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I push out a long breath, momentarily relieved.For a second, I feared he’d tell me it was Esme.That Kane Kingsley got to her despite all the steps I took to keep the truth from her.
But that relief is short-lived, considering someone still lost his life.
And I’m being blamed for it.
“You don’t seriously think I’m responsible, do you?”
“If I did, do you think I’d be risking arrest myself by hiding you?”he retorts.
“Probably not.”
“Definitelynot.”He pushes out a breath.I can picture the frustration in the lines of his face.“But someone on Gates’ household staff claims a man matching your description forced his way into the house.Stated she heard shouting, that you two got into a heated argument about Esme.That you threatened him to stay away from her.That Jameson told you he and Esme were in love and would be getting married, at which point you shot him.”
“That’s a bunch of bull!”
“I know that, son.Unfortunately, this witness statement was enough for a judge to sign off on an arrest warrant.Especially when other witnesses claimed to see you and Esme involved in a pretty heated conversation last weekend at the Crown Prince’s estate.”
“But it wasn’t about Jameson Gates.She barely even speaks to him!It was about…” I trail off, mind racing.Then I sit up, not giving a fuck who might see me.“Has anyone checked on her?”
“She requested additional security over the next few days, which also led many to believe she considered you a threat to her and Jameson Gates’ safety.The last check-in was thirty minutes ago and was all clear.”
“But has anyone actually spoken to her?”I demand.
“Why do you ask?What do you know?”
“Maybe nothing.”I run a hand over my face.“The heated discussion people saw between Esme and me was about a man named Kane Kingsley.”I pause.“The man with the scar.”
“Creed,” my father warns.
“He’s real.I know you told me to drop it, but Esme sketched his face.I asked Lucas to help see if he could put a name to the face and he did.Kane Kingsley.He’s—”
“I know who Kane Kingsley is,” he interrupts, his voice grave.“He’s bad news.”
“Which is why I kept his identity a secret from Esme.But she found out.That’s what we fought about.”I swallow hard.“Because I kept the truth from her to keep her safe.Because I chose my job over her.”
Something resembling sympathy flashes in his eyes before he returns his gaze to mine.
“What happened next?”
“She went back to the party, but I observed her talking to Jameson Gates for quite a while.What if…” I silently curse under my breath.“She told him.I know she did.”
“How do you know?”
“She told me Jameson paid her a visit the day after she saw the man with a scar at the opera.He told her he believed her.That he knew the man was real.That Callie mentioned seeing him a few days before she died, which they framed on someone else.And now Jameson’s dead and someone’s trying to framemefor it, to the extent of bribing a witness to lie.”
“You don’t know that for sure,” my father attempts to argue.
“You’re right.I don’t.But I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Gates is now dead.And if he’s dead, there’s a damn good chance Esme’s…”
My father slams on his brakes before I can finish my thought.I brace myself against the front seat, holding on tightly as he yanks the SUV in the opposite direction, returning to the city.
“Thanks for believing me.”
“I may not always agree with your actions,” he begins, his eyes finding mine in the mirror once more.“But you’re not a killer.And I’ll be damned if I’m going to let anyone think you are.”
“Even though by helping me you could be considered an accomplice?”
“Some things are more important.I should have realized that when we lost Adam.”His voice wavers with emotion, regret filling the lines of his face.“I’ve been a shite father.I’m sorry it took my son being accused of a crime he didn’t commit to open my eyes.I promise to do better.Be less of a stubborn are.”
