Page 81 of Queen Of Dark Money

Howthe hell wasIgoing to manage that?

Dominickcleared his throat as he approached me from behind, a hand on my shoulder in support. “Shesounded relieved to hear from you.”

Ishrugged, prepared to hand the phone back over.Therewas no way they’d let me keep it. “Yeah.Istill have to work some kinks out with her doctor, but it’s hard to do that from clear across the country.”

“Surelya phone call can solve most issues,” he pointed out, pushing the phone back against my chest. “That’syours.Youdon’t need to worry about anyone taking it from you.”Hisbody pressed against mine as he closed the distance between us, wrapping me in a hug. “You’renot our prisoner anymore,Kenz.I’mjust keeping you here for your own safety.”

Ispun on my heel and turned to face him, hands pressed against his solid chest asIstared into his eyes, watching for a lie.Ididn’t understand any of this, and things were moving too fast.I’dknown this man all of a day, and here he was, turning my head upside down and looking at me likeIwas already his.

“Why?”Iwhispered, my eyes scanning his as we stared each other down.

“Whywhat?”Heseemed genuine, and the man wasn’t giving me anything to work with.

Isighed. “Whyare you helping me?Protectingme?”

Heshrugged, his eyes unfocused as he stared at somethingIcouldn’t see. “Well, aside from the obvious,Isee something in you that reminds me of . . . well, of someoneIcouldn’t save a long ass time ago.”Hepaused, shaking himself from whatever daze his memories held him in. “Ican’t change the past, butIcan control the future.Andas long as it’s in my power to help you,I’lldo that.”

Iran a finger down his chest, musing over some thoughts running laps in my head. “You’renothing like your son,”Imuttered, completely unawareI’dsaid it out loud.

Hishand stopped mine in its tracks, and a growl slipped from his lips as he stared down at me. “Ithink you should go find something to occupy yourself with.”

Ifelt a good pout rising but tamped it down.Somethinghad changed his mood in an instant, and thoughIcouldn’t tell what it was,Iwasn’t about to push him when he looked like this.Iknew how to read a dom.Andthis man was done for the day.

“Doyou haveNetflix?Cable?Maybesome video games?”

Hetipped his head in the direction of the study. “Thereis aTVin the study that comes out of the wall.Remoteis on the desk.It’sgreen.I’llcall for you when dinner is ready.”

Istrode to the doorway with single-minded intent, already planning out the showsIcould catch up on. “Whatabout you?”

“I’vegot work to deal with,” he muttered, shutting down. “Enjoyyour downtime,Kenzie.Ibelieve we’ll have some visitors you’re familiar with tomorrow.”

Thathad to be the assholes who’d kidnapped me, or one of the other guys. “Can’twait,”Ishot back, already dreading the interaction.

Sometimes, life gave you lemons.Andsometimes, those lemons just slammed into you with such force they left bruises.

AndIwas already bruised enough.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

DOMINICK

Lettingher call her mother had been good for her.Itoffered a grounding in a way nothing else could.Riverhad suspected there was someone she was worried about, perhaps a family member she was supposed to touch base with, but none of us had suspected it was her mother.

Thefact that the conversation left her more worried than relieved was something to address another day.

Shepassed out on the study couch beforeI’dfinished the day’s work, and instead of waking her,Ilet the poor girl sleep, knowing she needed the rest for tomorrow.Dealingwith theKingson a good day was bad enough.DealingwithArthurHalehimself when he wanted answers, well . . . that could be stressful enough to break a person.Andshe wasn’t on the stablest of ground.

Perhapsit was a bad idea to let them do this today . . .

“Sir, you have visitors,” my second guard echoed through the intercom. “ShallIlet them up?”

“Yes,”Ireplied, straightening my tie asIwent off in search ofKenzie.

Ifound her sitting in the study again, her eyes closed, soft snores coming from her lips as she slept.Thepoor thing hadn’tbeen sleeping well;Ilistened to her pace all night last night, up and down the hall outside my bedroom door.WhenIgot out of bed,Ichecked her room and found the sheets unmussed, still tucked neatly around the mattress.

Ididn’t bring it up, and neither did she.Theonly words we’d spoken to each other today was when she’d asked me if she could borrow a charger for her phone, and that had been only a few words.Shewandered into the kitchen twice today and helped herself to some food,Iassume not wanting to be a burden.Perhapsshe didn’t thinkIreally wanted to take care of her.Maybeshe had trust issues.Hell,Iwould, after all she’d been through.

DirkledKingandSoldierthrough the foyer and into the entertaining pit, watching over the room as they made themselves comfortable.Icould see them through the glass wall between the study and the rest of the suite, but they couldn’t see me.

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