Tears fill her eyes and she wraps her arms around me, hugging me. “Thank you.” She sniffs.
I rub her back gently and let out a long breath. If Randy doesn’t have any warrants, I’ll make sure he gets some. Ones that will lock him up for good. “Where’s Brent?” I ask. “Did he touch him, too?”
She pulls away and wipes her eyes. “No. He’s at the daycare. Randy was so pissed last night that he didn’t even take him.”
I nod. “I want you to hide out for a while.”
“Grave, I can’t afford to miss work.”
I stalk behind my desk, open the drawer, and pull out some cash. I walk back over to her. “This is five thousand.”
Her eyes widen. “No.”
“Yes.” I remove the purse from her shoulder and stuff the money in it. “I’m going to get you and Brent a room here. Go downstairs and Nigel will make sure you’re checked in.”
“He’ll find me,” she argues.
“No, he won’t. The room will be under a false name. There will be no reason for him to look for you here.”
Her shoulders fall. I know the look on her face and she’s about to argue with me.
“This isn’t about you. This is about Brent,” I remind her.
“But you’re going to take care of Randy?”
“I am,” I assure her. “But that doesn’t mean he won’t be looking for you tomorrow. Or the next day. I can’t promise you that I’ll have it taken care of right away.”
She nods and chokes out, “You’re right. Thank you, Grave.”
“Call me if you need anything. Do you hear me?” Five thousand won’t last her long, but it’s a start.
She rises on her tiptoes and presses her lips to mine just as my door opens.
“Meeting in five,” my brother calls out.
Nat pulls away quickly and averts her eyes to the floor before I can even react. But I had no plans to kiss her back.
I glare at Bones. “I can fucking read a clock,” I snap.
His blue eyes drop to Natalie’s legs and trail over the back of her as she presses her front into mine like a timid cat. “Don’t be late,” he warns before slamming the door.
APRIL
I’m tired, andI’m starving. I haven’t eaten much. Don’t have the appetite after all the unanswered calls and ignored texts I’ve sent Ethan. He didn’t bother showing up at the shop today. Alexa sent me a text late last night, inviting me to the bar tonight, but I declined. I’m not in the mood to be around a crowd.
I stand in the cooler at Roses, searching on my phone. I can’t find anything about what the fuck a Queen is or how it’s connected with Kingdom. I did, however, find out that four Kings own it. Titan, Bones, Cross, and Grave.
He fucking owns a quarter of the hotel and casino, and I’m having a hard time processing that information. The answer has been in front of me the entire time. That’s why Ethan asked ifhehad given me that card. He was talking about Grave. He knows who he is. Grave holds all the answers I’m seeking. I just need to get his cell number from the form he filled out when he ordered flowers for his mother.
I hustle to the office and sit down at the desk. Going through the computer, I pull up his information and stare at his number. What am I going to say to him? Why would I be calling? Making up my mind, I let out a deep breath before I type in his number on my cell.
It rings twice before I hear his voice. “Hello?” The single word comes out rough. I glance at the clock and silently curse myself. It’s still early. I haven’t even opened the shop yet. “Hello?” he asks, sounding irritated this time.
“Hi,” I say and flinch.Way too chipper.
“Who is this?” he growls, sounding angrier by the second.
“It’s April. From Roses,” I clarify.
