Page 68 of Suspicions on the Stage
Channing grins as she holds up a finger. “Eli sent a message through the radios pretending to be from a board member instructing them to seal the campus because of a bomb threat. He also told themnotto notify anyone, as they’ve hired private contractors to figure it out. That’s how Jax and crew will get in. It will also keep those slavering dogs from hitting the leak sites.”
“Ingenious,” Slade says, finally cracking a tiny smile. “That guy is fantastic. No wonder Jax keeps him close.”
I arch a brow, snorting. “I doubt that’s entirely why, but yes, he’s fucking amazing. We could use one of him here if he has a sibling who is just as talented.”
“Pretty sure he’s one of a kind, but I’ll inquire,” Channing replies with a chuckle. “I wouldn’t disagree with having someone skilled in high-tech and loyal only to your office, though. It feels like our IT department is as woefully staffed as the security—probably to help Magnus with his schemes.”
“Everything bad comes back to that fucker.” Lucas frowns and shakes his head. “I can’twaituntil you two clear every trace of him from this place. It pisses me off that we can’t kill him again.”
I grin and duck my head for a moment, hiding my pleasure behind my hair. When I feel less exposed, I nod. “You and me both, Lucas. Trust me.”
Looking at my watch again, I worry about the time. I know time of death isn’t an exact science from the trial. But the longer we wait for Jax and put off calling the cops, the worse their response will be. Luckily, just as I’m fretting, the object of my concern pushes open the double doors hard, slamming them against the walls as he strides in with his big minions in tow.
“Tellme you know for sure that body is Rialto Beauregard. I couldnotbe more excited about this mess.”
I blink at Jackson Thorne in confusion. “Why in the hell would you be excited about this? They’re going to pin it on Lucas and maybe Slade.”
“Oh, darling, I can handlethat. What I really want to do is take that nasty witch Antigone totownfor her role in hurting someone else I care about. If it’s Rialto, she’ll be here tout suite, and I get to wreak havoc on her. It’s like karma smiled at me today!”
And this is what happens when your lawyer is a complete psychopath—a blessing and a curse.
get ready for it
LUCAS
Ishould probably warn Nana, but I’m pretty sure the leonine lawyer will have someone on that already. After all, this is the fucking second time I’ve walked into a goddamn murder scene in the past couple of months. I never put much stock into Fate before Morgana, because my parents sort of made me think that was a fool’s gambit. They might be fated, but it’s for disaster, and I didn’t want any part of it. But my new mate made me question my somewhat cynical outlook, and now… I’m wondering if we’ve all pissed those old bats off inadvertently.
Not because we found each other, but because of some other misstep that didn’t register.
How else do I explain such rotten fucking luck with this dead body stuff? I’ve purposefully kept my nose clean and out of trouble throughout my youth, so no one could compare me to my folks. This bullshit has me in the news for everything,butmy stellar abilities on the ice and good grades. It’s undoing everything I worked for, and I don’t have a clue how to thwart it.
“Lucas, stop looking like you’re going to jump off the roof.”
I look over at Slade, who’s giving me a crooked smile. “I’m trying, man, but this is a lot.”
He nods, then sighs. “I was hauled into a lot of shit because of my family before I came to State U. Despite never being involved in anything they could charge me for, I was rounded up simply because of my name so many times that I learned the names of everyone in the cop shop in Bay City before I was even in middle school. I get why you’re worried; you do everything you can to show you’renotthem, but then this crap happens. Right?”
“Actually… yeah,” I reply as I rub my neck. “I didn’t think about how familiar this might be to you. Areyoudoing okay?”
“One trauma at a time,” the siren replies with a mischievous grin. “But yeah, it’s annoying even though I’m used to it. However, I learned pretty quickly that knowing you’re innocent and having a good lawyer available is usually the key to riding it out. Oh, and not snitching, if you value your limbs intact. Family doesn’t mean dick if you have loose lips in theSons.”
“Got your ass beat for telling, did you?” I finally smile again when he sighs.
“Sure did. Spent six months in supe rehab to really cement the experience.” Slade shrugs a little, then inclines his head toward the aisle where Channing and Morgana greet a worried-looking Iggy and Liam, followed by a scowling Kaspar. “They’re going to lose their shit.”
Lucas chuckles. “Li feels like he’s going to rocket to the moon through the bond. That’s probably pissing off the grumpy dragon, and your professor looks very upset.”
“My professor,” Slade scoffs under his breath. “Ignatius Briarton will be fine as long as his own family doesn’t get involved. He knows Morgana and Thorne will help us.”
That’s awfully bitter-sounding for a gentle musician.
“Iggy seems like he’s always supported you. I can’t imagine he’s not concerned about you,” I whisper. “You’ve been able to stay free of your family while you lived with him at least.”
Slade sighs, looking down at his shoes. “Yeah, I know. I’m just… tense. I get snippy when I’m feeling out of control in my own life. You guys haven’t seen it yet because my response to my parental trauma is to hide. When it’s other stuff, I get a bit prickly.”
“Dude, process how you need to. I’m not going to dime you out.” I think about it for a moment, realizing that the professor is his roommate, his sponsor, and his friend. That means he probably has not had anyone to vent frustrations about their issues inyears. “You know, you can talk to Liam and me about things, too. Your empathy thing has to get really heavy when your only source of support is the one you’re pissed at.”
His head lifts and he looks at me through his silver glasses, expression unsure. “Really? It’s… pretty intense when my kind lets loose. Most people don’t deal with it very well, so I don’t ask.”
