Page 589 of Cheaters: A Dark Romance Anthology

Taking two steps, he holds them out for me. “Dis no makana. One day, I ask for payment.”

I nod.

He shakes the bags slightly, making the tiny, white grains jump. “You a good girl? No tell.”

Memories swirl in my brain. Words screaming between my ears, refusing to leave.Thick, acidic nausea burns the back of my throat.

“I-I won't tell.”

“Good girl.” He drops the bags.

I catch them with both of my hands as he wraps his arm around Carlos’s shoulders and leads him out of the room.

“I can't let you take those.” Hector looks at me as both men retreat down the hallway.

“I think you can.”

He crosses his arms over his chest, blocking the door. “It's my job to protect you.”

I take a step closer. “It's your job to protect me from the outside world. Not from a tiny, harmless bag.” I trace one of my manicured nails up his chest, pouting my lips. I can be the spoiled princess he thinks I am. Just once, to get what I need. “It's just a little fun.”

“Still, that's not yours.”

“It's Damien's.” I raise one eyebrow, daring him to object. “And whatever's his is mine.” Smiling, I pat him on the shoulder, then squeeze past him.

In the hallway, I tuck the bags into my top, then head to the security room. I reach the small room just as the guard picks up the telephone.

“Stop.” My voice carries more bravado than I feel. “You don't want to do that.”

Keeping his hand on the receiver, he turns toward me.

I take a cautious step past the threshold, noting the angle of all of the security cameras on the wall of screens. One of them is above the door to the west wing, another inside the room we were just in. None are in the rest of the condo. Just this side.

“What's your name?”

“Kenika.”

“Okay, Kenika.” I nod, stepping closer. “Do you know who I am?”

He nods.

“Do you know who gave me the bags?”

“Y-yes.”

“And do you know how high up the men who let me have them are?” I wipe my clammy hands on my dress.

He swallows, letting go of the phone to tug at his shirt collar.

My chest constricts, yet I keep asking my questions. With each strained breath, my ribcage presses against the solution, the one thing that can set my mind free. As long as I can make it out of this room. “If you make that call, who do you think will take the fall? The Haku's ohana or some random kid?”

Like a fish without water, he silently opens and closes his mouth.

Kneeling down until I'm eye level with him, I place my hand on his shoulder. “Delete the videos, we were never here. Understand?”

He nods, turning to the screens and reaching for his keyboard.

“Do that, and no one will know you messed up.” The words tumble out of my mouth, smooth and even. I don’t recognize my voice, can’t admit what I’m holding. But, the voices keep screaming.

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