AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The tension in Aiden’s jaw suddenly relaxed. He was splattered with blood, and it soaked his usually crisp white shirt sleeves. "I see."
“Good,” Dominic said. “I’ve got no qualms about killing Aster. It’s not like having to kill your dad.”
Aiden inclined his head in a nod, and I could see the relief written across his face. An ache opened in my chest. He didn’t want his father dead.
I had to talk to Man about this mission. Gavin Crude deserved to die. But if Aiden replaced him and Gavin truly left the business, then maybe we could leave Aiden’s father alive. For his sake. And Gabe’s. Their father might be a monster, but he was still the one who had been there for them all their lives. The one they had leaned on after their mother died.
Aiden inclined his head, listening. Then he turned to Xander and me. “You two hide.”
Although I liked to provoke Aiden when he was trying to get myobedience,this wasn’t the time. Without a word, Xander and I swiftly moved across the floor to hide behind a couple of oversized crates. He wrapped his arms around me as we listened.
I’d recognize Gavin’s smooth, arrogant voice anywhere. “What’s going on, son?”
“Mr. Crude!” Foss called desperately. His voice was hoarse from screaming, and he could barely raise it to be audible. I dared a glance out to see Gavin frown at him. “Help me!”
“This scumbag’s been feeding information to Aster,” Aiden lied smoothly. “He’s been working for Aster all these years.”
“I see.” Gavin cracked his knuckles. “I think Aster’s been killing an awful lot of my people lately. Might as well return the favor.”
Before Foss could babble the truth, Dominic punched him across the face. The chair rocked back on its rear legs, then slammed into the cement. Foss’s head lolled to one side, unconscious.
“Why are you here, Dad?” Aiden asked. “You usually let me do my work without showing up yourself.”
Gavin let out a laugh. “You mean to say, I let you do all the dirty work? Well, when I was your age, I did my own dirty work. Showed my men how it needed to be done.”
“I don’t mind,” Aiden said.
“I know you don’t, son. I came to give you this.” Gavin handed him a gold ring. “It was the ring I wore when I was married to your mom. I wanted you to know I stand behind you and Selena, a hundred percent. And I hope she makes you as happy as your mother made me.”
Aiden’s gaze was bright when it met Gavin’s. “Thank you, Dad. That means a lot.”
My heart almost melted.
Then when Gavin and his men had left, Aiden came over to us and offered me his hand to help me up from hiding. I didn’t need help, since I hadn’t aged seventy years behind the crates, and I almost told him that. Instead, I took his hand as I rose to my feet.
He rubbed his thumb over the engraving around the ring as if it mattered to him, and I held out my palm. “Can I see it?”
I was glad to think he’d have that connection to the best part of his father, the love he’d had for his wife and his family, and that we were so close to putting a far better man on the Crude family throne.
Then he dropped it into my palm, and a memory rose for me like bile.
I’d slammed into my side, scurrying into the storm drain that was only big enough for a child’s body.
He’d reached after me.
His face was a blur and always had been, as if he were in a dream.
But his ring had been engraved with an elaborate filigree pattern that had remained in my mind all these years. That one last grab before I slipped free.
I swallowed, the knowledge settling into me like a stone. Somehow Gavin Crude had been there when my parents were killed.
“Selena?” Xander’s voice seemed to come from a long way away, as if he were speaking to me down a tunnel.
I looked up to find Aiden staring down at me, a worried look across his face. Dominic was already bundling up Foss, who groaned, apparently still alive.
“I’m fine,” I lied, handing the ring back to Aiden.
My father must’ve had something on Aster. And Aster had gotten Crude to murder my parents so no one would tie him to the crime, since he was the one with the motive.
