Reign A Romance Anthology - Nina Levine Page 0,351

I go check it out.”

I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I can’t seem to stop shaking.

There’s a double bang again on the door, followed by a message alert on Dolf’s phone.

“Bradford wants to be let in.” He lifts my feet off the ground and walks with me, still clinging to his body down to the rear door. “I need the code, babe.”

“It’s eye activation.”

He spins us, so I’m facing the panel, and tilts me forward. I scan my eye, wait for the green light, and then he turns us so he can open the door while keeping a hold of me.

Cool, fresh air hits my back.

“What the hell, Dolf?” Bradford’s grumpy voice brings me back to my senses.

“I’m good now, thank you, Dolf,” I whisper, and he releases me.

Without looking at Bradford, I walk back to my workstation.

I hear Dolf and Bradford murmuring together. Their voices too low-pitched to make out what they are talking about, but I gather Dolf is explaining Bradford’s banging on the door scared the hell out of me. I’m a little shocked at the way my body reacted when Dolf pulled a gun out. Last night has shaken me up more than I care to admit.

I welcome the cool fresh air mixing with the staler air in the warehouse. The door must still be open.

They continue talking, not that I’m focusing on the two of them, but I begin to wonder if surely the day can’t get any worse. I’ve filled my quota on that already.

Kingdom of Wigs is my happy place, and nothing is going to change that. It remains the way I left it the day before, and it’s where I control everything. No man needed. And now it’s about to get invaded by a billionaire with no moths in his bulky wallet.

I busy myself putting Cindy, a.k.a, Cinderella’s gift together, a long ice-blue wig with silver highlights, and I’ve bought her a Cinderella costume ballgown and a princess tiara. I place a piece of silver tissue paper over the gifts and put the lid on the metallic pink box. Then I tie a silver bow around it.

She’s my one stop on the way home that I can’t pass up because Bradford says so.

“Hey.” Bradford’s hand lands gently on my shoulder, still making me jump. “I called your name twice, but you are so focused on what you’re doing you didn’t hear me. I’m sorry if I upset you by banging on the door. I wasn’t thinking. I should have called or messaged to let you know I was coming over. Dolf said I gave you quite a fright.”

I let out a heavy sigh. I’m tired and hangry—another old school word—not having eaten in nearly twenty-four hours, and I’m sore. My body has bruises all over it, and my wrists have felt sorer since working here this afternoon. Getting thrown in a dumpster will do that to a girl. But, this is my happy place, and I was determined to get a chunk of orders packaged up and to visit with Cindy.

I made sure to cover all my skin up so Cindy doesn’t ask any questions. My sweater's sleeves are long and come with a thumb hole to keep them in place. She won’t see my wrists. I can put my split lip down to being clumsy, and me wearing a wig will be something I have done before when I’ve visited her.

“Queenie, are you in there?” My chair spins around, and I’m facing Bradford, who has crouched down in front of me, resting one hand on the arm of my chair, watching me. “Truce?” Bradford waits for me to acknowledge him.

“Fine. Truce.” He’s dressed casually: a black-knit sweater, I’m sure, costs more than I make in a week, teamed with denim designer jeans and retro black sneakers.

He looks nice, not that I am going to compliment him.

“So, I hear on the grapevine, you’ve had a pretty rough twenty-four hours. I came to see if I could help you with anything and then take you to dinner to talk about today in more detail.” He’s trying for the light approach after the words we had earlier.

“I’m not hungry, but thank you for the offer,” I say, sugary-sweet. “I’m about to visit with a friend before I go back to my apartment. Oh, wait, it’s not mine anymore. I shall reword it: your latest takeover.” Call me petty, but I need time to adjust.

I think I just blew the truce.

I know I should