf, where she’s safe and secure, or you can phone in your complaints.Thereare no other optionsI’mwilling to entertain at the moment.”

IspottedKenzwalking down the hall in my robe, and as her eyes fell on me,Iquickly waved her into the room and pointed at the couch.Shetook the seat without a word, cocking her head to the side asImarched around the room to work through my anger.

Ofall the assholes on the planet to tangle with, to work with,Ihad to pick the one with the self-inflated ego the size of an entire country.Hesputtered in indignation in my ear, andIjust let him, aware that he’d need to vent his frustration somewhere, andIdidn’t want her to have to bear the brunt of the fallout.

Aprimal part of me needed to protect something, and she was just the nearest damsel in distress.

Atleast, that’s whatItold myself.

Loveat first sight was for the fucking birds.Someromance book plot girls swooned over and fantasized about in their free time.Itwasn’t a real thing.

I’djust denied my own urges for too long.

That’sall.

“Listen,King.Callme back when you’re ready to schedule a talk.Untilthen,I’mhanging up the phone.Ihave shit to deal with, and you’re not on the top of my list of immediate priorities.”Iended the call and slung my phone on the couch, my lips twisted in a scowl.

Kenzlooked up at me and smiled softly, trying to disarm the situation.Imelted like a big slab of butter on a hot skillet.

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