Page 83 of Bittersweet Revenge

“How do you know?”

“I know because I was there trying to figure out what had happened to your car, because I’ve seen enough gold-digging assholes in my life to recognize one even with my eyes closed, and because Aleskandra didn’t become who she was by accident. Her parents always wanted more money. Their money was drying up and they were desperate.”

“What did you do then? Offer them some?”

Archibald snorted. “Hardly! Those people won’t get a penny from me! No, I walked up beside them and told the police officer I wanted to press charges against their dead daughter for theft.”

Esmeralda looked a bit disappointed in him. “You said that after they’d just lost their daughter?”

“Did you miss the part where I said they wanted to sue us?”

She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. A life was lost, Archie. You can’t be so dismissive.”

But he could be, just like I could be. She was too good. She was untainted. This, I knew, was something that Archibald and I agreed on. We would do anything in the universe to keep her that way.

“Archibald did what he was supposed to, Esmeralda.” I couldn't believe I was defending him and yet – “I would have done the same.”

“But, it’s not right! I–”

“Later, okay?” I tried. I would do what needed to be done to pacify her, even if that meant giving those fucking leeches some money. I loved her enough to do just that. I wanted to give her some peace, some closure.

“Yeah, sure.” She thought I was humoring her, but she’d learn to trust me. With time, she would.

“So, I guess you had weeks to investigate. Who’s on the list of suspects?” I asked, turning the discussion back to what really mattered to me - Esmeralda’s safety.

Archibald flushed slightly and I knew I would not like the answer. “Mainly?”

“Uh huh.”

“Our father and…your parents.”

I was startled by the admission, not that it should have come as a shock, but still. I knew my parents were not good people, but to the claim that they would try to kill a mother and daughter...

“It wasn’t my father who tried to hurt Esmeralda. It’s not possible.”

Archibald looked at Esmeralda with uncertainty. Did he take my statement for a stupid attachment to my genitor?

“I’m not saying he is not capable of doing that. He very much would and it would not stop him from sleeping. But he is fascinated by Esmeralda – fascinated in a way that I'm anything but comfortable with. No, he would not do that.”My mother, on the other hand...

Esmeralda looked at me and I could see she understood where my thoughts were going. She squeezed my hand.

“What about your mom?” she asked, mirroring my thoughts.

“Ah, that’s the question, isn’t it? I’d like to say she has nothing to do with this, but there are things about my mother you don’t know.” I looked down, somehow ashamed even if I had no logical reason to be. “So no, Esmeralda, I can't say my mother has not tried to kill you or taken part in your mother's death.” I shook my head. I hated the idea.

Esmeralda pulled my hand to rest it on her lap. “Caleb, I’m sure she has nothing to do with this. Why would she try to kill me anyway?”

“Yeah...” I was so uncomfortable. I hated saying all of this in front of Archibald even if he knew some of it and suspected the rest. Saying things aloud were much more difficult. “My mother is not… She is quite unstable.”

“Okay…” Esmeralda trailed off.

I looked heavenward. Pulling Esmeralda’s hand to my lips, I kissed the back of it before resting it on my lap. “For you to understand, I need to start from the beginning.”

“We can discuss it later if you want, when it’s only the two of us.”

I threw my hands up. “Oh, what the hell. It might be best if I get it all out now. We’re family now aren’t we, Archibald?”

He smirked. “Whoever takes care of my sister is my family, Astor. You do care for her, don’t you?”

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