Page 164 of Monsters Wear Crowns
Moreau’s face filled the display, his expression annoyingly smug.
“Miss Sinclair,” he greeted in an amused tone. “You look well.”
“I’d say the same for you, but you’re hiding in the shadows like a coward,” I replied, tilting my head. “You sent one of your goons instead.”
His lips curled. “Always a sharp tongue. Careful, Waylon has a habit of breaking my leash.” I glanced to the man across from me, looking at me like I was a meal to be devoured. Moreau’s tone was light, but then he exhaled as if tired of the small talk. “Let’s not waste time. I have something to discuss with you. Something that may determine whether you live to see the next month.”
Waylon shifted slightly, just enough to remind me he was still there.Yeah, I got it, asshole.
I folded my arms. “Get to the point.”
Moreau’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Very well. Let’s start with this. I have explosives planted near Sinclair Solutions. A callfrom me, and they go off. You’d never know when. Never know where. But it wouldn’t just be your business that burned, Adela.” His voice softened. “It would be your people, too.”
My blood went cold.
Moreau leaned in, an infuriating smirk on his beautiful face. “I also have access to people on your payroll. People who would gladly slit a throat for the right price. Tell me, what do you think will happen when the police get involved? When they start investigating those poor, unfortunate casualties?” His gaze darkened. “I have your employees’ names. Every single one.”
A muscle in my jaw twitched.
Laura.
I didn’t react, but he saw the flicker of something in my eyes.
His smirk widened. “Ah, yes. Your dear friend.” He sighed, feigning sympathy. “It would be a shame if something happened to her, wouldn’t it? Waylon has a thing for blondes. Not to mention, ties to a very prominent trafficking organization.”
My nails dug into my palms, rage creeping under my skin.
Waylon grinned like a fucking cat. “I possess more power than you think, babe.”
I bristled at the sound of his voice.
“I could make all of that disappear,” Moreau continued. “The threats, the danger. I could leave you aloneentirely.” He leaned forward, voice dipping to something almost intimate. “Better yet–I could make you richer than you ever dreamed.”
My stomach twisted.
“If you help me take down Vaughan, your empire will beuntouchable.” His smile was all teeth. “I am not entirely sure what he is offering you, but I willstrengthenyour empire.”
I inhaled slowly, forcing my hands to unclench. “And what’s the catch?”
Moreau chuckled. “No catch, darling. Just a decision.”
I stared at the screen, my heart pounding.
“Youthink Rafe will keep you safe?” he mused, tilting his head. “I know what he did to you.”
The room suddenly felt too fucking small.
“He pinned you down in his office.” His voice was almost a whisper. “Raped you. Took what he wanted without giving a goddamn shit how you cried and fought.”
My chest tightened, my pulse hammering like a war drum. I hated more than anything that he could use that against me. Because it was fucked up. And a part of medidfeel like a fool, allowing Rafe to touch me anymore. I heard a satisfied sound, and I looked up to see Waylon biting his lip. Like…he enjoyed hearing about my nightmare.
“Men like him don’tprotect, Adela.” Moreau’s voice was silk over a blade. “Theydestroy. And when he falls, youwillfall with him.”
I squeezed my eyes shut for half a second.
“He’s already unraveling,” Moreau said. “You’ve seen it, haven’t you? The madness creeping in. The recklessness. Paranoia. His self-destruction is inevitable. It’shereditary.” He exhaled. “And when he goes up in flames, you will burn alive beside him. Or under him.”
I swallowed hard, hating how much truth sat in his words.
