by Kelsie Rae
Tossing a wide-eyed look of helplessness toward Gigi and Dex, I wait for them to tell me how I can help, but they both stare blankly back. They’re as lost as I am. Hesitantly, I slide out of the passenger seat where I was practically sitting on top of Gigi then open the back door.
Offering my hand, I state, “Come on, Q. Let’s get you inside and out of those cuffs and dress.”
The promise of freedom is enough to get her moving. She slides out of the car and slowly follows me inside Kingston’s estate.
The silence is deafening as I open the front door and motion to the house. I assume she’s harmless since Dex left her with me, so I ask, “Would you like a tour?”
Silence.
Chewing my upper lip, I try to think of something I can say to help her. Her shoulders are hunched, and there’s a clear leave-me-alone vibe that she’s radiating, but I can’t help myself.
What would I have wanted someone to tell me?
“Hey.” I stop her with a gentle touch on her forearm. She jumps back but doesn’t run, so I take it as a sign that I’m okay to continue.
I look closer at the girl in front of me before taking a quick look around to confirm we’re alone. Rule #2: Always be aware of your surroundings. I smile as the rule flashes through my mind. It’s funny how they’ve all but disappeared since moving in with King. But as I look at the girl in front of me, I know I need to implement them right now. She needs the rules. The structure. The foundation to build her new life. Because she’ll never be the same. Not after everything she’s been through.
Thankfully, the open entryway is empty, reminding me of Rule #8: Don’t discuss private shit in public. It’s bound to screw you over. While the family might know my private shit, that doesn’t mean I enjoy discussing it in front of them. In front of anyone, actually. However, as I look at the ghost of a girl in front of me, I have a feeling she needs to know too.
“I want you to know something,” I start as she stares back at me. “I’ve been where you are. Not exactly…but close enough. I had my first run-in with Burlone when I was a little girl, and he broke me. I don’t know how many times Burlone hurt you, but—”
“It wasn’t Burlone.”
Digging my teeth into my lower lip, I hesitate before asking a question I’m not sure I want the answer to. “Then who was it?”
The broken girl looks over at me with absolute hatred and fury shining in her gaze. “Sei.”
I don’t recognize that name, but it doesn’t matter anyway because his outcome will be the same.
“Then we’ll make sure Sei gets taken care of,” I promise somberly. “But until then, I need to figure out where the keys to your cuffs are, and then we’ll get you showered and find you a place to sleep. Does that sound okay?”
“Hey,” Stefan calls from the staircase, interrupting our little heart-to-heart.
I try to hide my annoyance. “Yeah?”
“Kingston wants to see everyone in his office right now. We have some shit to talk about, and Diece is dying for a recap.”
“Okay. We’ll be right there.”
I dismiss him by giving him my back only to find Q a quivering a mess, making my heart hurt.
“Look at me, Q.”
She swallows bravely before tugging her gaze from the floor and holding my stare.
“Everyone in this house is a good guy. They would never hurt a girl the way you’ve been hurt. I promise. Let’s go have this little talk, and then we’ll get that shower and bed, okay?”
“How do you know they’re not going to kill me?”
“Why would they kill you?” I ask, confused.
“Because I said I worked for the FBI. That doesn’t exactly sound promising to men like that.”
The girl makes a good point.
Though I don’t miss the way she worded her comment. I said I worked for the FBI. Not that she actually does.
“Do you work for the FBI?” I press, unable to hide my curiosity. Jack didn’t know what the hell Kingston was talking about when he brought Q up. So who the hell is she?
She doesn’t respond, so I shake my head and remind myself that we have somewhere we need to be.
“It doesn’t matter. Let’s go.”
Gently, I start guiding her down the hallway, and by some miracle, she follows. I can’t blame her. I wouldn’t want to talk, either. When I’m sure my question will go unanswered, Q surprises me by reaching for my hand and holding on for dear life. The action makes me want to cry, but I restrain myself because right now, she needs me to be the strong one, and it’s the least I can do for her.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Ace
I grab Q’s hand and bring it into my lap in an attempt to help her feel like she’s not alone. She returns it with a tight squeeze. We’re sitting in Kingston’s office as we wait for everyone to join us. Well…when I say everyone, I mean Dex and Regina. Kingston is sitting behind his desk, Stefan is looking at his phone, and Diece has been busy staring at Q like she’s a damn steak for the last five minutes. There’s no way Q can’t feel his gaze eating her up, but she’s been handling it like a champ when all I want to do is smack him upside the head. Does he not know what she’s been through? How terrified she is? Peeking over at her from the corner of my eye, I study Q from a man’s perspective. She’s absolutely stunning. I can’t even imagine what she’d look like if the bruises were absent and a smile graced her lips instead of the constant frown that’s been crippling her. Regardless, Diece needs to know what he’s dealing with and how to keep his hands to himself. After everything she’s been through, it’s going to take a special man to help her open up. I glance over at her again. And I doubt it’ll be any time soon.
The sound of footsteps down the hall distracts me from dissecting Diece’s obsession any further. Gigi appears in the doorway, and seconds later, Dex follows behind.
Jumping up, Diece wraps Gigi in his arms, and they start whispering to each other.
Taking advantage of the privacy, I pull Q closer and murmur, “You doing okay?”
She nods, but her face is blank.
“Diece is harmless.”
With a quiet scoff, she rolls her eyes. “No one’s harmless.”
I open my mouth to argue when I’m interrupted by Diece as he asks Dex, “Hey. How’d it go?”
“Good. Burlone’s still in the trunk. Where do you want me to put him?” He shifts his weight between his feet, looking awkward as hell. And I don’t blame him. Until Kingston gives him the okay, he’s still technically the enemy.
“We have a shed out back,” Diece offers. “But let’s catch up with King first.”
“Speaking of which, way to steal my thunder, D. She’s my sister, remember?” King argues, marching toward Regina and tugging her close. Apparently, he doesn’t like being second. I smirk.
Again, Gigi is busy whispering, but I think I hear apologies on both ends before Kingston finally releases her. Tears are streaming down her face as she hastily wipes beneath her eyes and returns to Dex’s side. The movement makes me anxious. Dex might’ve pulled through, but I still know what his fists can do. Without a word, he wraps his arm around her waist and kisses the top of her head. I look over at Kingston in concern to see him glaring at the exchanged affection.
“Well, since we’re all here and we’ve had our little reunion, I figured it’d be best to get everyone caught up. Dex,” he barks. “Where’s Burlone?”
“Still in the trunk. D said he’d show me the shed in a few,” Dex answers.
Stefan interrupts, “I’ll do it. Just give me your keys.”
Dex digs into his pockets then tosses them through the air before Stefan catches them and disappears out the door. Seconds later, Dex throws another key at me, making me jump in surprise. Untangling my hand with Q’s, I pick it up from my lap as he motions to Q’s cuffs. Finally understanding, I start unlocking them while Kingston gets to the next order of business.
“As far as your loyalty goes, you’ve earned y
our spot in the Romano family. I’ll make an announcement tomorrow.”
The relief in Dex’s expression tugs at the knot in my chest, lessening the pressure that usually accompanies it whenever I lay eyes on him. Maybe I can learn to trust him one day too.
Maybe.
Clearing his throat, Dex looks to his brother quickly before dropping his gaze to Regina.
“And what about her?”
The room is so quiet, Dex’s heavy breathing is the only sound that can be heard as he waits for Kingston’s approval.
“Let me ask you something, Dex,” Kingston says carefully, lifting his chin to his sister. “Do you know who she is?”
“Of course.”
“Tell me.”
Confused, Dex explains, “She’s Regina Romano.”
“And who is Regina Romano?”
Dex opens his mouth to throw out a guess when Kingston cuts him off. “She’s the princess to the Romano family. She’s the daughter of Gabriel and Emilia Romano and sister to Kingston Romano, the head of the Romano family. Now let me ask you this. Who. Are. You?” Each word is as sharp as a knife, revealing his verdict without bothering to say the words outright.
I watch as Dex’s jaw flexes, and I can tell he’s biting his tongue.
“Answer the question,” Kingston pushes, his eyes laser-focused. This is the Dark King. The heartless King. The one that’s ripping his sister’s heart out with his callousness but doesn’t give a shit. I look over at Regina to see a single glistening tear slide down her cheek. Angrily, she wipes the moisture away, anxious to see how the situation plays out. And if I’m being honest, so am I.
Regina’s captor grits out his name. “Dex.”
“Just Dex?”
“Yes,” he confirms, refusing to be intimidated by Kingston.
Tapping his chin, Kingston leans forward. “And why is that?”
“Because my father didn’t claim me,” Dex growls.
“No. He didn’t. You’re nothing but a bastard. Regina Romano is so far out of your league that you’d be lucky to clean the shit off her shoes.”
“Kingston, please—” Regina interrupts, but Kingston cuts her off with a cold look.
“Regina, I know you have feelings for him, but have you ever considered the possibility that those feelings are based off who you perceived him to be when you didn’t have anyone else? You barely know him.”
“It doesn’t matter, King. I know that I—”
“Stop!”
Her quivering lips pull into a thin line, and Dex tenses beside her. I can tell he’s close to snapping, and part of me wonders if that’s what Kingston wants. We’ve seen his loyalty to the Romano family, but was it for Regina or Kingston?
“Regina, you’re dismissed,” Kingston orders. “Go to your room and wash up. Dex, if you’d still like a place here as a soldier, I’ll give it to you. You’ve earned it. However, if you plan to pursue my sister, I’ll tell you right now that you’ll be gutted for it. Understand?”
Regina storms off without waiting for Dex’s response, and my eyes widen in shock.
“Kingston—” I interrupt in an attempt to soothe him. He gives me a pointed look that dares me to continue, so I keep my mouth shut.
“Not now, Ace. I’m not going to change my mind, but if you’d like to discuss it further, we’ll discuss it in private. Understand?”
That’s something at least.
I nod.
“Good. Now, next order of business. You.” He points to Q who’s still busy clutching my hand like it’s a lifeline. “What’s your name?”
She doesn’t answer, still frozen in shock at his sharpness, so I do it for her. “Her name is Q.”
“I thought her name was Gigi?” Diece interjects, giving me a puzzled look.
With a roll of my eyes, I try to clarify everything for him. “Regina is my friend who went missing. She’s my Gigi.” My heart hurts that she was dismissed to her room by Kingston, but I press on, knowing I’ll get a chance to talk to her when this is over. “We met at Dottie’s one night and bonded over coffee and breakfast food. Q is just an innocent bystander who got caught in Burlone’s crosshairs and ended up saving the day.”
Gaze narrowing in suspicion, Kingston addresses Q. “Speaking of which, what the hell happened in that room, and why did you do it?”
She stares blankly ahead, lost in the memory for a few seconds before I nudge her softly.
Clearing her throat, she answers, “You needed my help, and I was dead anyway.”
“But why help me?”
With a quick look at me, Q mutters, “I saw her walk in with you. I saw the way she willingly touched you. I saw the way you spoke to her. The way you treated her.”
“And that was enough to put your own life on the line?”
“What life?” she sneers. “I was in the middle of being sold as a sex slave. My life was already over, and it didn’t hurt that I could take out Burlone by backing your story.”
Her blunt honesty hits like a bull, making all of the grown men in the room pause to get their bearings.
After a few seconds, Kingston continues his questioning. “And what about now? You’re free, yet you’ve put a giant target on your back. Those men are all being arrested for human trafficking, but that doesn’t mean they don’t know people who are still on the outside. They assume I’m going to kill you because you outed yourself as an agent, but Burlone sent your pictures to a lot of bad men. Men who possibly already had another buyer set in place in case they won the tournament. Men who could recognize you. Who could place you as a fucking agent. Do you know what will happen if they find you?”
Her eyes are glassy, but she doesn’t bother to respond. Instead, she keeps staring straight ahead as if King isn’t five feet in front of her. As if he isn’t reaming into her for her mistake when, in reality, she brought our plan to fruition. Without her help, we could all be dead. Hell, I have no doubt that we would be.
Kingston keeps going. “If they find you, the last two weeks of your life will have been a walk in the park compared to what they’ll put you through. Understand?”
A single tear slides down her cheek, dripping off her chin. She doesn’t bother to wipe it away. And the sight kills me.
“Enough,” Diece barks, surprising me and everyone else in the room. I’ve never heard him talk back to Kingston. I’ve never heard him interrupt him or even question his methods.
All heads turn to him.
“Excuse me?” Kingston grits out.
“I’m pretty sure she gets the picture, Boss,” D says, his chest puffed up. “I think it’s time you mention the solution now.”
Anxiously, I wait to hear what the solution is too. Q’s hold on my hand tightens until I’m sure my fingers are purple, but I’m too invested in the conversation to look down and confirm my theory.
“My solution is for you to watch her, D. To take care of her until things calm down. Do you think you can do that? Keep her in hiding? Change her appearance? That kind of thing?”
Diece nods mechanically, his attention shooting to Q beside me. Ignoring him, she simply keeps staring blankly at the wall. Numb. As if her future isn’t being discussed a few feet in front of her. As if she doesn’t care what the outcome of her life will be because she’s already given up on it.
“Good. Ace,” Kingston addresses me. “You’re still living with me. Don’t bother arguing.”
I open my mouth to do exactly that before narrowing my eyes and crossing my arms. “Who says I’m arguing?”
With his lips tilted up in amusement, Kingston teases, “Good girl. Will you take Q up to the guest room across from us and make sure she’s comfortable? D and I have a visitor we’d like to have a little chat with.”
“Wait!” The mention of Burlone seems to light a spark in Q as she jumps to her feet. Her jackrabbit move scares the shit out of me, making me flinch. Placing my hand on my racing heart, I try to figure out where her burst of energy came from, and what she’s so
passionate about.
Kingston tilts his head and assesses her. “Need something, Q?”
She swallows thickly as the wheels in her head start to turn. Hands shaking at her sides, Q boldly says, “I need a baseball bat and five minutes with the asshole who stole my life.”
“Me too,” I add, feeling as if I’ve found another soul sister. We both deserve retribution, and the possibility of being able to hurt Burlone is too good to pass up. Seeing him in that room refreshed all my childhood memories, and I want to make him pay for each and every one of them.
Snapping his fingers, King turns to Diece. “Take Q to the shed. Give her a bat. I’ll be over in fifteen. Ace, I need you to stay with me. You’ll get your time in a few.”
With his hands raised in the air in surrender, Diece approaches Q as if she’s a scared little deer. “Come with me. Seems you have some frustration you need to work out of your system.”
Then it’s just me and King.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Ace
As soon as the door closes behind Q and Diece, leaving me alone with Kingston, his voice rumbles, “You’re mad at me.”
Licking my lips, I consider my feelings before shaking my head. “I’m not mad. Just confused.”
“About what?”
Frustration blooms in my chest that he would even feel the need to ask me that. He can’t honestly be that dense. Quirking my brow, I explain something that shouldn’t need an explanation.
Stupid men.
“Why would you do that to Regina? Why were you so harsh with Dex? I just don’t understand.”
With a sigh, he pats his lap, and my mouth threatens to tug into a smile, softening my annoyance. Like a good little girl, I do as I’m told and walk around his desk before sitting on his knee.
“That better, Santa?” I tease.
Laughing, he drags me down for a deep, long kiss that makes my toes curl. Once he’s practically turned me to putty, he pulls away. “Much better.”
“Good. Now, answer my question. Why won’t you let Gigi be with Dex?”