Page 22 of Heart of Stone (Dark Billionaires)

Her father hadsourcedwomen from here, Braxton had said.

Movement in the corner of her eye made her look up. A woman wobbled on the pavement, her tight dress restricting her steps. Her long blonde hair swayed as she walked down the street, eyeing the dark, expensive car in which Kate sat.

The blonde woman approached slowly, swinging her hips as she walked. A few feet away, however, her high-heeled shoes caught on the uneven pavement, and she went flying, landing on the ground in a heap of scraped knees and elbows.

“Oh my god,” Kate flung the door open, wincing as the woman’s head bounced off the kerb. “Are you hurt?” The doors of the security car behind them opened too, with two men quickly approaching. Kate bent down, her lavender dress tightening at even that small movement.

The woman looked up slowly, her cheeks flushed pink. Her eyes roved up and down Kate’s figure. “Aren’t you a pretty thing?” she smirked lazily.

“Miss,” one of the security guards said. Kate hadn’t ever been told his name, but she recognised him as one of the men who’d been tailing Warren at the restaurant. The other stood like a sentinel a few feet in front of the car, glaring in her direction. She couldn’t help but feel thatthat onedidn’t like her very much. “We strongly advise that you get back in the car.”

“I’ll just be a moment.” She held out a hand to help the woman up, bracing herself when she weighed far more than Kate expected. “What’s your nam—?” Kate let out a yelp as she slipped on the discarded condom.

A ripping noise was the cost of regaining her footing, and Kate gasped at the feeling of her dress sagging open—and the touch of cool night air hitting places that she definitely wasn’t comfortable revealing in the middle of the dodgiest-looking street in London. A cityfullof dodgy-looking streets.

“I’m Adina,” the woman said, standing far too close. Her eyes caught on Kate’s lips.

“Kate,” she gave an awkward smile. Kate took half a step back, hoping Adina would take the hint and retreat from her personal space. She clasped her torn dress to herself uncomfortably. “Your head… Do you want to sit down for a moment?”

Nodding, Adina opened the car door and jumped up into Kate’s seat.

Right then.

When Kate got into the back, one of the guards climbed in next to her. Thankfully the one that didn’t have resting bitch face. Giving him an odd look—and feeling much more secure now that her arse wasn’t hanging out in the middle of the street—she leant over to see Adina. Past the screen in the back of the headrest in front of her. Because obviously the car had TVs in the headrests. The reminder of her poverty and endless debt was an unnerving one, knotting her stomach. She swallowed. “How are you feeling?”

“Fine,” Adina said, smiling back at her. “Are we not leaving?”

She tried to remember what she knew about concussions and drew a blank. “I don’t know how to drive, but my… friend will be out in a moment. Sorry.”And I also don’t want to go back into the street half naked.“We’ll give you a lift home. Or do you want to go to the hospital?”

Adina turned to face Kate head on. “I don’t do more than two customers at a time.” Her eyes flicked between Kate and the security guard. “If you want your other friend to join us, I’ll have to go in and get a second girl.”

Oh.An uncomfortable feeling settled in her stomach as the penny dropped. “Are you… are you a prostitute?”

Adina stilled. “What did you think I was?”

She lifted her shoulders. “A woman who’d fallen on the street?” After a brief pause, “Well, I suppose you can be both.”

“A fallen woman on the street.” Adina let out a harsh laugh. “So you’re not wanting me to do anything for you?”

Kate opened her mouth. “I mean I think you should sit down for a moment at least. You might be concussed. When my friend comes out, he can take you to the nearest hospital. Are you in pain?”

“No,” Adina let out a long, disappointed breath. “I need to get back.”

“Actually…” Kate asked slowly. “I don’t suppose you know someone called William Graves?”

Narrowed eyes stared back at her in the rear-view mirror. “Why?”

Oh god. She’d never been a very good actor. “He’s a friend and he’s missing.” Kate offered up her most sincere smile. “I’m very worried about him.”

Adina began to open the car door.

“Wait!” Kate cried. She faced the security guard. “Do you have a pen and paper?”

Reluctantly, he delved a hand into his pocket and handed her a business card. “No pen.”

“Adina, if you see him, will you call this number and let me know?”

Just as reluctantly, Adina took it, surreptitiously tucking it into her dress.

---