Page 108 of Fall of a Kingdom

“It would be for their own safety.”

“Fuck safety. You don’t go to an illegal high stakes casino fronted by a hotel empire for safety.” My brow furrowed when I studied him. “You go for the thrill of the underground. Of telling the law to go fuck itself. What the hell has happened to you? Did Ash clip your balls and put them in her purse?”

“If you weren’t lying in a bed, I’d beat the shite out of you for that,” he snapped.

“When I’m healed, I’m ready and willing. You need a good arse kicking.”

“Ineed a good arse kicking? I’m not the one lying in a bed because I followed my prick into the pointy end of a knife. All the blood in your body rushed south, leaving you without a working brain it seems.”

I arched a brow. “Bitter much?”

“Why would I be bitter?”

“It sounds like you’re in desperate need of spicing up your life.”

“What are you suggesting?” Duncan’s gray gaze glittered like steel.

I stared at him for a long moment and then replied, “Nothing. Nothing at all.”

My brother wasn’t happy. Hadn’t been for a while now.

“Do you have any idea who she was, or why she attacked you?” Duncan asked.

“She said her name was Lex, but I have no idea if that’s her real name or not. And when she stabbed me, she said, ‘For Ainsley.’”

“Who’s Ainsley?”

“No idea.”

Duncan ran a thumb across his cheek and down his jaw. “A bomb was found on The Fifteenth Floor of the London Rex. They evacuated the entire hotel, and the bomb squad was able to diffuse it. No one was hurt.”

“Fuck,” I muttered.

“Aye,” he agreed. “We’re going to have a hell of a time fielding this one. Paparazzi have been camped out for hours. What are the chances? A bomb is found at The Rex and you’re stabbed on the same day? Do you think they’re related?”

“Anything is possible,” I admitted. “But this felt…personal.”

“You really have no memory of this Ainsley woman?”

I searched my brain but came up blank. I shook my head.

Duncan’s phone vibrated in his pocket. “Flynn,” he greeted. “Aye, he’s awake.” He began to pace across the floor. “We’re trying to figure that out.” He looked at me, his eyes widening while still talking to Flynn. “No shite. You’re serious? God damn it all. I’ll be in touch.”

He hung up and shoved the cell phone back into his pocket.

“What?” I asked. “Just say it.”

“The Manhattan and Boston ports are on fire—Sasha’s holdings…”

“Fuck,” I muttered. “What the fuck is going on? Now Sasha? I thought whoever was doing this was just coming after the SINS.”

My mind was whirling, trying to piece it all together, but it was too murky.

“Where’s my phone?” I asked. “I need to call Genevieve.”

Chapter38

BARRETT