Page 120 of Lucian

Jordyn didn’t think to tell Cecelia her husband made it clear earlier he wasn’t to be interrupted until he asked for someone’s presence. In fact, Jordyn followed the trembling woman down the hall and straight inside the office doors Cecelia pushed open without bothering to knock.

Both Dante and Gio glanced up at their mother’s sudden appearance from their respective seats in the chairs across from Antony’s desk. Antony’s piercing, angry gaze flew across the room to his wife immediately.

“I’m busy,” he said sharply.

“Antony …” Cecelia struggled with her words, seemingly unable to find the right ones. “I didn’t know. She’s my … I know she’s awful, but I didn’t think she would do this. Why would I think for a moment she would use me to hurt him?”

Antony didn’t bother to say a thing into the phone pressed to his ear before he clicked the call off and dropped the device to the desk. “Tesoro?”

“I think I did something wrong,” Cecelia said.

“Talk to me,” Antony demanded harshly. “Use words I can understand.”

Jordyn felt all the blood drain from her face as Cecelia blurted out the information no one had been able to find before.

“A couple of months ago, Kate wanted money. It was supposed to be for some offshore investment her financial manager offered to get her in on, but she didn’t have the proper accounts or the cash to get her started. I didn’t check it out, or think to.”

“But you gave her the money,” Antony said, his fingers curling around the edge of his desk until his knuckles turned white. “Without asking me at all?”

“I’ve never needed to discuss my accounts with you before!”

“Because I never had a reason not to trust you!” Antony shouted back. “How much money have you given to her behind my back?”

“This was the first time she asked,” Cecelia rushed to say. “That’s why I didn’t think anything of it. I just had the money transferred from my offshore account into the one she designated. I don’t even know if it was hers, now.”

Antony released a shuddering exhale. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“It was two-hundred-fifty-thousand U.S. dollars. The same amount paid for the hit on Lucian. How likely is that to be coincidental, Antony?”

“How do you know—”

“The hired man told them, and the other half of the payment was to come at least thirty days after burial.”

Now, it was Antony’s turn to go white. “John’s trusts … the clauses and addendums… He didn’t know, Cecelia. Lucian didn’t know anything about that money because he wasn’t supposed to.”

“But she did,” Cecelia said. “Kate knew, Antony. The entire Will and Testament was read to her at her request before anyone had found Lucian.”

Neither Dante nor Gio had spoken during the entire exchange, but they looked like they wanted to. Antony didn’t give them the chance.

“Everyone out of my office, now!”

The two brothers were up and going before Antony needed to repeat himself. Jordyn turned to leave, too.

“Not you, Jordyn,” Antony practically growled.

“I’m sorry,” Cecelia mumbled. “Antony, I’m so sor—”

“I’ll kill her,” he snarled. “Just like I should have twenty years ago!”

“I didn’t think she would hurt him,” Cecelia cried.

“Just get out!”

Chapter Twenty-Four

“Where’s Jordyn?” Lucian asked the moment he stepped into his father’s office.

“I sent her to bed, though I’m sure she’s awake and waiting for you.” Antony sighed, rubbing at his forehead as he looked over the papers spread across his desk. “She’s just about the only person in this house who didn’t test my patience tonight. You should be proud.”