Queen of Men (King Maker 2)

I jerked out of his hold as my jaw hung open.

“How did you know about the roses?” I asked. Then more to myself as my thoughts bounced around, I said, “Lizzy.” Her place had been violated because of me. “This is personal,” I absently muttered.

“Yes.”

A crazy thought crept in my head and though he’d yet to answer my questions, I asked another, “How did they know which room was mine?”

“Drawers were opened on your desk. They probably confirmed it by a piece of mail, according to the reports. Lizzy’s room appeared untouched, as were the living and kitchen areas. Your room was destroyed, including your closet.”

I felt the first of my tears. Stepping farther away from him, I mumbled more to myself, “They’re just things. They don’t matter.”

I wiped at the stupid leakage from my eyes and was grateful I’d brought not only my laptop but my company issued one as well. Though it was likely I wouldn’t have a job to go back to, I didn’t want to spend what funds I had saved up to replace their equipment. Currently, both were in my car, hopefully not suffering ill effects for being locked in a frigid trunk.

“You came all the way here to tell me that,” I said, shooting the messenger with all the venom I had for this psycho person or persons.

“I think you know why I came.” His voice was blunt, but his eyes were soft.

“I’m in danger. Why aren’t the cops here?”

“They’re looking for you. I don’t think you want the feds descending on your family compound. I’m sure you want this place to remain a secret.”

It was true. But how did he know that? Suspiciously, I asked again, “How did you find me?”

“Griffin.”

“Your driver?” I asked, confused.

He chuckled. “He’s not my driver. He’s a friend and owns a security firm. He has his ways of keeping up with law enforcement.”

I would bet it wasn’t a legal avenue.

“That doesn’t answer why law enforcement isn’t here for me.”

“I’m sure the feds have a file on this place. They’ll assume when you left, you had no intention of ever returning. However, at some point they will come around here, if you don’t appear. That’s another reason for you to leave.”

“Leave?” It wasn’t like I didn’t know that I would need to. It was more of a when statement.

“The sooner, the better.”

Though I’d been thinking about it, the rush to leave threw me off balance.

“I can’t just leave.” I shook my head and began to pace the tiny area between trees.

He stared at me like I was from Mars. “Him?”

We were trading one-word questions. It was getting ridiculous. Or maybe it was just the situation. “Not just him. My sister, my family. I just got here. I need a couple of days.”

I expected him to rant or rage and demand I leave. His words, however, were reasonable. “You are putting everyone at risk. If I figured it out, the feds and whoever is targeting you will too.”

A healthier fear would have been what he spoke about. But I was more afraid of leaving with him and how my heart could survive the devil himself.

“Isn’t there something we can do? I need a day at least,” I suggested.

I hadn’t seen my family in years. And there were things I needed to do before I left, including dealing with Turner.

He always seemed able to read me so easily, I thought as he spoke.

“He can come too if you’ll leave this place sooner,” he said with truth in his words, plainly written on his face.

Dumbstruck, I just stared at him.

“What matters to me most is that you’re safe. If that means having him tag along until you both realize the inevitable, fine.”

“Inevitable?”

“Yes,” he said, stepping forward. “You and I are like the last two of a five-thousand-piece puzzle. We just fit together. That couldn’t have been more obvious when you were in my arms just now.”

I would be lying if I said my world didn’t spin on its axis, leaving me feeling dizzy, but I held my ground.

“That puzzle is defective because we don’t fit. The only reason you want me is for your bed or because I’m the first woman to tell you to fuck off.”

I covered my mouth, suddenly conscious of where I was. Such language was not allowed, and there would be dire consequences if caught.

“You’re wrong.”

His utter calmness pushed my irritation button one too many times.

“No, you’re wrong. I thank you for coming here to warn me. And I’m not stupid enough to put my family in danger of exposure or otherwise. In fact, I’ll leave. But I do have other friends. I can go to Chicago and stay with Matt. He’s a cop and can very well keep me safe if what you say is true.”

A triumphant smile formed on my lips as his formed a scowl.