Page 35 of Dark King (Advantage Play 2)

“Because I’m trusting you.”

“Or you’re using me,” he counters.

“Do you really think I’d use you like that, Kingston? Think about it, and I mean really think about it. I’m putting my life on the line in hopes of finding a solution, and one fell into my lap. You can’t blame me for that. I didn’t go out looking for Jack. I didn’t know who he was. But if you could just…trust me. I think I have an idea. One that can fix everything.”

“You’ve said that already. Better keep talking, Wild Card.”

Clearing my throat, I dive right in.

Chapter Eighteen

Kingston

It isn’t easy to gain my respect, but as Ace goes toe-to-toe with me, I can’t help but admire her determination.

That doesn’t stop the overwhelming suspicion from taking hold, however.

“I said talk,” I bark.

I watch as her pink tongue darts out between her lips before running along them. “You need evidence that Burlone works for the Feds. I know a Fed who might be willing to help.”

Tapping my finger against my chin, I say, “You said might. Do you know what happens if he doesn’t want to give us the fabricated documents we’re asking for?”

“He’ll give it to us,” she counters. There’s an edge of determination in her voice, but it isn’t enough to convince me.

I scoff. “How do you know, Ace?”

“Because he knows what a terrible human being Burlone is just like we do.”

A wave of frustration mixed with defeat rolls through me.

Leaning forward, I ask, “Ace. Who am I?”

Ace’s brows pinch in confusion. “Huh?”

“Who am I?”

“You’re Kingston?” It’s obvious she doesn’t know where I’m going with this, so I spell it out for her.

“I’m Kingston Romano. Head of the Romano family. I’m a made man, Ace. I’m a bad man.”

“Well yeah, but—”

“What makes me any different than Burlone in Jack Connelly’s eyes?”

With a huff, she crosses her arms. “You don’t have multiple women at your disposal for a quick buck. That’s the difference. If we can offer him something he wants in return––”

“And what if we can’t find something he wants? You’re suggesting we approach a Fed, Ace. If he refuses to help us, then I’ll have no choice but to kill him to protect ourselves. To protect our family. Are you okay with that?”

“It won’t come to that,” she argues, though I can see the doubt in her eyes.

“It might,” I return. “I need to know whose side you’re on. Because right now, you could still walk away. You could still disappear into the night. Your name hasn’t been tainted by the mafia yet, but if your connection with a Fed is discovered, and then that Fed goes missing because they refuse to cooperate with us, it won’t take a genius to figure out the part you played. Do you want that?”

Gaze steely, she stands from her seat before nudging my legs apart and pushing between them. I feel her soft palms cup both sides of my face, and the intimate touch surprises me. Especially when I just finished giving her an ultimatum I’d never planned on voicing aloud.

Pulling me down until my forehead rests against hers, she whispers, “I’m in this, King. I’m all in. If Jack doesn’t go along with this, then we do what needs to be done to protect the family. There’s no going back for me…no matter what.”

I watch for any sign of a lie, even if she’s hiding the truth from herself as much as she’s hiding it from me, but I don’t see it. The resolution in her eyes is clear, and my chest squeezes in anticipation.

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