Page 13 of Queen of Madness

She has a new toy. He looks like a good time. Her perfect type, with that dark messy hair and that broody look she likes. I’ve never seen anyone disarm Onyx that fast. He must know his way around a gun. I’m sure he does. I can tell. I can always tell. There’s a familiarness I can’t quite place. Something about him.

Oh! It’s his eyes. Yes. Those eyes.

I’ve seen them somewhere before. But where? Where have I seen them?

I don’t know.

Fiddling with the silver watch in my pocket, I listen as the seconds tick by. So much time has passed since this morning. How? Where did the time go? No, I’m late. I’m late. I must go.

I have no time to do anything. I’ll remember another time, but I can’t right now.

I’m late, and time is of the essence.

I’ve been sitting in Onyx’s office for the better part of an hour now. After she’d taken her leave, the twin men and Maddy left me inside, promising to return when my background check came through.

None of them seemed to have much emotion with regard to me slapping a gun from their Boss’s hand, which has led me to a few different assumptions. Either it’s a common thing she does at interviews, or they knew if I’d inadvertently hither, I wouldn’t be able to... well, live.

I’m not going to lie, the latter intrigues me more. Which is one of the many things I’ve felt today that says something about my psyche. But instead of thinking about it like I probably should, I stand, running a hand through my hair as I wander to one of the bookshelves to busy my mind.

Deep mahogany shelves line both sides of the walls, and like everything else, are pristine. The marble floors have a soft sheen, indicating they are regularly waxed. Everything seems to be precisely placed, with nothing cluttered together, and no space between the books has a speck of dust. The dark color seems to be a continuous theme throughout, with black accents and dim lighting coming from the wall sconces.

A quick look over some of the titles has me realizing they’re sorted into specific categories.

Unsolved mysteries.

Forensic files.

Dozens of leather-bound law books.

Human anatomy and chemical makeup of every illegal drug I’ve ever heard of, as well as a few for natural remedies. Each one gives me more insight into the type of people in this estate.

I grab one of the human anatomy books. It’s an older textbook—thick, heavy, and worn around the edges. When I hold the spine in my palm and let the pages fall naturally, it opens to a page bookmarked with a queen of hearts card similar to the one Maddy gave me.

The fine hairs on the nape of my neck stand at attention, an odd type of shiver racking down my spine as I scan the pages. It’s a familiar diagram of the muscular system, only unlike one you’d see in a science course, this one is riddled with notes over certain areas. Areas marked with information stating how much blood the victims would lose, meaning they are prime for slicing into and causing the most pain—filleting without killing.

Makes sense. Best method of torture, if you think about it. But also, Onyx doesn’t seem like the type to want to prolong death. I’d imagine she’s aget to the pointtype of woman. Then again, I know nothing about her, and even the slivers I read online were speculations at best.

Why am I curious about her at all?That’s not why I’m here.

Get the information. Get my sister. And get the fuck out of this city.

I snap the book shut, replacing it on the shelf just as the office doors open. Taking a deep breath and attempting my best bored expression, I turn to take in a bouncing Maddy. “So, did I pass?”

She pauses so abruptly, her wild curls fly in front of her face, a soft laugh filling the space. “Hate to break it to ya, Z, but if you didn’t, you’d already be dead.”

Blowing out a truly relieved breath of air, I shove my hands into my pockets. The burn blazing through my nerves begins to recede, and I suck in my first full breath in three days. “Well, that’s oddly comforting.”

A smirk curls her lips as she rocks on her heels. “We do need to go over a few things before you formally accept the gig, though, big guy.”

This gives me pause.That’s right.I was only told she needed a guard, which could mean plenty of things, and if it’s outside of the estate or away from Onyx in general, this is all for nothing.

She gestures to the desk, and I nod, sitting in the oversized wingback chair while she hops on top of the sturdy wood, swinging her feet. “So basically, you’d be a live-in bodyguard, six days a week. You’ll follow her around the grounds and monitor the area with other guards walking the property. Pay is two hundred thousand Scooby snacks a year, and you’d also have to moonlight as Boss’s escort.”

Maddy pauses, twirling a stray curl around her finger, as if giving me time to digest what she just said. I’m sure she’s seen from my background check that not only am I used to getting my hands dirty, but none of the under-the-table cash jobs I’ve worked ever paid me even a fraction of what she’s offering. A small shard of regret digs into my chest, burrowing just behind my heart. To think I could have worked for this woman and gotten my family out long ago...

Before I can dwell on shit I can’t change, something in the way Maddy’s jaw tightens makes my muscles twitch. I quickly realize she’s waiting for me to accept, but I focus on the mention of escorting Onyx. “As in when she leaves?”

She shrugs, letting the strand she was toying with go and coil back in place. “That too, but she doesn’t leave much. We’ve had some issues with the men on the other side of the city. But whatI’mreferring to is helping escort her to an orgasm now and again.”

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