Page 31 of Room Nine: Masters of Control

Kerr:Bobby is secure. He will no longer bother you.

Dem:What time do you get off work?

Kyra:I’m closing tonight. So, one or two, depending on how busy we get.

Kerr:You want us to bring you dinner?

Kyra:You keep spoiling me like this and I’m going to expect it all the time.

Dem:You should expect it all the time. You have three men who want to worship and cherish you, so get used to being treated like a princess.

Kyra:I’ve never been a princess once in my whole life.

Kerr:That’s because you’re not a princess. You’re a fucking queen. Specifically, our Queen.

Kyra: How soon can you guys get here?

Dem: We’re waiting for O’Dell to finish briefing our boss, then we’ll get ourselves cleaned up and be on our way. And we’ll bring you dinner, but it’s going to be a surprise.

Kyra:I’ll eat anything you put in my mouth.

Kerr:Oh Kitten, we’re going to keep your mouth very busy.

I’m glad the guys have been flirting with her for the last twenty minutes. It put them in a good mood, which means I will soon be in a good mood, too. As far as I’m concerned, she doesn’t need to know what we found in Bobby’s apartment—although, if she asks, we will tell her the truth. We’ll never lie to her, even if we believe it’s what is best.

“You guys ready to claim our queen?” I say as we pull out of the FBI parking lot, free for the first time in months.

“More than ready,” Kerr says.

“Let’s do it,” Dem agrees.

Here we fucking go…

11

KYRA

Jimmy the bouncer is sitting at the bar tonight, his first night back after being jumped over two weeks ago. The healing cuts and yellowish bruises on his face make my heart clench.

“Here you go, buddy.” I slide a beer his way.

It’s a Thursday night, so he’s not scheduled to work, but I think he feels the need to protect me. He’s never asked me out, nor indicated he was interested, and I’m almost afraid to ask if he has developed a crush. I don’t think my three knights in shining armor would approve of a fourth suitor.

“You know,” I lean forward so I can speak low, “you don’t have to worry about me anymore. Bobby got locked up today. He won’t be coming around again.”

Jimmy arches his brow. “Are you sure?”

I slide my palm on his forearm and squeeze. “Yeah.”

He lays his hand over mine and smiles. “Thank god. I was really worried about you.”

A man clears his throat at the end of the bar. “Can we order a drink?”

I turn to find my men watching us, and they do not look happy. “Hi.”

“Hey.” O’Dell’s eyes slide from me to Jimmy and back to me.

Smiling, I pat Jimmy’s hand covering mine and pull away. “Guys, this is Jimmy. The bouncer I told you about.”

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