Page 39 of The King's Boy

Well, it kind of was, without the movie part.

"King?" Brandy licked her lips as her eyes flickered to Malloy again. "You wouldn't be talking about Angus King, would you?"

I jerked my head back in surprise. "I would, but how do you know who he is?"

Brandy's eyes were huge on her pale face. "Spencer, everyone knows who Angus King is."

Apparently not.

"I didn't know who he was until he told me."

Brandy's eyes popped wider. "And you still agreed to stay?"

I shrugged. It wasn't like I could explain it because I didn't know myself why I had agreed to stay. If I was smart, I'd get the hell out of dodge.

Apparently, I wasn't that smart.

"Someone took a shot at me while I was getting my morning coffee yesterday. King is keeping me safe while helping me figure out who it was."

Brandy gasped as she pressed a pink nail tipped hand to her chest. "Someone tried to kill you?"

I nodded as I said, "They shot out the window where I was sitting at that cafe down the street from your apartment."

"Could it have been a random shooting?" she asked. "This is New York, honey. They happen."

"I thought that at first, too, but when I ran, they continued to try and shoot me."

Brandy's brows drew together. "Who is trying to kill you?"

"I have no idea." I hadn't pissed anyone off lately that I knew about, but people could be weird. They could get insulted just from a look.

Brandy huffed. "I guess staying with a mobster when someone is trying to kill you is a pretty good idea."

I wasn't so sure of that, but it wasn't like I had a better idea.

I dropped my bag on the floor and then grabbed both of Brandy's hands and gave them a gentle squeeze. "I'm okay. I promise."

"Sir."

I turned to find Mrs. Anna standing in the entry to the dining room. "Yes?" I asked, wondering if she was referring to me.

"I've arranged tea and pastries in the salon for you and your guest."

"Oh." I smiled broadly. I really did like this lady. "Thank you, Mrs. Anna."

I had no idea where the salon was located.

Mrs. Anna seemed to understand my quandary. She returned my smile, picked up my bag, and then gestured with her other hand. "If you'll follow me, sirs. I'll take you to the salon and then see that your backpack is placed in your room."

I glanced at Brandy and then shrugged before following after the housekeeper. She led us down the hallway to a large salon at the back of the house. It overlooked the backyard through several ceiling to floor windows and a set of French doors.

"If you require anything else, just ring this bell." Mrs. Anna pointed to a long velvet cord hanging by the wall. "It goes directly to the kitchen."

"Thank you, Mrs. Anna. This is perfect."

It really was. There was a porcelain tea set—cream colored and rimmed with gold—sitting on a table near the window. A two-tiered matching pastry tray sat with the tea set, filled with pastries of every kind.

My mouth watered just looking at it.