Page 46 of Dark King (Advantage Play 2)

If she hadn’t stepped in, Mr. Russo would’ve never been swayed, and the people I care about would’ve never left this room.

“Done.” Raising his hand in the air, Dex slams the gun against Burlone’s head again, harder this time. His body slumps in his chair instantly before Dex reaches into his suit pocket and retrieves a set of zip ties, placing them around Burlone’s slackened wrists and ankles. Then, he turns to the blonde girl and asks, “Do you want to do this the easy way or the hard way?”

With tears in her eyes, she whispers, “I’m done fighting. It never did me much good, anyway.”

There’s something about the defeat in her voice that brings a fresh wave of pity. Maybe she can talk with Ace for a few minutes before we return her to Jack. Seems to me that she could use a listening ear for all the shit she’s been through. I can’t even imagine, but I can guarantee Burlone will pay for it with his blood.

Nodding, he tosses an unconscious Burlone over his shoulder then reaches for her handcuffs. As he tugs her toward the exit, the rest of us watch in fascination because none of us expected that turn of events––not even me.

“What about the rest of them?” Mr. Carbonne asks, eyeing the cuffed women with collars around their necks cowering in the corners.

“They’ve all been tagged by the Feds and are being watched. I’ll take care of them. But, just to confirm, if I were to be able to wipe their identities, would you be interested in purchasing?” The words taste bitter as they leave my mouth, but I keep my expression indifferent.

Mr. Russo adjusts himself through his pants. “With pleasure.”

“I understand, Mr. Russo. And the rest of you?”

Jack made it clear that we’d need evidence on tape if he had any hope of arresting them, and I want to make sure we don’t leave any loopholes for them to slip through.

A chorus of yes’s echo throughout the room, and I respond with a wicked smile.

“Good. Gentlemen, it’s been great doing business with you.” Placing my hand on Ace’s lower back and leading her to the exit, I add, “We’ll be in touch soon.”

Once our feet hit the driveway, a swarm of FBI agents disperse from the trees, rushing the house with weapons raised and dark masks covering their faces. Ace nuzzles into my side for protection as a satisfied Jack approaches us.

“Did we get what we needed?”

A recording device is tossed to him by Ace with her hands still linked together.

“Yup. You’ll have to pardon the glitches, though.” She smirks. “Very finicky little piece of equipment. But we got the evidence you needed of all the men agreeing to purchase the women.”

“Finicky, huh? Funny…it was working just fine when I taught you how to use it.”

With a shrug, she lifts her hands for me to unlock. “Right? Weird. Hey, King, wanna help a girl out?”

“I dunno. I kind of like you all tied up,” I tease, fetching the key from my jacket pocket. I wasn’t stupid enough to put them into the center pot. If anyone is going to put my girl in cuffs or take them off, it’ll be me.

Shuddering, Jack takes a few steps back toward the house. “Aaand, I think that’s my cue. Thanks for your help. You’ve saved a lot of women from a pretty shitty future.”

“Hey, Jack,” I call out before he disappears with the rest of his men.

“Yeah?”

“You never told me you had an undercover agent in that house.”

Dumbfounded, Jack says, “We don’t.”

Then who the hell was that girl? Seems I have a few more questions to ask, but they won’t be directed at Jack. We might’ve found a truce for a short period of time, but it isn’t going to be a long-term thing. I don’t mind him taking out the trash for me, but I’m not a rat, and our lives will always be at odds with each other.

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

A beat of silence follows before I wave him off. “Yeah, you’re right. Forget I said anything.”

“See you around, Jack,” Ace adds, ending the conversation.

“You too, Ace.”

This time, Jack really does leave. If there wasn’t an undercover agent in that room, then who was the girl who pretended to be one? And what was her motive?

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