Rage (Her Monsters Book One) - K.A Knight Page 0,138

magazines, not sitting in what looks like a meeting room as the leader of a crime ring—but here we are. Her cheeks sparkle with gold when she tilts her head, and her eyes are lined perfectly with black liner only, making their blue colour pop even more.

Standing behind her is the scarred man from the club, and his eyes are like daggers, centered on me. She leans her hand up, caressing him when she sees me looking. “I see you have met my head of security, Jedrick.” She grins and I nod.

“Good, Jedrick is my right-hand man. He is also my public stand in, only a trusted few—or the damned—know who I really am. Men don’t want to deal with women, they think we are weak. If only they knew the truth.” She laughs and another glass appears at her side. Without looking, she grabs it and watches me over the rim as she sips the amber liquid.

“So tell me...” She trails off, expecting me her to fill her in. She’s good, manipulating me easily and playing off her gender. She obviously knows how to work a room and get she wants, but for her to be in this position there has to be more to her than just her mind. She must be ruthless and deadly. I need to make sure I tread carefully.

“Dawn, and are we the trusted or damned?” I ask casually, crossing my legs.

She grins and rests the glass in her lap, her eyes not straying from me even though Nos and Griffin sit at my side. “We shall see, I always know my enemies, yet I find myself at a loss with you. Jed said you had information for me. I deal in information, so present your case Dawn, and I will see whether you will make it out of this room alive.”

“Why do you think I’m in charge?” I question, curious, and she laughs.

“It is obvious, they defer to you. I know a powerful woman when I see one and you, Dawn, are. So, let’s not play games.” Her voice hardens at the end and her eyes flash like ice is swirling there.

“No games.” I nod. “I have come here to strike a deal, you have something I want and I have some information you need,” I offer, leaning back into my men and accepting their support. Something about her unnerves me. I think it’s because I don’t know how to approach her and my strength or powers won’t help me here. I will have to rely on my mind.

“And what do I have that you want?” she asks.

“My ex-husband,” I state.

Her eyebrow raises and Jedrick moves slightly behind her. Her eyes warm slightly and a smile dances on her lips as she watches me. “I know that look on your face, you want revenge, a feeling I am very well acquainted with. Why don’t you tell me a bit more and I will see what deal we can come to, Dawn.”

“Huh,” she says, leaning back and watching me in a new light. “Let me get this straight—one of my men forced you into a marriage you did not want, and I’m guessing from the unspoken words in your eyes it was not a good marriage,” she grinds out, and I tilt my head at the anger in her eyes. At her tone, Jedrick drops a hand on her shoulder and seems to bristle. She sighs, leaning into his touch.

“From your expression, I can see you do not understand my outrage.” She pats Jedrick’s hand and leans forward. “Let me explain something to you, Dawn. I was not born into this business nor was I grown for it—my husband was once…” At the word, Jedrick bristles again. “Jed’s brother,” she adds. “We were sweethearts and I thought I loved him, we married young—too young. By the time I realised it was all a front and another side of him existed, it was too late. I was in too deep. I became his pawn and his punching bag. I was forced into meetings and other such situations, always in the background. Always listening and waiting. He was not a smart man, more like a hammer than anything else. He was a disappointment to his father and he made many mistakes. One which almost cost Jedrick and me our lives. We were taken by another family and tortured for information. My husband did not even come for us—his enforcer and wife. He left us to rot