Page 66 of Allegiant

I would feel guilty, but I remember how Samson was in my place. How he combed through everything of mine without bothering to ask permission. “Yeah. I won’t tell if you don’t.”

He mimics zipping his lips and then smiles at me. “They’re very private, like I said, but once they let you in, you’re all in. There’s nothing they wouldn’t do to protect you.”

My throat constricts around a lump as I follow Ansel out into the hallway.

“Come on, let me show you the shed, and as we go, we can make a few stops along the way. I think you’ll like the conservatory.”

17

SAMSON

My temper climbs higher with every step I take toward the meeting room. By the time I throw open the door, it’s ascended to whole new heights. “Seriously? We have to fucking do this now?”

“Yes.” Wylder is unbothered by my fury, jutting his chin toward an empty seat. “Your week is up.”

All of my brothers are present except Cade, who arrives with me. Neo drops in beside Wylder, as always, and Wyatt with Matthias. The latter is staring at me broodingly, stroking his hand over his short stubble. Sometimes, I forget that he and Wyatt are lawyers. But when he turns that curious gaze on me, it’s suddenly impossible to escape.

“Not only is your time up, but you decided to bring the mark home for a visit,” Harley drawls, rocking back on two legs of his chair. His expression is dark, but I’m guessing that has more to do with whatever just went down with Jules rather than Rowan’s presence in the house. “Is that what we’re doing now? Honoring requests with tours instead of daggers?”

Said dagger is in my hand as I lean menacingly on the table. “Call him a mark again. I dare you. I fucking dare you.”

Cade slides into the seat beside me, yanking on my arm until I tumble down into my own chair. “Cut it out, Harley. Whatever bug’s crawled up your ass has nothing to do with Samson, and we all know it.”

Harley turns his ire on Cade. “Fuck off. I’m worried about this, and you should be too.”

Cade frowns. “What do you mean?”

Harley points a finger at the door. “Right now, your boyfriend is giving a known murderer a tour around the house. You’re honestly telling me you feel safe leaving Ansel with Rowan?”

Cade shrugs. “Ansel sleeps next to a murderer every night. He’s done okay so far.”

My brother might sound cavalier, but we all know how well Ansel has been trained. Neo, Wyatt, and Jackson too. Living as a Buckingham means accepting certain risks…and learning how to mitigate them.

Thanks to his close association with Harley, the same offer has been extended to Jules many times. He’s always shied away from it, insisting violence of any kind, even in self-defense, makes him queasy.

Unless Harley decides to finally make things official with our chef, there’s only so much we can insist upon. We really have no hold over him.

He’s just an employee.

For now.

“We’re all murderers in here,” I say, before reconsidering. “Well, most of us. But that man out there with Ansel? He’s not one.”

Wylder taps a finger on the table. “Explain.”

I hesitate as I think of Rowan breaking down in my arms the night before. How he sobbed until his throat was raw and his body forced him into sleep. “Adam had a stalker. He’s the killer. Not Rowan.”

I give them the CliffsNotes, omitting anything personal that Rowan revealed, but enough to convince them that Rowan is not the one we should be punishing.

Matthias sighs. “Fuck. The evidence we were given was so compelling.”

“Was it?” I meet his gaze coolly. “Or was it circumstantial at best? All we had was Rowan being the last person seen leaving Adam’s apartment and their close relationship. Even the police didn’t have enough to charge him. Whatever conclusion we came up with was lazy at best.”

“Samson’s not wrong,” Wylder says heavily. “We’ve all been over the case files this week. While Rowan is the only suspect, that alone shouldn’t be reason enough to condemn him.”

My mood lifts a little knowing Wylder’s on my side. Cade too, from the look of it. Harley was the one to suggest I go on protection detail in the first place, so when his mood clears, he’ll probably have my back as well. I’m certain I can win the rest of them over.

And if I can’t? Then I’ll stand guard over Rowan until I do. If one of them decides to finish the job themselves, they’ll have to get through me first.