Page 31 of Queen of Madness

I keep my eyes closed, measuring how quickly he moves. He’s fast, and even a little agile, I’ll give him that. But I can tell now that he’s a bit closer, he’s not bigger than me. As long as I get the drop on him, he’ll go down quickly.

Almost as though I’ve summoned him by thought, his shoes scratch the first step of the level below me.

Where I’m standing, there’s no option for being able to press my back against a wall or stay hidden in the nook of a door.

I’m going to have to jump at him.

My nerves begin humming, and the dark fibers that stay idle spread quickly, coiling around my veins and surging through my racing heart. It’s as if I’m giving myself over to a force, letting it take the reins as it prepares to pummel the idiot that thought they’d be able to get past me.

Which is an insult, really.

My limbs get ready, loosening and tightening as the victim makes his way up. And the moment I see dark hair, I lunge. His arms fly up quickly, but the flash of shock crossing his face tells me he wasn’t anticipating I’d be this big, and the moment of hesitation costs him the chance to defend himself.

His back smacks into the wall, a vicious crack resounding in the air as his head follows suit. He crumples in the next breath, his body falling limp against the cold concrete steps.

It was a bit anticlimactic, and even a little disappointing, but the shadow doesn’t ebb and instead whispers something I hadn’t thought of until just now.

Onyx is afraid of a rat. Wouldn’t it be funny if you’re not the only one?

My eyes inspect his clothes.

He’s dressed as a waiter.

He came from the kitchen.

There’s an estate guard watching the access door next to the kitchen.

My feet move faster than they have in a while, taking the steps three at a time. If the guard’s dead or knocked out, he’s clear. But if he’s missing or still there…

I don’t have to wait long for an answer as my body comes to a complete stop when I get to the bottom and reach for the door. Muffled voices seep through the thick metal, and I know Trick didn’t hear the small commotion since the guard seems calm when he speaks.

“Trick is going on about the decoy. I knew we should have had him put on nice clothes. Onyx isn’t fucking stupid. She’ll read through him quickly if she hasn’t already.”

Another voice comes. It’s older and I can hear it shaking as he holds on to his composure. “Willy should be up there by now. Think the guard took him out?”

“The new guy? Fuck no. He’s big, but Willy’s faster. Maybe he’s taking his time. Doesn’t wanna get caught halfway up and have the dog run and tell his master.”

My fists tighten at my sides, suddenly aching to punch through the door and smash the guy’s head against it. I’m no one’s fucking lapdog.

Not only are you a bodyguard, but you’re being given orders by a sex trafficking scumbag.

To save my fucking sister. I internally scold myself before forcing my attention back on the conversation outside.

“I’m ready for this shit to finally be over. Get rid of Onyx, get our bag from the Murphys, and leave the city. No way Trigger and that crazy bitch Maddy won’t bomb every last building after this, and I have no fucking plans to be here when the shit goes down.”

I knew I wasn’t the only solution the Murphy’s have used to get to Onyx, but hearing them want to kill her is jarring. They only wanted me to get intel about her and the estate. What would be the point if they had other people trying to off her? They could have askedmeto off her. But they didn’t. This doesn’t add up.

Copper hits my mouth before I realize I’m biting into my lip. Why am I bothered by it? This isn’t my fight.

“Go check on him. I’m headed to pull up the car,” the older voice says, seemingly more uneasy now with the reminder of the aftermath to come should they succeed.

Only, they won’t and two seconds after the guard opens the door, he realizes it too.

I’m going to take a guess that I’ve gained at least three pounds of muscle after today. I wonder if Russ will make me a steak. I damn sure deserve one after knocking out two men and carrying one up ten damn flights of stairs.

Finally, back at the top, my lungs scream with the rest of my body, and since the adrenaline from earlier is long gone, I feel every pull and strain in my muscles. After dumping the body on the other, I rap my knuckles against the roof door.

Trick’s pale face appears. He eyes the sweat dripping from my forehead, my missing jacket I happily discarded on the second floor, and the loose suspender that came unfastened on the eighth floor. His gaze continues past me toward the two bodies piled on top of one another before he looks back to me.

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