Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 125121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
My ears pricked up. Is he saying what I think he’s saying?
“Yes,” I said, sitting up straighter. “I agree completely. Actually, I wanted to speak with you in person. But since you already know the question, let me ask straight out if you’re going to answer it.”
“I will not.”
“Hmm.” Getting up, I crossed to the cabinet over the sink and got the honey. “Now I see why the guys wanted to spare me you turning me down to my face. You didn’t need to come here for that even if there’s a right way to do things, so I’m guessing you’re really here to check me out.” I returned to my seat, feeling the weight of his gaze on me—though I tried not to make direct eye contact. Like the sun, you were meant to glance over them, not stare directly. “What do you want to know about me?”
Leon rested his elbow on the table, making me automatically lean back. His lips curved up. He caught that.
“What prompted you and my sons to ask me such a question?”
“Saylor Burkhardt.” I wasn’t going to lie. What would be the point? “She showed me the legacy of secrets, deals, and lies that binds all the Royals in Regalia going back to when it was first founded.”
Leon sipped his tea. “Why would she do a thing like that?”
“I wasn’t getting the hint. She wants me out of Regalia, so she told me why it killed my sister. Winter discovered a secret about one of the people on that chart. Threatening one of them can threaten half a dozen other families and their ties. Saylor wanted me to know I had more enemies than I could count. Or see coming.”
“Where is this document now?”
“I burned it.”
Rafael’s spitting image paused with the cup halfway to his lips. “Excuse me?”
“I set the damn thing on fire while she screamed. It was deeply satisfying.”
Mr. Dumont looked at me, and laughed out loud. It was harsh, sharp, and over as soon as it happened, but it was a laugh. “You burned it? Oh, Miss Luna. I’m starting to see why my boys are so taken with you. But I don’t see why you thought I could help.” His humor dried up instantly. “As you saw yourself, there’s a web of secrets and lies connecting all the families of Regalia. Why would I know the specific one you need?”
“Because this one is somehow connected to Winter and our family. She was protecting us. That’s the only reason I can think of for why she didn’t out the truth when they started coming after her. Do you know anything about a secret involving Jack Bowden or Eloise Sinclair?”
“I did not know either name before news reached me of your poor sister’s death. I certainly do not know of a secret she discovered.”
I eyed him. “But you would say that even if you did.”
Smiling, he raised his cup. “Touché.”
“If you don’t know, you could find out,” I said, leaning in. “My family would pay any price you ask to know the truth. For Winter, we’d do anything.”
“I’m sure you would. I am sympathetic to what your family has gone through. I do not keep up with the antics of college students, but news of her death rippled through the community.” My throat constricted. “It’s always a tragedy when a promising young person takes their life.”
He sighed. “I say this so you do not think me unfeeling, because I must turn down your request. Your family cannot hire me at any price.”
“Why not?” I snapped.
“Because if I was what you think I am, we’d run into that issue I mentioned earlier. I do not take jobs involving children, and no matter what the government has deemed, I consider everyone running around this campus a child in every way that counts.”
“They weren’t children when they tortured my sister to death! They made her feel like she had no way out, and it was all under the orders of some faceless bastard. I will find out who!”
“I sincerely hope you do,” he said calmly, “but giving you a name so that you can do what I see in your eyes you want to do... is no different than me carrying out the sentence myself. If this person is my son’s age, I will not give you that name. And seeing as I do not give refunds, I would most likely be setting up your family for disappointment as well as a huge financial loss. This is why my answer must be no.”
I took hold of my tongue, biting back an unwise retort. What could I say that would make him change his mind? I didn’t have the power or money to make this guy do anything. Crazy thing was that under normal circumstances, I’d agree with his rule. It was certainly good for me that the Phantom couldn’t hire my boyfriends’ dad to kill me.