Page 76 of Broken Truths

Leo takes a deep breath, as if he’s willing himself to calm down. He grips the arms of the chair, his fingers curling into odd angles. “No obvious evidence in the car. Situationally? We announced the engagement; she pulled back from the Knights; her sister and father are dead.”

I peer between the two of them, understanding exactly what is going on. My father and I used to do the same thing. He called it “taking stock” of the situation. First, take stock of what we know about what’s going on. Then, take stock of ideas that might be directly related to what just happened. For instance, if your bottom line is decreasing, you’d investigate the product and the advertising. You wouldn’t automatically assume one way or the other.

They’re breaking down the situation to see what’s possible.

Franklin Jarvis waves his thoughts away. “It’s not the Knights. The Elders have been informed that she’s no longer pledging, so they would have no reason to carry on with the Fledgling process. Possible ransom scenario?” he offers, pulling a cigar out of a wooden box. He taps it on the top of the desk and stares at Leo. “Lots of people want to take us down, son. Or bleed money from us. They could be using her.”

“I’ll kill anyone who touches her.”

Franklin’s eyes gleam. It’s disturbing the way he looks at his grandson in such a prideful way with the words he’s just uttered.

Not that I’m morally imposed to the sentiment. I’ll kill anyone who hurts her, too.

“Get a team together to look at the car for clues,” Franklin finally says, staring at his cigar with a smirk, appearing to enjoy the hell out of this. “But I wouldn’t dawdle, Leonardo. You never know what can happen.”

My insides twist at his words. I want to throw myself across the desk and tackle the fucker to the floor. Seeing as how Leo has less restraint than me, I’m surprised when he just stands.

“You have all of my resources at your disposal. And please, do tell me as soon as you find out who took poor Eden. I’ll be glad to pick the proper punishment for anyone who messes with a member of our family.”

He holds his hand out for Leo to shake. Leo does, but it’s half-hearted at best. I nod at Franklin as we exit the room. We’re both quiet while we make our way back out of the house and into the car.

“Well?” I ask as soon as the doors shut. I want to get Leo’s take on this before I open my mouth, but I just saw a bunch of weird shit in there. Something is going on, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Franklin Jarvis is enjoying every damn second.

“Well, my grandfather is a cocksucker.”

There’s that. For sure.

“Was he acting weird?”

Leo starts the car and puts it into drive. “Every time I try to figure him out, he changes the game. I only wanted one thing out of that conversation, and I think I got it. This wasn’t the Knights. At least, not Knight-sanctioned.”

Great. One evil secret society down, only about a billion other people in the world to go.

Great odds.

28

Eden

The sun shines brightly through the shatter-resistant glass, playing over the bath bubbles in the Forbes’ free-standing clawfoot tub. In the corner of the room is a pink garment bag, and I can only imagine what’s inside.

I slip under the surface of the water now gone cold. If I just stayed here, just didn’t come up, then everything would go away. I wouldn’t have to marry Keegan Forbes. I wouldn’t have to worry about the Knights doing anything to anyone ever again.

Above me, the textured ceiling is fractured. The crisp white walls are wobbly, as if we’re in another dimension. Kind of a fitting way to go, considering my sister’s death.

But then three faces pop up. Each distorted, but I know them like I know myself.

One is damaged but not beyond repair. He bleeds for someone to believe in him.

The other is lost after finding out his whole world is a sham. He’s searching for something else to put his faith in. Something real.

The last is a man who loves fiercely, deeply. He doesn’t care about titles or right and wrong. He’s already found me, and he won’t give me up.

I break from the surface and take a huge breath. Water drips from my lashes.

Today’s my wedding day.

Not exactly how I planned it.

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