Page 55 of Bitter Queen (Advantage Play 4)

The room is quiet, but I can feel both of them staring at me. Not like I’m a monster or the enemy. But like I’m an asset. A piece to a puzzle I had no idea existed.

Reaching for me, D tangles his fingers with mine, then tugs me into his lap. “Why were you so terrified to tell us?”

“Because Reed is still out there. If he knows I told you, he’ll kill me.”

“And do you know who Reed is?” Kingston interjects.

I shake my head. “No. No idea. Do you?”

The door bursts open from behind me, and I jump in surprise before turning to it. One of King’s soldiers stands in the entrance with a panicked expression. “Sorry, Boss. But we had a gift dropped off, and I think you need to see it.”

Pushing himself up from his chair, Kingston rounds his desk and tells me, “Thanks, Q. You have no idea how insightful your past is.” Then he turns to D. “Let’s go.”

They exit the room in a hurry, leaving me alone in Kingston’s office for a few seconds before my curiosity gets the best of me. I follow them, practically running to keep up with their long strides as they step outside. The air is warm but does nothing to melt the ice in my veins as I take in the so-called visitor.

What the hell is going on?

On the driveway, a little boy is curled in a ball, clutching his arm to his chest as his body wracks with sobs. I can’t see his face, only a mop of brown hair, but he can’t be older than ten or eleven. My heart gallops inside of me as I inch closer. He almost looks…familiar. Tilting my head to the side, I try to place him while a wariness eats at my stomach. Then I dig my heels into the ground when he looks up and meets my gaze.

“Will?” His name is nothing but a whisper as it escapes me.

The blood drains from my face. Then I fall to my knees.

21

Diece

The kid’s brown hair is damp with sweat and clings to his forehead, and his brown eyes are pinched in pain while he holds his arm to his chest and cries.

He’s terrified out of his mind. And I have no idea who the hell he is.

Scanning the premises, I search for anything out of place, but everything appears to be normal.

“Lou, are we clear?” I bark.

“Yeah. Not a soul in sight.”

“Who is he?” Kingston demands, stalking toward the kid. He cowers like an abused dog at the pound before Kingston stops short and turns to Lou.

“A dark sedan pulled up near the curb down the street,” Lou explains. “Then this kid stumbled out the passenger side before it drove off.”

“Will?” a feminine voice whispers behind me.

Curious, I glance over my shoulder. Q looks like she’s seen a ghost and collapses on the front steps like a rag doll. Rushing toward her, I push the hair out of her face and force her to look at me. “What did you just say?”

“Will,” she repeats, her voice cracking. “It’s Will.”

“Go upstairs, Q,” I demand.

Motioning to the kid, she argues, “But he needs my help––”

“No.” I shove her inside. “You’re not safe out here. Go to your room and wait for me.”

“D—”

“I’m serious, Queena. I’ll come fill you in as soon as we get him inside and figure out what the hell is going on. Now, go!”

The indecision is clear on her face before she runs up the stairs and disappears inside the house. As soon as she’s out of my line of sight, I rush back out to the shitshow on the driveway and tell King, “It’s Will. Will Johnson.”