Page 75 of Bitter Queen (Advantage Play 4)

I don’t answer her right away. Because she’s right. He’s the exact opposite of who I expected I’d end up with. Hell, I was saving myself for the white knight with shining armor and a small mechanic shop on the edge of town. I scoff at my naivety before admitting, “Life kind of threw a curveball at me, didn’t it?”

“It seems to throw curveballs at all of us.”

“Touché,” I concede, slumping further into the cushions. “I really care about Diece.”

“I think he really cares about you too.”

“You think?” I hate the butterflies that are currently assaulting my stomach at the mention of Diece and his potential feelings for me. We’ve never talked about it. Ever.

“I do. Diece is the sweetest of the bunch, but he’s still a made man. Are you okay with his…job requirements?” she offers with a grimace.

Picking at the non-existent lint on my T-shirt, I give another shrug. “We haven’t really discussed it.”

“Well, what happens when they catch Sei? Regina told me that Dex has been listening for any whisperings regarding you, but there haven’t been any in a long time. That’s a good thing. But it also means that you’ll likely be in the clear once Sei is taken out of the picture. Diece won’t need to protect you anymore. You’ll be able to ride off into the sunset if you want. What then?”

I gulp and pick at the cuticle on my thumb. “I-I guess I don’t know.”

“You should probably think about it. And you should probably really think about if you’re willing to give up your dream Hallmark guy and that particular fairy-tale for a much more badass version who wears a suit, drinks whiskey, and gets his hands dirty.”

My breath hitches. She’s right. What if I had a choice? When Burlone took me, my options for my future were ripped away from me. Even after I was saved and brought to Kingston’s estate, then taken to Matteo’s, I still didn’t have a choice. Well, not without catastrophic repercussions anyway. But what if I did? What if I could choose to leave? To build my life into what I’d always wanted? Would I take that opportunity? Or would I stay with D? Would he even want me to stay?

“Q?” Ace prods.

“I’ll think about it,” I promise.

“Good. Because I think he has a right to know.”

“Who says he even cares?” I challenge while hating how bitchy I sound. But I can’t help it. All this hypothetical chitchat is going to drive me insane.

“I’m not blind, Q.” She smiles, unoffended by my outburst. “And neither are you. Diece looks at you like you hung the moon.”

“I don’t know about that,” I hedge.

“He does, but that’s beside the point. Do you want to know a secret?”

“What’s that?” I peek over at her.

Her smile softens. “You look at him like he hung the moon too.” Then she pushes herself up. “I’m going to get some rest. Thanks for letting me crash your party.”

“Don’t mention it. I’m going to go take a shower, then try to get some sleep too. But thank you for your insight. I really appreciate it.”

“Anytime,” she returns. Stopping near the exit, she faces me then adds, “And Q?”

“Yeah?”

“For what it’s worth, I didn’t expect to fall for a made man either, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

27

Diece

What. The. Fuck?

A knife feels like it’s been plunged into my chest as I overhear Q and Ace’s conversation. I’d already checked Q’s room, but she wasn’t there. Every muscle in my body aches from the long ass day of searching for her stalker while extracting information from a few assholes who might have information regarding Sei’s whereabouts. But there’s nothing. The bastard is a ghost.

And having her walk around aimlessly through shitty parts of town while watching her from a distance hasn’t exactly been good for my blood pressure, either.

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