Page 43 of To Curse A Knight

My thoughts raced to Bellamy. Someone was investigating my assignment because they’d wanted to target Hillary, which brought about a bunch of loaded questions.

How many enemies did this woman have?

Who’d targeted her in the first place?

Was it personal, or was it just some horny prick who loved semi-accurate nude paintings and wasn’t willing to sell all his organs on the black market for it?

And why the fuck hadn’t I questioned any of this before? Hell of a time to develop a conscience.

The room had gone silent; I looked up to see Hillary and the blobbed out face of the new girl staring at me expectantly.

Blowing out a breath to clear my head, I flashed my most charming smile. I had some questions I needed answers to before I could scamper off like a handsome fox, which meant I’d be sticking out the job a little while longer.

“Sorry about that.” I spoke cheerfully, moving into my Blondie’s personal space to face Blackbird head-on. “Here’s what I’m going to need from you to destroy this fucker…”

I had some bloody decisions to make. But first… sweet, sweet revenge.

“What in the ever-loving feck do you have in this thing?” Lucky complained as he dragged my oversized Louis Vuitton suitcase behind him in the snow as we crossed the driveway to Winter’s home.

I visited every year in January for a weekend to spend some time with my bestie and her family. This year, I had been blessed with an Irish tag-along.

I’d considered canceling, but my little adopted nephew’s birthday party was tomorrow. I didn’t get to be a part of his life nearly enough, and the overwhelming “aunt guilt” had made that choice an impossibility.

Kellan was away on FBI business, and he’d made it abundantly clear he would be refusing “babysitting duty” as he called it, from now on.

Aaron, of course, was indisposed at the Palace and, as much as I wanted to dump Lucky off there for the weekend and not have to deal with him, I didn’t trust Aaron not to kill him. Now I knew what Lucky was after in my home, there was no way he was getting the weekend alone at my condo to thieve it from right under my nose.

The man had practically salivated when he saw the Modigliani in the panic room. I already had cursed myself for not making the connection sooner.Of course, he would be after my most valuable possession—Lucky was the most competent thief I’d ever met. Which was saying quite a lot. In my time at Jediah’s parties, I’d met more than a few–it didn’t surprise me he wasn’t after some diamonds or a designer gown—he was going for the grand prize of stolen goods.

Now it was a matter of time; I was confident in my security measures, so I just had to wait until he got himself caught. Although, admittedly, I hadn’t figured out what I was going to do to him when he got stuck in my web.

My dungeon was for predators only; he would not get the same torture treatment my other guests did. Blackbird had informed me, after our little business meeting, she’d been impressed by his plan and his level of knowledge. We were likely going to actually pull this off

So, like it or not, Lucky was far more valuable to me alive than dead, or alive and tortured.

Trading in grays was a daily deal in this life I’d chosen. Shady businessmen, crooked legal teams, manipulative city councils—all par for the course to walk the roads of this world. I was willing to trade Lucky’s duplicity for his skill set if it meant I could take down Alvarez—and, if he did it successfully, I’d take him off my permanent chopping block.

He drove me up the wall most days, but… I liked him.

I didn’t want to—it would be easier to toss him in a cell if I didn’t. His Irish charm had snared me at Quintessence and despite his childish tendencies, he was cunning, intelligent, and unassuming—the perfect partner in crime ifIwasn’t the one he was trying to swindle. His sexier than sin body and captivating eyes were a bonus, but it was his exasperating sense of whimsy and wit that amplified his appeal.

I’d met thousands of people—hundreds of thousands—over the years of rubbing shoulders with Daddy’s circle of influence before I built my own. Hundreds of men and women had tried to seduce me, barter favors from me, lavish me with gifts and praise with nothing of substance beyond their motives.

Maybe it was because I’d known his motives this whole time, but I struggled to see Lucky as an actual threat. He was a cocky mouse, thinking he could mimic the nature of a lion, butIwas the lion. Jungle cats weren’t afraid of rodents.

But if I was wrong, and he double-crossed us? Kellan and Aaron could have their turns with him first, then I’d finish him. A fair fight, like Aaron had been gifted, except there wouldn’t be anyone coming to Lucky’s rescue.

So, for now, Lucky would be stuck to my side, away from my priceless paintings and any of the countless ways he could get into trouble. That meant this weekend he was with me.

I didn’t trust him with priceless artwork, but I didn’t see him as a threat to the people I loved. It was a juxtaposition I wasn’t able to explain. Yet.

I had to lean into my gut on this one.

I also had to come up with a cover story for his appearance. I was thankful Winter couldn’t see my face when I’d explained I was bringing the man “I’m seeing.” I refused to use the word ‘boyfriend,’ but it didn’t matter; she’d obnoxiously squealed in my ear with excitement. Then she’d hollered to the guys I was bringing my boyfriend and they’d “need to behave.”

I could take solace in the fact Shane and Logan were sure tonotbehave and give Lucky hell. I’d just sit back for the weekend and enjoy the show.

And speak of the devils… As we rounded the corner, the entire goddamned family was waiting at the entrance, not even bothering to hide their curious eyes and smug grins.

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