Page 50 of Iron Princess
She lifts her chin. “You think he’s too good for me? Because you ain’t from blue blood either, last I checked.”
“Whoa—” I hold out both my hands, but Kane jumps in.
“Watch how you talk to her. She doesn’t mean a goddamned thing other than the fact that she’s surprised. Why wouldn’t she be? You’ve done a hell of a job keeping your pursuit quiet.”
“Pursuit? You make it sound like he was running from me. No one runs from Magnolia Maison. He should’ve been thanking his lucky stars that I had a taste for him.”
Kane tilts his head to the side. “And now here you are begging for information.”
“Because even though I told you I heard he jacked up delivering a load of human cargo, you didn’t tell me there was a price on his head, and thatyoutook the contract, you motherfucker.”
“Wait.Human cargo?” I feel like someone punched me in the gut. “My brother is involved in human trafficking? I think I’m going to be sick.” My knees weaken, and I look around for somewhere to sit before I fall to the floor.
Kane wraps an arm around me and guides me to a chair in the corner, but his gaze is trained on Magnolia. “Was that really fucking necessary? Does that make you feel better?”
I look up at him. “Is it true?”
His expression sobers. “It’s true. And I’m sure that’s why he couldn’t finish the job. He couldn’t live with himself if he did. Your brother has lines too. We all do.”
“I can’t believe he would ...” I don’t even want to think about it.
“Believe it, because he did. But now someone has to tell me what the hell is happening. Where did he go? If he ran, I’m going with him.” Magnolia sounds like a woman out of her mind with concern. It’s all too much to process.
“Can we please go?”
“What? You can’t stomach the thought of things your brother does to pay the bills? Feeling a little high-and-mighty since you got that fancy paying job from Ke-Ke?”
I don’t know why Magnolia is pissed at me, but her tone flays me.
Narrowing my gaze, I focus on her. “You don’t know shit about how I feel right now. And how could you not tell me you were with Rafe? You draw me in here, telling me half-truths and giving me bullshit warnings. What game are you playing, Magnolia?”
She stiffens. “The only game I’ve ever cared to win at—life.”
“Enough,” Kane says. “We’re done here. I don’t know where he is. If I did, I wouldn’t tell you. Not here. Not now. Too many ears. Too many eyes. Besides, I don’t fucking trust you any further than I can throw you, Magnolia. So you’re gonna have to wait while we sort out this mess.”
“You son of a bitch—”
“We’re done.”
Kane pulls me to my feet and I follow him out of the room, wanting to put as much distance between Magnolia and us as we can before my questions start pouring out.
Instead of getting the hell out as quickly as possible, Kane stops short and I stumble into his back.
“In a hurry to leave, are we?”
It’s a voice I can’t quite place, but when I peek around Kane’s shoulder, I recognize the man. He’s the one from the night Magnolia gave me a tour of the common room, and she let his name slip.
Giles.
“Yes, sir. I’m showing them out, as they seem to have misplaced their masks.” Magnolia sweeps around me to stand beside Kane.
“Ah, Magnolia, darling. Were you being naughty and playing instead of working?”
The guy’s voice makes me want to jump in a hot shower and scrub until my skin turns pink.
“No. I’m enforcing club rules. If you’ll excuse us.”
Throughout this whole exchange, Kane never moves, but he also never takes his eyes off the man in front of us.
