Page 126 of Poisoned Pawn

“Star! Carter! Time to go. Your chariot awaits,” Toni sing songs as she walks down the hall, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor.

“That woman’s timing is irritatingly impeccable,” Carter grumbles, then he drops a kiss to my lips a second before Toni enters the room.

“Am I interrupting?” she asks, knowing full well she was.

“Nope.” I grab my clutch from the table. “Let’s go.” I wave my finger in a circle at Toni, telling her to turn around and walk.

I follow behind her with Carter close on my heels. “Are you wet, Star?” he whispers in my ear as Toni reaches the waiting car.

I turn my head just a fraction. “Soaked,” I tease back, putting an extra swing in my hips as I walk the last few paces to the car. His resounding groan makes me smile, and I climb into the car satisfied he’ll at least be as uncomfortable as me for the rest of the night.

Tonight we are going to dinner with Toni and her dad Grant to celebrate his engagement to Lillian Kingsman. Something she isn’t happy about, which is why she invited us as a buffer. She’d be even less happy if she knew the full story about the family her dad is marrying into.

Carter only revealed what he knew a couple of weeks ago after he discovered the man that Rook spoke to on the phone that night was Lillian’s father, Piers Kingsman. I was furious that he kept it from me initially. I know why he did it, but I don’t have to like it.

Carter was only too pleased to tag along, and of course he has an ulterior motive. Taking over as head of the Shadow Guard following Lennox’s death means he needs to be fully aware of what’s going on in Manchester, especially if it’s going to impact him and the Shadows.

I finally managed to convince Roxy and the guys to head home a week ago, but Aidan and Parker have remained here. I know that Aidan is curious about the Gambinos and where they fitted into what happened with Rook and the 51s, who have since disbanded. Although Carter thinks that’s only temporary and once everything dies down, they’ll reappear with a new leader. Fraser is gone too. Aidan had been holding him somewhere. The day before I was released from hospital, Aidan called to say that Fraser was dead.

Carter was livid and had thought Aidan or one of his men was responsible, but it turns out someone broke into where he was being held and killed him. They both suspect that Piers Kingsman has something to do with it. Another reason Carter was so keen to come tonight.

His hand on my thigh startles me from my thoughts. “Hey, what’s got you thinking so hard?”

I let out a laugh at his choice of words. “It’s not me that’s hard,” I mock with a wink. “Nothing important,” I reassure him when he levels me with unimpressed stare.

The car slows to a stop outside the restaurant, and the driver gets out, opening the door for us.

Toni leads us inside where we are taken straight to the reserved table. Her father and Lillian are already there along with another man.

Knight Kingsman.

They stand as we approach, all except Knight, who leisurely rises to his feet after everyone else. His light brown hair is slicked back, a small curl hangs down from the neat style. He’s wearing dark grey jeans and a white shirt, the top open and displaying the edges of a tattoo on his chest.

As Toni introduces us, I sense Carter and Knight sizing one another up. Their handshake is short and firm, but not a word is uttered between them.

Drinks are ordered and the atmosphere is light as we settle into easy conversation about their plans for the wedding. Toni is seated next to Knight on one side and me on the other. Her father and Carter are chatting about politics of all things while Knight is reprimanded by Lillian for being on his phone.

“Hey, you okay?” I ask her. She’s been quiet since we arrived.

“I’m fine. Just hate having to spend time with the dick beside me.”

My eyes flick to Knight who is wearing a smile on his face and listening to us rather than Lillian. My attention is drawn away from them both as Carter and Grant’s conversation changes.

“Yes, Lillian’s father had an investor but unfortunately he was caught up in whatever happened last month.”

“That’s a shame. What exactly is it he’s looking for?” Carter asks as I pick up my glass of wine and take a mouthful.

“Well, Gage was—”

The wine slips down the wrong way at the mention of Rook’s pseudonym, making me choke.

I feel Knight’s eyes on me as Carter strokes my back and Toni asks if I’m okay.

Thankfully the conversation reverts to lighter topics as our food is served, and the rest of the evening is reasonably enjoyable. If you ignore the tension between Knight and Toni, which I have every intention of asking about the second I get her alone.

At the end of the night, Carter declines Grant’s offer of the car to take us home, and I tilt my head as his eyes catch mine. He just smiles.

We say our goodbyes, and I promise Toni I’ll call her tomorrow. Exiting the restaurant, there is a car waiting for us.