Page 130 of Vicious Kingdom

Maureen hesitated. “Well, he didn’t mention anything to me yesterday. Nor was there a text this morning. And he’s at his physical therapy by now…."

“It was last minute. You know how he is.” I laughed lightly. “Always forgetting to update his calendar. I’ll be quick, promise.”

Before she could object further, I was already moving toward the large mahogany door of my father’s office. Once inside, I shut it firmly behind me, exhaling slowly. The familiar smell was tainted with something strange. Something metallic and gaseous.

Occupied with my work, I ignored the scent.

I moved quickly to his desk, my heart racing as I slid into his plush chair. His computer sat like a sentinel on the polished surface, the screen black and waiting. I pulled the flash drive from my purse and inserted it into the USB port. My fingers flew across the keyboard, entering his password—my mother’s birthday, always predictable—and the screen illuminated with his desktop.

The program Don Alessandro had given me was sophisticated, designed to run silently in the background while granting remote access to everything. I double-clicked the executable file on the drive and watched as a small progress bar appeared.

10%… 25%… 48%…

A soft knock on the door made me freeze.

“Mrs. Baldwin? Is everything alright?” Maureen’s voice called through the door.

“Fine! Just looking through these files,” I called, watching anxiously as the progress bar crawled forward.

67%… 83%… 91%…

An eerie dread whispered through the office, pricking my skin and shooting my sixth sense to focus. I whirled around, expecting to see Maureen, but the office appeared empty. That strange smell seemed stronger, more pronounced.

99%… Complete.

I yanked out the flash drive and pocketed it, then stood to search for the files I’d claimed to need as my cover story. That’s when I noticed the executive bathroom door was slightly ajar. Had it been open when I came in? My father always kept it closed.

“Dad?” I called softly, moving toward the bathroom. No response.

The smell intensified as I approached. My hand trembled as I pushed the door wider, the hinges creaking softly.

“Oh my lord—” The words strangled in my throat.

My father lay sprawled on the bathroom floor, his white shirt soaked crimson, body unmoving. Coagulated blood lay in a pool beneath him, a tendril spread across the marble tiles in a ghastly halo.

“Dad!” I rushed forward, dropping to my knees beside him. My hands hovered uselessly over his body, afraid to touch him yet desperate to help. “Dad, can you hear me?”

No response. His skin was ashen, lips tinged blue. I pressed trembling fingers to his neck, searching for a pulse I already knew wouldn’t be there. Nothing.

The bathroom reeked of copper and death. My father’s body was already cool and bloated. He must have been dead for hours.

A strangled sound escaped my throat—half scream, half sob. I stumbled backward, my hands and knees smeared with his sticky blood. Vacant eyes, clouded with eternal slumber fixatedon me. The man who never looked at me now stared up at me with unseeing eyes.

Chapter 46 – Leonardo

The nonsense with the anklet was over. Today, I was escorted to court, where, flanked by the best lawyer money could buy, I was exonerated. There was no apology for the house arrest, no threat that it would happen again if I set one toe out of line.

Someone powerful was pulling the strings, showing me his weight. I knew who, and I was ready to destroy him. The politician wouldn’t make it to election day.

The lock clicked open. Something about that sound sent a premonition flicking through me. There was nothing to dread about coming home. No reason to worry.

Except….She never came to bed last night.

I yawned, feeling exhaustion’s extreme pull. I didn’t sleep, not a wink, as I waited for her. When I finally rose to check on her, I saw the light from under her door. My ear pressed against the wood heard the tap-tap of her keys. She’d been up all night too, choosing to write rather than sneak into our bed.

“This ends now,” I whispered to myself. Tonight, I was bringing her back to bed.

My dick jumped at the idea, but I mentally slapped him. We could cuddle, we could sleep without touching. Whatever she wanted, so long as she was where she belonged.