Page 14 of Queen of Madness

Ah.

I can’t stop the very real surprise that forces my eyebrows into my hairline. Maddy lets out her high-strung giggle, kicking her legs in short bursts before flopping down. “I feel as if I already implied that part at the bar.”

“I guess I thought you were joking.”

She sobers quickly, her head tilting to the side as though I’ve stumped her. “I don’t mess around when it comes to Boss, Z. None of us do.”

Her tone isn’t threatening but more informative. I nod in understanding. “Got it. Anything else I need to know?”

A smile brightens her face, and she strides to the office doors, pausing at the entrance as she waits for me to catch up. “With time. So am I wrong in assuming you’re accepting?”

“Not wrong at all.”

“Wonderful.” She beams, pushing open the French doors. “Wonderful indeed.”

We exit the office and enter the large foyer. Maddy gestures to the right. “Kitchen, laundry room, and study down there. To the other side is the theater room, a small library, a gym, and a conference room.”

A sudden dryness appears in my throat as I scratch at the back of my neck, following her up the stairs. “When is my day off?”

“Tuesday.”

“That’s tomorrow,” I point out.

She releases the banister as we reach the top landing, twirling around so that her curls fall into her face. “And today is Monday. This is up while that is down. I wonder how long it will be before you take Boss to town.”

I narrow my gaze, an unwelcome feeling of ease trying to work through my tight muscles. “Should I expect a lot of those?”

“When she isn’t around? Absolutely. Even I like my head attached to my neck, so you’ll get a reprieve when she’s around.”

Good to know.

Again, she points to the right. “Down here are Onyx’s quarters. They’re massive and basically include a living room, bar, and a big ass bed you’ll likely be warming later this week. Right here in front of us is your room. And down that way are all of our rooms. It also wraps around to another part that overlooks the pool in the back. There’s a lab, another office, a few guest rooms, and a sunroom.”

She opens the door to what appears to be my room, and the pesky feeling of guilt bleeds into my stomach, making me nauseous. I shouldn’t be here, standing in the middle of a room half the size of my childhood house, surrounded by expensive linens and hardwood furniture. I shouldn’t be enjoying the fact that my window overlooks the back portion of the estate, where the high sun is shining over an immaculate pool. Nor should I fucking like the vast view of the woods lining the edge of the perfectly cut grass.

My kid sister could be enduring the fucking worst possible fate and I refuse to have one iota of my being fall victim to enjoying this. A tightness pulls across my sternum as I walk inside.

Before I can say anything, one of the twins fills the doorway. He leans down, dropping four bags near the bed.

Maddy smiles, jumping the small distance and searching in the bags. “You work quickly, Trigger.”

He nods, grunting as he motions to me. “He’s a hair bigger than me and Trick so it wasn’t hard to find something.”

Trick. Trigger. Maddy must see the pieces working through my gaze and she answers my unasked question. “Trick and Trigger. They are in charge of security and weapons distribution. They also specialize in making inconspicuous weapons that look like your everyday jewelry or office supplies.”

She begins pulling articles of clothing from the bag, acting as though this is the most casual conversation she’s had all day. “Shi, my companion from the night we met, is something like Onyx’s right hand, while me and the white-haired man from the office earlier take care of narcotics.”

Her small tidbit gives me a good insight into what I’d sort of already deduced, but at the same time, does something to solidify my new position. Just as easy as it was to be invited into her home and given the job of an associate, I’m sure it’s equally as easy to have me killed should I open my mouth in the slightest.

That knowledge would make anyone nervous, but instead, I feel something else, something dangerously close to anticipation. It pumps alongside the adrenaline already soaring in my veins and too much of this feels... natural.

Maddy finally decides on a pair of black slacks and a button-down, tossing them at me. “Get changed really quick and then we’ll take your measurements.”

For what seems like the millionth time, I merely nod and disappear through the door in the corner of my large room, clutching the clothes in my hand. I didn’t expect anything less, but seeing the large claw-foot tub, dark fixtures, marble floors, and gold accents makes my stomach drop.

Luxury is not something I’ve ever needed or even really desired in my life and being suddenly dropped into it has left me overwhelmed. No matter how comfortable I may feel here, this isn’t where I belong. This isn’t what I should be surrounded by. And like the view in my room, I damn sure shouldn’t enjoy it.

It’s in this moment I force a hard swallow and steel my nerves, locking my wayward thoughts down. I’ll bodyguard the woman, fuck her, and stay focused on what matters rather than the materialistic crap floating around me.

---