Page 125 of Poisoned Pawn
“Everything okay?” Zak asks, nodding to my phone when I look up as he speaks.
“Yeah, just Koda letting me know there’s a lot of chatter about the 51s and Pavel, but for now it seems a war between the two is the obvious answer. The fact neither Pavel or Fraser have been seen since is causing a stir, but it will die down once news of Pavel and Lev’s deaths filters through.”
“Speaking of Fraser, what’s the plan?” Maddox asks.
“Right now, my focus is Star. After that, I’ll deal with Fraser.”
“And the Shadow Guard,” Zak questions, keeping his voice low as a nurse passes us by.
I raise my brow. “That’s a situation that can’t wait. For now, I need to make some calls.”
I leave Maddox and Zak and head outside where I call Frankie. I had been hoping that Star didn’t know about Toni. Hacking into Rook’s phone did more than just tell us what we needed to know. It threw up a whole other load of shit. Something that Aidan had already hinted at when he mentioned the name Kingsman.
I spend twenty minutes on the phone to Frankie. Neither of us mention Sloane but I guess she’s with him. Toni’s father is still in the ICU and Toni is fine. I have two Shadows on her making sure she’s safe until we can figure out what the hell she’s involved in, well her dad.
When I return to Star’s room, I’m pleased to see her smiling as she chats to Roxanne, Maddox and Zak. The relaxed visitation rules can only be a good sign. She tires quickly and the nurse ushers everyone except me out the door.
As soon as they leave, she asks me about Toni. “Did you find her? How’s her dad?”
“She’s fine. He’s fine. I told you not to worry. Now get some rest.”
“Stay—”
“Not fucking going anywhere. Rest, Star.” Satisfied with my answers—for now because I know she won’t quit until she gets the answers she wants—she closes her eyes as I sit holding her hand and stroking the other over her cheek.
I almost say the three words that I’ve struggled to say until the moment I thought she was going to fucking die. But I hold them back. Not because of fear this time. No, I want her to be fully awake when I tell her them again.
They’ll be branded on her heart.
EPILOGUE
STAR
One month later
“Isay we skip dinner and I feast on you instead,” Carter drawls salaciously as he steps into the room, adjusting the bulge in his trousers.
I spin around and take him in as he saunters over to me. “I say that’s a great idea but hold that thought.” I tug at the collar of his suit jacket, straightening it out as his hands grip my hips.
“I don’t think I can wait any longer, princess. I want to—”
I cut off his words with a well-placed finger to his lips. “I’ve been begging you for the last two weeks to fuck me. This feels like karma to me. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“No, it feels like fucking torture. But I needed to be sure you were recovered before I execute my plan.”
“Ooh, colour me intrigued. And what is this plan you speak of,” I ask, teasing him as I rub my hand over his cock. Nothing like torturing yourself while doing the same to someone else.
A deep growl rumbles up from his throat. “You’ll have to wait and see.”
He’s too good at this. The man is a master at patience when it comes to sex—surprisingly.
“I hope this dress wasn’t expensive,” he croons as he nuzzles into my neck, leaving a trail of hot kisses down my throat.
“And why is that?” I ask innocently.
“Because it’s going to be nothing but strips of material by the end of the night. You think you can handle that?”
I hum my answer as he cups my breast, brushing a thumb over the thin silk fabric of the mermaid tail dress I’m wearing. I tip my head back, completely lost in the moment and ready to forget dinner when the front door opens and closes.