Page 34 of Monsters Wear Crowns
His breath hitched. “He–he’s been meeting with your clients. Trying to get them to jump ship.”
I tilted my head, watching him carefully. “Names.”
He hesitated.
I sighed and drove the knife into his thigh. His scream ricocheted off the walls, raw and ugly. “I don’t have all fucking night,” I said as I twisted the blade, enjoying the way his body spasmed against the pain.
“F-Falco,” he gasped, eyes rolling back. “Falco’s considering taking Moreau’s offer.”
Falco. That motherfucker.
I yanked the knife free, wiping the blood off on the man’s already ruined shirt. He whimpered, shaking violently. “And the shipment?” I pressed.
His breath came in short, painful bursts. “Tomorrow night. Eastern dock. He’s planning to take it–”
Well, the fuck knew where to swoop in and take my shipment. But I’d have my men there first. Vincent, leaning casually against the wall, finally stepped forward. He’d let me have my fun, but now he was ready to wrap things up.
I stood, adjusting my cuffs, my suit still pristine despite the blood now pooling at my feet. I looked down at the man–at what was left of him. “You just saved yourself a lot of pain,” I murmured.
Hope flickered in his one good eye. “So… you’ll let me go?”
I gave him a slow, cruel smile. Then I pulled my gun and put a bullet between his eyes. His body slumped, lifeless.
Vincent let out a quiet exhale. “Messy.”
I slid my gun back into the holster and rolled my shoulders. “He outlived his usefulness.”
Vincent shook his head, but there was amusement in his eyes. “I’ll handle cleanup.”
I turned on my heel, already moving toward the exit. There was more work to be done, and Moreau? He was about to learn what it meant to piss me off.
Chapter 7
ADELA
I left my door open at work the following morning. Laura asked why I seemed so disheveled, and I just told her, “You’ll see when he gets here.” Needless to say, she was intrigued.
The knock at my doorway snapped my attention. I inhaled deeply, pushing away the memories of last night, forcing myself back into control.
Rafe stepped inside with the ease of a man who had already decided he belonged there. Dressed in a tailored black suit, the crisp fabric strained slightly over his broad frame, the open collar of his shirt revealing a hint of his muscled chest. Our eyes met, and something dark flickered in his. I refused to look away first.
“You’re punctual,” I said, folding my hands on my desk as if my pulse weren’t already quickening.
“I make a habit of it,” he replied smoothly, shutting the door behind him. The sound of the latch clicking into place felt too final, too intimate. It was weird as hell for him to be here during the day. He seemed like a wolf that only prowled at night. He moved further inside, his gaze drinking in my office like it was just another piece of me to consume. “Nice view.”
I wasn’t sure if he meant the floor-to-ceiling windows behind me, overlooking the city–or if he meant me. I arched a brow. “I assume you didn’t come here to admire the decor.”
Rafe smirked and stepped closer, sliding his hands into hispockets. “No. Though you’re not difficult to look at.”
I leaned back in my chair, tilting my head. “Okay, aslovelyas that completely predictable comment was, I don’t have much extra time. You were a last-minute meeting.”
His smirk deepened.
Cocky bastard.
I exhaled slowly, keeping my expression unreadable. “Then tell me, Rafe. Whatexactlyam I agreeing to?”
He studied me for a long moment before slowly pulling a chair closer to my desk and lowering himself into it.
