Page 20 of Bitter Queen (Advantage Play 4)

“Who are you, Q?”

“No one.”

“I don’t believe that for one second.”

“You should.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s the truth. No one filled out a report because no one misses me. I’m no one.”

“And I disagree,” he returns. “You hungry?”

A small part of me is begging to be stubborn and deny it, but I’m too hungry to follow through. Instead, I give him a grudging nod.

“Let’s get you some food.” He slips past me, but not before his chest brushes against mine. With my breath caught in my lungs, I wait for the feeling of disgust to fill me at the contact, but it doesn’t appear. And neither does my fear.

Tucking away that little insight for later, I follow him to the kitchen. It’s decorated with the same rich red accents, gold sconces, and patterned fleur-de-lis wallpaper that matches the rest of the house. Eggs are cracking within minutes as a comfortable silence envelops the room. Once they’re placed on some ceramic plates, he sets one in front of me then plops down onto one of the barstools. “How’d you sleep?”

“Better.” I take a bite of the freshly scrambled eggs and almost moan. I was so used to living off cold broth and tepid water that I’d almost forgotten what good food tastes like. And even the meals that I’ve had since arriving here haven’t held a candle to these, although I refuse to admit it’s because I’m eating them at an actual counter with company instead of cross-legged on the floor all by myself.

Again, I can feel Diece watching me, but it doesn’t have the same creepy-crawly feeling I’d grown accustomed to when Sei was around.

Which reminds me….

Before I can talk myself out of it, I glance over at him. “Thank you, by the way.”

“For what?”

“For staying with me last night. I’m sure the floor isn’t comfortable, but….” I push around a bit of the egg on my plate. “I felt better knowing I wasn’t alone.”

He nods before taking a bite of his breakfast. After he chews and swallows, he sets down his fork. “I know this is going to take time for you to accept, but not everyone is like Sei. Even in this business,” he adds with a defeated smirk. “Sei was the scum of the earth, and if he wasn’t already in custody, I’d kill him for you.”

Chewing on my lower lip, I tear my gaze from his and shove another bite of breakfast into my mouth. But the flavor was ruined as soon as his name was mentioned.

“I’m sorry I’ve been an ass,” Diece continues.

“I’m sorry I’ve been emotional,” I return with a shy smile.

“You’re allowed to be emotional. You’re allowed to be whatever the hell you want.”

I snort. “Sure, I am.”

“So…have you considered my proposition?”

“About what?”

“Learning to defend yourself.”

Oh. That.

“I uh,” I hesitate, searching for the right words that won’t turn our conversation into another argument. “I don’t know how much it’ll really help.”

“Well, it definitely wouldn’t hurt,” he counters. “Besides, it’s not like we’re doing much around here anyway. Aren’t you bored?”

“Maybe.” I look around the vast kitchen to avoid his gaze.

“Then look at it that way. It’s something to fill the time until Kingston says it’s safe to come out of hiding.”

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