Page 80 of Queen Of Dark Money

Ididn’t think, didn’t argue, and didn’t fight him.Mymouth popped open, and he stuck that damn thing in without preamble, watching asIsummarily chewed and swallowed.Whenhe sawIhad complied, his finger brushed away a crumb at the corner of my mouth, and he smiled softly, his gaze still stern.

“Goodgirl,” he whispered, and just like that,Iforgot how to breathe.

Thephone in my hand rang, andIjumped damn near out of my seat, stunned out of my dazed horny stupor by the shrill ring.Iglanced at the screen, shrieked, and dropped the phone in my haste to answer the call.

“Hello?Mama, hey, hi–”

Hervoice was quiet but no less potent than it ever was. “Youhaven’t called me in two weeks,Iwas about to put out a missing person’s report,KerenzaDawn–”

“Mama, wait.Ican explain,”Istarted, but pulled up short.Ireally couldn’t, not in a way she’d understand or forgive.

Therewas nothing worse than the creep she’d once procreated with, in her opinion, and working for him to pay her medical bills would probably have been like sacrificing myself for aSatanicritual on the steps of her church.Icouldn’t tell her the truth.Ihad to come up with a believable lie–”

“Puther on speaker,Kenz,”Domordered, andIshook my head, confusion warring with the desire to obey.Istill lingered in a sub-space, and my mind was slow to come out of it.Sowhen his hand covered mine and flicked that speakerphone button,Ididn’t fight him.Ididn’t stop him, nor didIturn it off.

“Ma, listen–”

“Don’tyoulisten, mamame, young lady.Iwant to know why you scared me like that.I’mover here freaking out because you missed our nightly check-ins for two weeks, and you think you’re going to be able to rationally explain–”

“I’msorry,Ihave to interject, miss–” he looked to me for an answer, andImouthedDiazhastily as he scrambled to cover his pause. “MissDiaz.Kerenzahas been working for me, and unfortunately, her phone was damaged on-site two weeks ago.Iwasn’t made aware of the situation right away, and when we returned to the office,Irectified the issue and replaced her phone for her.Ido apologize for any inconvenience this caused you.Restassured, your daughter is in safe hands.”

Icouldn’t believe my ears.He’dpulled a fucking plausible excuse out of his ass, and my mother still hadn’t said a word about it on her end.

Iwaited with bated breath as she processed the interaction and then hummed to herself. “Kenzie, can you take me off speakerphone for a moment?Andthank your boss for me, for replacing your phone.”

Myfingers flew over the icons asIbrought the phone up to my ear.Imouthedthank youtoDominickas he nodded and took our plates to the sink, leaving me with a bit of privacy to speak to my mother on my own.

“Mama?”

Ipulled the phone away from my ear and glanced down to make sure we hadn’t been disconnected.Nope, still there.

Itried again. “Mama?Youstill with me?”

“Mmm,” she said, in a tone that told meIwas not yet off the hook. “Iam here.Whereelse wouldIgo, dear?”

“Idunno,Mama.You’vebeen known to make a break for it and roam the town against doctor's orders.Youcould be up to anything for allIknow.”

Dominickbegan hand-washing the dishes in the background, andIturned to look out the windows, taking in the skyline asIbreathed a sigh of relief at hearing my mother’s voice. “Yourboss sounds lovely.Thoughwhy you’re together on a weekend afternoon is beyond me.”

Icould hear the censure in her voice and scrambled to give her something believable. “Mama, normal people still work weekends.Hisbusiness deals with clients daily, andIcame in to finish some work from the day before.That’sall.”

Sureit was.Andmeanwhile, he rescued me from being shot,I’vebeen a prisoner for the last two weeks, and nowI’mlusting after the same men who have held me captive this whole time.Nothingout of the ordinary, nope.

“Well, the doctor was in today.Seemsthere was an issue with payment, and he says he needs to talk to you about the bank information to make sure they got it right before he can clear me for the surgery.Itold him you’d get with him soon.Andwhen were you going to tell me your boss sounded so sexy?”

“Mama!”

Shechuckled asIsquirmed in my seat, blushing like a schoolgirl. “Ah, sweet girl, you knowIcan tell when you’re not being honest with me.Idon’t know what you and that hot boss of yours have going on, just make sure he treats you well.”Shepaused, andIcould barely hear the nurse who’d entered her room. “Oh, sweetheart,I’mso glad you’re okay.Iwas so worried.NurseHaileyis here to take me down for some preliminary scans.Canyou call me later?”

Inodded, then realized she couldn’t see me and cleared my throat, suddenly choked up. “Sure, mama.I’llcall you as soon asIfinish work tonight.”

“Ilove you,Kerenza,” she said, her breath catching in her throat.Ifelt guilty for making her feel any amount of stress and nearly teared up myself.

“Ilove you more, mama.”

Sheended the call, and every ounce of strength holding me together started to fall apart.Icould literally feel pieces of me chipping away as the worry over her worry drained out.

Butthe comment about payment concerned me.ItmeantSinclairdidn’t hold up his end of the deal.Whenhe’d decided to eliminate me, he figured he wouldn’t have to keep paying.AndnowIwas left holding the very large bill for my mother’s procedure that she needed to save her fucking life.

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