Page 7 of His Dark Hunger

“Yes.” Kendal sighed. “How muchadditional work would you need from me?”

“We’ll negotiate that.” Kyle had a good feeling about his hunch. Kendal would prove to be useful. “Do we have a deal, Mr. Kendal?”

“I guess so.” Kendal shrugged, clearly out of choices.

“Fabulous.” Kyle reached inside his jacket pocket and handed Kendal his favorite fountain pen. “If you could sign on page seven, please.”

Kyle watched as, frowning, Kendal flicked through the pages and did just that, a sense of satisfaction rising in him. If he couldn’t acquire more money from his new property portfolio, then he’d ensure he got the benefit of Kendal’s time and skillset instead. Now that Kendal had signed the contract, there was no way he could back out.

“Write your number on the top of the copy,” Kyle prompted. “That way, I can get in touch with you.”

“Right.” Fatigue resonated from Kendal’s voice as he scribbled the digits on the first page.

“Thank you.” Kyle gestured for Kendal to hand back the papers and pen as, closing his case, he rose to his feet. “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you.”

Chapter Three

Brock Hall

Amy

“Who is this employer of yours?” Jonah’s voice was only a whisper as Stevens drove the enormous Mercedes onto the grounds of Kyle’s gigantic property.

“A businessman.” Cognizant of Kyle’s driver listening in on the entire conversation, she kept the reply short. “Mr. Kyle.”

“What sort of business?” Jonah leaned closer, as though he, too, was wary of Stevens.

The truth was, Amy didn’t know. Kyle had never discussed the origins of his wealth, and frankly, the odd dynamic between them, coupled with her debilitating anxiety where money was concerned, meant she’d never asked.

“I don’t know, but he just paid for your bail,” she reminded Jonah. “So, let’s make sure we’re respectful, eh?”

Apparently unconvinced by her reply, Jonah scowled, but he said nothing further as Stevens pulled up outside the impressive front entrance.

“Here you go.” Stevens’ voice was irritatingly smug from the front seat.

“Thank you.”

Hers was intentionally clipped as she slipped out of the back and waited for Jonah to follow. Her son closed the door and watched as the car moved away. Having come straight from detention, he had little in the way of personal possessions with him.

“This feels weird, Mum.” Jonah gazed up at the huge mansion. “Why wouldyouhave been offered a job here?”

She tried to ignore the disparaging judgment in Jonah’s tone that implied she wasn’t worthy of a role there. She supposed a lifetime of low-paid, laborious roles had conditioned him into believing that was all she was good for.

“Kyle bumped into me at the grocery store.” She paused, recalling the event. “He’s an old business associate of your dad’s, and after talking for a while, he offered me a job.”

She conveniently missed out on the part where Kyle had taken her to dinner, and she’d broken down into ungainly sobs. Jonah didn’t need to know about those things.

“That’s a bit random.”

Amy had the sense he was choosing his words carefully. “A coincidence, perhaps,” she clarified. “But a lucky one.”

“Hmmm.” Jonah’s focus flitted from her face to the massive doors again. “And you do what for him, exactly?”

Whatever he asks…

“A multitude of things.” She forced a smile. “It’s enjoyable work, Jo-Jo, and the money is fantastic. I’d have been a fool to say no, let alone homeless.”

“Howmuchmoney?” Jonah ignored her final comment, and she was glad. She hadn’t intended to rub salt into the wound, and she’d meant what she’d told him. None of this was his fault.

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