Page 65 of Queen of Ruin

“Reputation is worth more than trust funds in Washington,” Audrina explains. “Jonathan should do well to remember that.”

Whoever she thinks I am and whatever history she thinks I have with Jonathan… she’s reminding me that I have more of an upper hand than I thought I did. I can’t let him intimidate me.

“Understood.”

“Besides, I don’t take kindly to one of my friends being spoken to in that way, Senator or not,” she declares pointedly.

I look at her thoughtfully, an unlikely ally, and I appreciate her even more. “Thank you.”

“As long as Darren is happy,” she remarks, “and you’re happy,” she adds, which makes my heart feel full.

I grab the next elevator, and Bailey is waiting at the curb. He opens the door for me, and to my surprise, Darren is waiting for me. He must see the look on my face because his smile falters. I slide into the backseat and kiss him. He doesn’t hesitate, pulling me into his lap. The excitement I had earlier at telling Darren about Compton House was overshadowed by my run-in with Langley.

He pulls away enough to ask. “Was the Board meeting that bad?”

I debate whether I want to tell him. It might just provoke him even more into doing something rash.

“Evan?” he says my name like a warning, as if he can tell I’m holding something back.

“I ran into Langley at the elevators,” I admit. “Quite literally,” I add and notice how Darren’s body stiffens.

His silence is unnerving. “Don’t do anything stupid, please.”

“That depends,” he grits out.

“Depends on what?” I slide off his lap as Bailey pulls the car into traffic, but his hand remains on my thigh, holding me close to him.

“A lot of factors.”

He pulls my leg into his lap and tugs the heel off my foot, letting it drop to the floor and then does the same to other one.

“You know I’m going to have to put them back on to walk into the house,” I tell him.

“Not if I carry you inside.” He gives me a wicked smile.

“Darren.” I place a hand on his chest. He covers it with his own, running his finger over my wedding band. I hadn’t let Darren get me a new one because there really wasn’t a point – was there?

I try to move my hand away, but Darren stops me.

“Tell me what happened,” he prods in a very calm, un-Darren-like manner.

“Nothing I couldn’t handle, and Audrina interrupted before it got too far,” I offer. “She really cares about you, Darren. You may have lost your parents, but you still have people looking out for you.”

“I don’t think I’m the only one they’re looking out for.” He runs his hand along my leg and under my skirt.

“Not if Audrina thinks I’m a gold-digger.”

“Did she say that?”

“No, Langley did, but Audrina overheard,” I sigh. “And you never told me his wife was on the Board.” I smack his arm.

“If I knew, do you think I would have offered for you to be a part of it?” Darren asks tightly.

“It just threw me off is all.” I relax, resting my head against his shoulder. “But I don’t think I want to be on the Board, Darren.”

He shifts enough so he can look down at me. “Don’t let Langley intimidate you, I’m sure not.”

I’m afraid to ask what he means by that.

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