Page 53 of Steal a King (Five Kings 2)

Lucas

It was the right thing to do. Despite the fact I hated every second arranging Ella’s departure from my side, I know she needs to work and so do I. What happened with Adam is still raw. There’s a spanner in the works and I need to find out who put it there.

I tried so hard to push Ella from my mind as I worked all morning, sifting through reports, records and articles. I have Dixie and Adam working on finding out information on our backers and trawling through articles online that mention my organizations at all.

The picture building is a concerning one because word on the street is destructive. Hell, I probably wouldn’t invest in my own fucking venture if I had half a brain, and I’m not surprised the market is getting cold feet.

I try so hard to blank Ella from my mind but it’s impossible, so around lunchtime, I call Tom and instruct him to make up a basket to go and call my car around.

As we pull up outside Ella’s business, I look with interest at a rather shabby shop front with an interesting image of a cat looking in a mirror outside.

I wonder about the people who come here. It’s a strange business to own and 10/10 for originality. As I grab the wicker basket, I wonder what she’ll think of this. To be honest, I’m not sure what I think of this because this is out of character for me. I don’t chase women down like a lovesick fool. I fuck them and then they leave. It’s always been that way, but there’s something about Ella that’s special and I kind of like the effect she’s having on my life.

Once the coast is clear, Eddie, one of my guards, holds open the door and I head inside.

Charlie looks up from his position at the front desk and nods. “She’s out back, Boss.”

“Take a break, Charlie, Eddie’s got this.”

He nods and is probably thanking me right now because he must be bored shitless babysitting because I’m so fucking terrified of anything happening to the woman who has surprised me by showing up in my heart.

I push through the door and see Ella bent over her desk, deep in concentration. She looks up and the surprise on her face makes me laugh as I hold up the basket.

“Lunch.”

“Seriously.” She shakes her head and I shrug.

“I don’t like to eat alone.”

“Since when?” Grinning, she sets her pen down and stands and I admire the fact her t-shirt clings to her tits, making me glad I came.

Setting the basket down on the side, I look around with interest.

“So, this is your kingdom.”

“Yes, it’s not as impressive as yours, but I like it.”

Despite the fact it’s basic and rather cramped, it looks clean and well-ordered, which tells me a lot about her.

She sits on the corner of the desk and looks at me with interest.

“So, how come you’re here. I mean, it’s nice and all, but I thought we were keeping a low profile.”

“We are.”

“Then forgive me for stating the obvious but anyone watching this shop, that’s if they are in fact, surely you’ve just blown your cover by turning up here mob handed, carrying a fucking picnic basket.”

She does have a point and I’m impressed.

“True, this may have blown our cover as you say.” I laugh softly. “It’s why I have operatives stationed at every corner, covering every window in site, and observing from across the street.”

She laughs softly. “Is that right?”

Advancing closer, I fix her with a devilish smile. “I needed to check this out for myself. For some reason I couldn’t stop thinking of you here, unprotected without me around.”

She laughs out loud. “You call this being unprotected. I’m guessing your men have a lot more skill in protection than you do.”

“True, but I’m talking here about close protection. None of my men will ever get close enough to you to warrant that title. I mean, if I stand in front of you, they would have to get through me to you, pretty impressive right.”

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