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Collected.
Calculating.
He agreed to leave. To go to England, right?
I glance into Burt’s pale eyes as so much water collects in my own that I’m starting not to see straight. “Please say he’s in Arlington. Please say it.”
“I’m sorry.” Burt sighs. “Victor formally denounced his duchy. I originally assumed it was because he’d understood that the two of you need each other now more than ever. But—”
The words about Victor’s duchy settle at the surface and hardly sink in. I jump in to argue. “But?Don’t you friggen tell me he’s not in England!” I stop what Victor would call a daft response. Shit, maybe in the past, I have had too many stars in my eyes.Of course, he didn’t go home.Pulling in harsh gasps of air, I add, “He went back.”To Saudi Arabia. Oh, Jesus.
After a swift nod, Burt retorts, “I begged him to wait until I could assist him. We both know Victor. The bloke said this was a mission he must carry out alone.”
I run the back of my hand along the streams at my cheek. “You’re angry with me. I caused this.”
“Actually, I’m disappointed. If I may speak out of turn, Luxury.”
“You may. Always tell me anything.”
He sips his tea. “You have become family now, Lux. I am appalled, but for a vastly different reason than his abrupt departure. I lied to Victor a few weeks ago.”
I cock my head, not sure what he’s referring to.
“Luxury, I told Victor that there’s no evidence regardingwhoassisted the sheikh. All this time, I was waiting for a moment to discuss the matter with you.” Burt pauses as if torn by his fatherly duties and something else. Finally, he mutters, “I shouldn’t have brought this up to you at all. I’m being a cantankerous old bloke, and you’ve endured the unimaginable. Forgive me for broaching the subject. You own me nothing, sweetheart.”
I inhale, and my shoulders droop. I take the reins of our conversation. “No, you’re about to tell me . . . that you knew Madeline was there, aren’t you?”
“Yes. Scores of video footage display Ms. Elliott departing the Arlington Estate with your abductor while you were bound. If Victor dies—”
“No. He can’t!”
“His ghost may very well haunt me for the rest of my life. Now, why would younotdisclose that wench, Maddy’s, involvement in your disappearance?”
I ask myself that very question every day.
“I’m waiting, Luxury,” Burt prompts. “Victor’s a literal beast. Albeit, I harbor the same sentiments concerning Madeline’s schemes. I’m disappointed that you wouldn’t allow Vic to help. Or even me. She must be dealt withefficiently.”
“She will be!”
“How?” He grips the wheelbase of his wheelchair, spinning abruptly so that instead of us sitting side by side, he can look at me head-on. I can see why Burt grated Victor’s nerves in the past. He fully accepted the role of father figure, which includes a fighting papa bear when required. Just looking into Burt’s assertive blue eyes unnerves me.
All this time, I thought Victor was the dominant. These past few weeks, he tried his best to be all I needed. Now he may die seeking justice. Victor was supposed to break and unleash the dictator in him.Notleave.
I square my shoulders and reply, “Vengeance is mine, Burt. I needed time to deal. Now with Vic gone . . . I won’t forgive myself if I’ve . . .”
Burt shakes his head. “We’re both aware that he doesn’t fare well being denied.”
“God, I can’t believe he left,” I gasp, letting the words filter into the air as if hearing them from my own mouth will allow the danger to sink in. “He wasn’t thinking straight.”
“I assure you; Victor has his cunning ways.” In one breath, Burt comforts me. On the other, he could give Detective Caruso a run for his money by way of his questions. “Did Princess Mary assist Madeline? Did their liaison prompt your silence?”
I hopelessly lift a shoulder. “Not sure and . . . a resounding yes. Would Vic hate me if I learned that his mother knew?”
“He despises his father enough for us to surmise the answer to that. He is capable of hatingPrincessMary. That woman has weaseled her way into Victor’s good graces too often. This shall not be one of them.”
I sit back. “I don’t know if his mother helped. Look, Victor will come home.”He has to.“When he does, I hope you’ll keep our secret until I’m ready to find out. If Mary helped Maddy...”
Suddenly my vision swims, and I close my eyes for a second. I place my forearms onto the kitchen table and sulk. “Tragedy has followed us for a while, Burt. I need time with Victor when he returns before Madeline pays. She’s probably somewhere afraid of being punished anyway—that consideration actually helps a little.”
