Page 23 of King of Sinners

“And you said no.”

“I did. And I’ve been getting F’s ever since.”

Mason stares at me, his gaze dark and unreadable. “Let him give you an F on that project. He’ll answer to me.”

A smile creeps onto my lips. I’ve been afraid of Mason for a long time. Attracted too…but still afraid.

I never considered what it might be like to have the predator work for me…

It was interesting.

“Agenda item one accomplished,” he said, sounding far more like the CEO and less like a gangster who cleaned up bloody scenes at clubs.

I have no idea what happened that night, and I’m not asking. “The other item we said we’d discuss is the cost of protection…” My face heats at my words. Fear aside, I’ve got a few bucket list items. If my life is in danger, graduating was one big one. But having sex with a man like Mason…

It’s a definite do-before-I-die kind of task. Who wants to die a virgin?

Mason sits back in his chair. “The men who committed the murder you witnessed recognized Roman.”

My gasp fills the space between us. This is bad. Really bad. “Is he all right?”

Mason gives me a small smile. “Roman is more than all right. He’s growing into a man fit for a kingdom.”

My shoulders deflate, relief moving through me. While my feelings about Mason are somewhat gray, I’m well aware that Roman saved my life and has asked for nothing in return. “Thank goodness.”

“The men who contacted him don’t know who you are, but they want to find out.”

“Oh,” I whisper. I was right to be worried.

Mason reaches out then, taking a strand of my long brown hair between his fingers. “It’s time for a makeover, I think.”

“Makeover?” This completely confuses me.

“Mmm,” he rubs the hair between his thumb and forefinger. “Revamping your image can confuse your enemies and disguise your intentions. And in this case…hide your very identity.”

My eyes go wide as I hold my breath, waiting for his next words.

“No more Rebel’s waitress, which is what those men saw. You are now the posh and sophisticated girlfriend of Mason Kincaid.”

My brows rise. Instead of turning me over to them, he’s going to give me a makeover? He’s always been full of surprises, but this one shocks me still. “You can’t mean to pass me off as your girlfriend?”

“You’re right. Not enough…”

I just stare, my lips parting. That’s not what I meant at all.

“I’ll have a hairdresser and makeup artist here first thing tomorrow morning. And that shopping trip we had planned for today?—”

I hadn’t planned anything. “You don’t need to buy me more clothes.”

He raises up one hand. “We’ve been dating for six months. You’ve been living with me for two and things have gotten serious. Very serious.”

I blink at him, attempting to keep up. We really are going to play house. But are we going to play it all the way? “Mason, thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” he leans forward then, his hand slipping down my shoulder, over my arm, to grasp my hand. “If we’re going to do this, we need to appear like a very intimate couple.”

My blood rushes in my ears as I wait.

He’s touching me again, his fingertips skimming up the inside of my arm toward my elbow. “You were right. There is a price for my protection.”

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