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“Not much, I’m afraid.”I roll my eyes.“Apparently, he’s too dangerous for me to know about.”I can’t subdue my biting tone, making it more than obvious I’m upset over this.“All I do know is he’s some sort of trained assassin who’s known as theAngel of Deathbecause once you see him, you’re as good as dead.”
He nods slowly, seeming to process this information.I can only imagine how he must feel to finally know the name of the man who killed Callie after all these years.
“I’m sorry for ruining your night with this information,” I say after several moments of silence.“I just thought you should know.If this is the guy who killed Callie, someone obviously hired him for a reason.Someone who wanted to make sure she disappeared without a trace.I just…” I grab his hands in mine.They’re cold, despite it being a warm summer evening.“Be careful.”
“You, too, Esme.”He shifts our hands, running his thumbs over my knuckles like he once did whenever I needed reassurance during a public event.“And thanks for telling me.You did the right thing.”
I hold his gaze for a beat, my eyes scanning his frame.The last time I saw him, I thought he looked worn out.I figured it was due to the news of Callie’s death.
But he looks even more tired tonight.His once broad shoulders seem small and hunched over.Shadows loom beneath his eyes, and there’s a gauntness to his cheeks.
As if he’s withering away in front of me.
I part my lips to ask if he’s okay, but before I can, he releases me and bows.“Enjoy the rest of your evening, ma’am.”Then he spins from me, hurrying inside.
I blink, momentarily taken aback by his abrupt departure.But when I look around the verandah and notice Silas Archer watching us with interest, I understand why he left so quickly.
I consider approaching him, see what he knows about Kane Kingsley.
But something prevents me from being so bold.It was one thing to share what I know with Jameson.
It’s another to confront Silas.
As much as I hate that Creed kept the truth from me, he wouldn’t have risked our relationship if he didn’t think there was a real threat to my safety.
And I have a feeling Kane Kingsley is one of the biggest threats to my safety there’s ever been.
PartThree
Truth
“The truth is rarely pure
and never simple.”
~ Oscar Wilde
ChapterThirty-One
Esme
“Pardon the interruption, ma’am,”my butler says, poking his head into my office as I stare at my laptop screen, my eyes glazed over from having spent the better part of the morning trying to find out everything I can about Kane Kingsley.
Hell, I’ve spent the better part of the past week trying to find out everything I can about Kane Kingsley.
But like Creed warned me, the man’s a ghost.That didn’t stop me from trying, though.And I’ve tried everything.Yet I still came up empty.
“Mr.Gates is here to see you.He mentioned it’s regarding what you discussed last week?”He arches a questioning brow.
I perk up, trying not to get my hopes up.But Jameson’s father founded a private military company.Maybe he used some of the resources available to him to get more information than I have access to.I probably should have given him the sketch I’d done instead of Creed.I foolishly thought I could trust him.
“You may show him in.”
“Certainly.”
With a subtle nod, my butler retreats.Seconds later, Jameson steps into my office, looking more unkempt than he did last week, his complexion pale, eyes lifeless.
“Your Highness.”He bows in my direction.
