Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91809 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91809 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
“Alistair said he and Everton were best friends. They owned the town and acted like it. That means every time the cops picked the two of them up, William got the call to slide some bribe money their way and let them off the hook. Katie said we need to know the crimes they didn’t charge him of, and William is the best person to tell us.”
“Maybe,” Saylor said grudgingly. “But he was a teenager. I assume he didn’t start his life of crime with aiding and abetting child murder. Grandfather could only tell you about petty crimes.”
“That’s why I also want to ask him what he knows about the Rogues.”
The expressions froze on their face.
“Alistair also told me that his father spent a fortune trying to hunt down the Rogues and end the organization for good. It didn’t work, but I don’t believe all his money, influence, and connections turned up nothing. If it didn’t, it wouldn’t be an open secret that Leon Dumont is on the Burkhardt payroll.”
“You have no proof of that,” Saylor snapped. “My father and grandfather would never get involved with a known criminal.”
“Saylor, relax.” I started eating my rapidly cooling food. “I’m not trying to catch anyone out. What I’m thinking is that Everton made a name for himself by selling his clients' information to the highest bidder—some of them Rogues. After my father punished him for it, he tried to have him killed—also by Rogues. One of them tried to kill us days after I was born.
“Whatever evidence your grandfather collected back then about known Rogues could help us now.”
“Why even go to William?” Katie asked. “Sounds like Alistair’s got all the info we need. Just ask him.”
“I... I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“He’s gone,” Saylor dropped. “Blew out the door as quickly as he blew in.”
“It’s for the best,” I said firmly. “Killing him is at the top of Everleigh’s list. The last place he should be is in Regalia. Besides, I did ask him all this stuff and he refused to answer. He doesn’t want me any deeper in Rogue business, and he definitely doesn’t want to go to war with a nineteen-year-old girl.
“William is my best bet. Saylor, put me back on the list, so I can speak with him.”
“No.” She folded her arms. “I won’t have you bringing him into this shit. I’m only here because I’m getting my town back, and you two are going to help me do it. But Grandpa? You’re not pumping him for information you can use against him later. What kind of idiot would admit to having knowledge of criminals and criminal activity and keeping it to themselves for decades?”
“Why in the hell would I use it against him?” I flashed her a beaming smile. “Burkhardts don’t go after Burkhardts.”
“You’re not a Burkhardt.”
“I am a Burkhardt. That’s why Grandpa William will admit he has knowledge of criminals and criminal activity. Especially when I play up the long-lost granddaughter bit. He owes me. He owes Winter. And my tears and snot over how his secrets destroyed us will go a lot further with his guilt than yours, Saylor.”
“Wow.” Her tone was mild. “What a manipulative, diabolical troll you are.”
“See? I am a Burkhardt.”
She sniffed. “I’ll think about it.”
“Stop being difficult. William already said he wanted to see me. The sooner, the better. The longer we wait, the longer Everleigh has to engrave her butt cheeks into your throne.”
Pushing back from the table, Saylor grabbed her stuff and flounced off. “I said I’ll think about it. Keep your phone on and answer every time I call. I’ll have further instructions for you soon.”
I turned my deadpan expression on Katie. “I’m sure you’re not asking why Piper and Gabriella jumped at the first chance to ditch her.”
She cracked a smile. “What are you going to do if she doesn’t let you in to see William?”
“I don’t know, but I’m not giving up. We need to force a confession somehow. If I can’t do it by digging up dirt on Everleigh, then I’ll come at it through the only person she cares about.”
I LEFT KATIE’S HOUSE brimming with determination and certainty that I was closer to bringing Everleigh down.
Five days later, I was feeling none of those things.
“I can’t believe this. Look at her laughing it up like the smug piece of shit she is.”
Victor and I posted up beneath an oak tree, watching the Royals basking in their Royalness.
Gone were the days of them eating by the music hall. The day after Everleigh took over, she declared that the music hall was out and the quad was in. In the time it took them to force all the Dregs out, they laid out their blankets, brought their parasols, snuggled up with their squeezes, and claimed more space than needed for every meal and all the time in between.