Page 16 of His Dark Hunger

“Like what duties you can perform for me,” he continued.

“I know.” The familiar anxiety furled inside her. “I’m sorry.” She closed her eyes. “And now I owe you even more because you bailed him out and…” She gasped, the enormity of everything that had happened washing over her once more.

“Shhh.” His arm tightened around her middle. “Is that what’s really on your mind?”

“It just makes things worse.” The sudden rush of emotion had taken her by surprise. “I can’t keep asking you for help, yet somehow there always seem to be new needs.” Jonah’s legal costs erupted into her mind. So far, he didn’t have a lawyer, but he’d need someone to represent him in court, and no one worked for free.

“What needs?” His hand left hers and slid along her body to hold her chin. “Tell me.”

He’d taken on that masterful persona again, his voice lowering an octave as his stern tone addressed her. That voice alone sent her heart rate racing.

“He’ll need a lawyer.” She flinched. “To help him in court.”

“Of course.” The fingers at her chin relaxed. “I have an excellent lawyer. I’ll call h—”

“No, no!” She lifted herself on one elbow, his eyes widening as she shifted. “I’ll look for someone in my own time, sir. I will not ask any more from you.”

“The best lawyer could get him off the charges altogether.” His gaze was steely, as if he knew he had her on the ropes. “That would be helpful for Jonah, wouldn’t it?”

“Yes,” she squeaked. “But I can’t afford someone like that.”

“It doesn’t matter.” He smiled as though her opinion was meaningless. “Because I can.”

Chapter Six

Lingering Threats

Kyle

Days before Graham’s death

Peering out onto Aspen Way, Kyle couldn’t resist his smile. The relatively inoffensive-looking cul-de-sac had turned out to be a goldmine. In the years since he’d taken ownership, he’d been able to raise rents three times with little in the way of resistance and only a few ongoing expenses. It meant the portfolio was more than only profitable; it had been able to fund other, potentially more lucrative business investments and had taken his overall revenue close to the nine figures he sought.

He was impressed.

Every little house on the block had helped to pave his path to success, every family lining his pockets to stay in their modest homes, except for one.

His gaze darted to the property in question.

The Kendal home.

Graham had helped him in the past to tidy up his tax affairs, but Kyle’s business had quickly outgrown Kendal’s knowledge base—and his usefulness. Kyle needed new reasons to perpetuate his charity to the Kendals, and that’s what he intended to discuss with the alleged man of the house.

“I shouldn’t be long.” He looked at Stevens in the front seat. The driver had turned out to be a reliable hire, and Kyle had not missed the tiresome business of having to drive himself around. “Wait for me here.”

“Very good, sir.” Stevens nodded as Kyle climbed out of the back seat.

Tugging down his lapels, Kyle walked the short distance along the garden path, although the growing weeds on either side made the concrete increasingly difficult to find.

Isn’t there something in the tenancy contract about needing to keep the gardens in good order?

He’d have to mention it to Kendal. He wanted his property to look neat and tidy, especially if he needed to attract a new family to lease it.

Three sharp taps at the door filled the air as he waited for someone to answer. He could have given the tenants notice of his intention to visit and insisted that they were ready to talk things through, but that wasn’t really his style. He’d prefer to keep things casual and civilized if he could. Nobody needed to be penalized if they could just come to some sort of agreement.

His thought was interrupted when the door opened, but it wasn’t Kendal or his wife that greeted him. Instead, an unimpressed-looking juvenile stared at him from beyond the curtain of his long, dark hair. No doubt the youth thought his tresses and black tee made him a revolutionary, but Kyle wasn’t in the mood for babysitting. He’d seen more revolt in the boardroom than the teenager in front of him could muster.

“Who are you?” The young man hissed the words.

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