Page 34 of Dirty Crown
Man, these business kids knew how to spend money. Thank god we had enough to fit in.
“There’s the most beautiful girl in the room,” a voice said behind me.
I turned to find my three other Kings with Brett Blackstone. Brett, another name I didn’t care for but he wasn’t such a bad guy from what I remembered.
“Uh, thanks,” I stammered and looked to my guys for help. They knew what was bothering me, so they stood around me as if to guard me. I just didn’t like making small talk, especially with men I didn’t know.
“You’re not only beautiful, but you’re useful, you know,” Brett said, lifting a glass filled with clear alcohol towards me as if toasting me.
“In what way?” I asked.
“You got blamed for Dr. Seymour’s disappearance,” he said, and his words slurred together, meaning he was drunker than I thought.
“Why would you care about that?” Ryker demanded, standing taller and looking at the other man.
Brett seemed to wake up for a moment. He shook his head and his eyes focused on me.
“It wasn’t anything,” he said, his cheeks flaming red with heat. “I was just talking out my ass. Now listen, Ryker, if you decided you wan to invest, remember to come to me.”
He clapped Ryker on the back, and Ryker tensed up immediately.
“What the fuck did you mean about Seymour?” Ryker demanded again. “It sounds to me like you know something about her disappearance. If you do, then fucking tell the cops about it so they lay off Everly here.”
“It’s okay,” I told him, trying to sooth his temper and ease his mind despite my own curiosity. Why had Brett Blackstone mentioned Seymour, and why did he mention it in association with me?
I talked my Kings down in their anger, then went into a quiet corner to text my investigator.
I had the right to know what part they played in all of this, and he would be the one to find out.
Until he got back to me, though, I couldn’t do anything about it. So I decided to enjoy myself and so whatever I wanted with my Kings.
Polite society, be damned.
CHAPTER14
“Where did you go?”Kingston asked me when I returned to our table. “Are you okay? Blackstone is being a complete fucking asshole about Seymour.”
“I sent a message to the private investigator and I’ll let you know if he gets back to me,” I told them and took my seat. I picked up my wineglass to pour myself a drink, but Ryker tipped to bottle towards me and filled it for me.
“What are we gonna do about it, though?” Valen asked, his brows curled together in concern. “We need to tell somebody about this.”
“There’s not much we can do. The cops have made it obvious that they don’t care anymore and my lawyer won’t be able to talk to them unless we have concrete evidence,” I said. “About all we can do is have a good time and follow it up tomorrow.”
I raised my glass expectantly and they didn’t disappoint. We clinked our various drinks together and made a toast.
“Here’s to having a good time tonight, figuring out this Seymour business tomorrow, and living our lives in happiness beyond that,” Archer said, taking the lead. “And as always, here’s to Everly and her perfect little pussy.”
“Oh, I can drink to that!” Kingston chuckled.
“Come on, can we just do one group speech without mentioning my vagina?” I giggled, but I was flattered. They were obsessed with it, and they were in love with me. That’s all I could ask for.
“You know we can’t,” Ryker smirked and raised his glass again. “To the prettiest little pussy I’ve ever met.”
“Wait, how many have you met?” I exclaimed with fake jealousy. I was territorial, not jealous. The difference was that I trusted my Kings, I just didn’t trust anybody around them.
“The only one I remember is yours, princess,” Ryker said, flashing me a lopsided grin.
“Good response,” I said and sipped my wine. “Excellent response, really. The only one I wanted to hear.”
