Page 98 of Merciless Heir
No one speaks to us, but eyes are on us, hard and greedy. Those are the ones I peg as connected, as criminals who have made it to the top by all kinds of means and now like to collect things that make them feel more powerful, give spice. At least, that’s how Sadie put it and I can see it.
Even with those mega rich, the shadowy kind who probably have shares in half my things, who don’t commit nasty crimes, but simply don’t care where money comes from, I can see they’re the type looking for their next claim, their next thrill, and the room is buzzing with Sinclair.
Finally, a thin man of average height and build, with peppered black hair and a lined, hard face peels away from the rest. “You think you’re gonna get it back?”
“Let’s say I’m interested.”
“And with the Raven herself.” He turns. “Sadie. I want the tiara, not the man.”
“Marconi,” she says, and a bolt of electricity passes through me.
Oh holy fuck. This man is more than connected. He’s a head of a crime family. Mafioso. I don’t need to know him to know who he is, and Sadie knows him.
“Unless he’s got more things I want.” Now his gaze moves over her in a way that makes me want to rip his throat out.
But Sadie just smiles. “He might, but he’s not into sharing those. And everyone here wants the same thing. The tiara.”
We get a tight smile and the man moves on and she looks at me. “Don’t talk to people.”
“I don’t think anyone’s going to believe I’m a mute.”
“Not with that smart mouth, Kingston.”
I drop my head so I can use that mouth against her ear. “Keep flirting like that, Sadie, and I’m going to get all kind of ideas.”
“Stop that.”
“Make me.” I slide the knuckles of my hand down her spine, reveling in the thinness of the material, the way her skin is like soft and warm silk. She shivers and my cock starts to pay a hell of a lot of attention.
Sadie turns and those eyes are on me, melting, liquid heat. And I’m caught in them, in her, and I’m not sure I want to find a way out. “Kingston…”
She touches me, her hand coming up to my chest and we’re caught in a cocoon of heat and awareness. But she turns away, like she’s ripping herself free with all the strength she possesses. And Sadie takes a step back.
Her phone. It’s ringing in her small bag, but she makes no effort to fetch it. Instead, she takes another step away, looking around. She goes suddenly still, gaze like a laser on something I can’t see ahead where some big men have come into the room and stand. I go to her and I stop too, my breath and lust vanishing.
There it is. Under glass. The tiara. Other jewels are around it in their own glass prisons. And it’s as close as we’re going to get to the merchandise.
A woman steps out from the small crowd. She’s sleek and pretty and ageless and dressed in black old school Chanel. I know, because I think my mother once owned the same outfit. She has perfect blond hair and I’ve never seen her in my life. She starts calling out numbers and when Sadie shifts, I’m aware she’s placed a bet.
The numbers are low, so I’m assuming it’s shorthand or code.
I’ve been to auctions before. But nothing like this silent one where those here know the moves.
In the middle of it, Sadie grabs me and leads me out, and I let her because I don’t really know what the fuck is going on.
I wait until we’re in the bar. “Did you just spend my money?”
“No. I bid your money. Thirty million.”
“That all?”
She drags me outside and my car is still waiting. I open the door for her and follow her in.
Sadie glows, excitement makes her cheeks pink, and her pulse throbs. This shit turns her on, and—
“I didn’t want to buy it, Kingston,” she says, sliding close. She lifts her face to mine, lips almost brushing against my mouth, her breath warm, her scent evocative as it winds around me like a lover. “I wanted to know who would.”
“And do you?”