Page 14 of Lords of Misrule
“How much are the paintings worth? More than 10K I imagine?”
“Altogether on a normal market? Yes. Probably worth 30K or more each. But you won’t be able to sell them in an open market. It’ll be back-door deals. Middlemen who take a cut. Be lucky to get half that.”
“You’ve done your research.”
“I didn’t go into this halfcocked.”
I open my mouth to speak, and she shakes her head.
“Don’t say anything about a whole cock.”
“Don’t have to now that you did.” I smirk at her and get an exasperated look in response. But she doesn’t cry again. She leans her head against the steering wheel, taking another breath before she stares up at the roof of the car.
“Fuck. I’ve told you way too much. I’m a fucking moron. Just remember when you fuck me over that you’re sending an eighteen-year-old boy to his doom. One who probably wasn’t all that different from you at that age.” She glares at me, and something about it makes me want to kiss her.
The thought creeps down my spine and makes me shudder because I don’t need this. Everything is complicated enough without having to worry about that. Especially not when she pisses me off as much as she interests me.
“I said I want to team up. Not fuck you over.”
“And I’m supposed to trust you?”
“Do you have another choice now that you’ve confessed everything to me?”
“I guess not. But I don’t want to get involved in all of your illegal stuff.”
“Like stealing paintings and selling them?” I raise a brow at her.
“I mean the rest of it.”
“I’m not asking you to. Fuck, I don’t want you to be. That’s all I’d fucking need.”
“Okay. So then… I feel like you’re being way too nice about this. What’s the catch?”
“The catch is that we both need the money, so we’re going to split whatever we make. Four ways between you, me, Finn, and Hudson.”
“So I lose three-fourths of the money. Doesn’t sound like a very good deal.”
“You’ll have help. Backup in situations like the one you had today.”
“Assuming you’re around. But hopefully if I agree, you won’t be stalking me anymore.”
“Move in with us.”
“I’m sorry… what?”
“Your apartment or your room… whatever you want to call it. That can’t be safe. Not with your roommates. The way they let me in? They’ll do the same with the cop. And whatever he has planned for you will be worse. Plus it’s more money you can set aside.”
She ponders that information for a moment like it rings true for her.
“How do I know I’m safe with you three? Especially you?”
“I had you by surprise the other day. If I was going to do something, I would have done it.”
“And Finn and Hudson?”
“You already know Finn. He’ll hurt people but only the ones who deserve it. And Hudson wouldn’t hurt a fucking fly. Might irritate you by talking too fucking much, but not hurt you.
“I don’t see us getting along very well.” She looks me over. She’s not wrong. We’re both too headstrong and independent.
