Page 33 of His Kingdom

Fuck, I shouldn’t even be thinking like this.

First, I’m not getting killed. Second, it’s not that serious. “It’s also not that serious,” I repeat aloud.

“It’s not? Could have fooled me.” Carlo shrugs. “So I guess you won’t care that she’s currently at Victoria’s Secret with Sammie buying undergarments?” Carlo asks, holding up his phone.

I see the text message from Sammie complaining about being dragged around various shops.

Plucking the phone out of Carlo’s hands, I hit dial. “Kill me now,” Sammie answers.

“Gladly,” I tell him. “Where is she?”

“Well, hello to you too, boss. She’s in the dressing room,” he says.

“Why the fuck are you in a fucking lingerie store with my girlfriend? My naked girlfriend. Fuck it! Iamkilling you!” I yell.

“She dragged me in here. You told me not to leave her side. Also, I’m not in the dressing room with her. I’m not a fucking idiot,” he says.

“Put her on.”

“Ah, boss?” Sammie questions.

“What?”

“That would mean I’d have to walk into the dressing room,” he says cautiously.

“Slide the phone under the door and walk the fuck away,” I instruct him, frustration running through me like a wildfire.

It takes a minute. But then I hear her sweet voice, and I feel almost calm. “Hello? Louie?”

“Charlotte, sweetheart, what are you doing?” I ask her.

“Shopping. What areyoudoing?”

“Picking up a business partner. Why are you in a lingerie store with a man who isn’t me?”

“Because I decided I’d take you up on that offer to stay for a bit and I need clothes. Also, I’m a grown-ass woman. And last I checked, you weren’t my daddy. I don’t need to ask your permission to do anything.” She goes on a rant.

“Charlotte, I don’t want other men seeing you in various stages of undress,” I tell her.

“Again, I have a father, and it’s not you. Nice chat. Talk later.” The line cuts off.

Did she just…?I check the screen.She did.

“She hung up on you, didn’t she?” Carlo laughs.

“Fuck off.” I hit redial and the phone rings out. So I hit the button again and wait.

“Boss? What’d you say?” Sammie asks.

“Where is she?”

“Changing. She mentioned something about showing youwho’s boss? I don’t like this. You know she’s scary, right?” Sammie whispers.

“She’s a tiny woman.”

“With a temper,” he adds.

“Get her back to the penthouse. I don’t want her anywhere near the casino floor when I walk through with Emmanuel.”

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