Chapter Sixteen #2
I keep my gloved hands clasped together in front of me, taking in the peaceful scenery for a moment before he opens his mouth and can ruin it.
I catch my adoptive father’s gaze, and he looks away as Stephen Prescott opens his mouth to say whatever to him.
I’m sure he’s aggravated and on no sleep because he just touched down at the airport before coming here.
“I’m sorry for your loss. I know you and Riordan were close once.
” I look over my shoulder to see Andrew Mikaelson, a former teammate and Sigma Delta Chi frat brother.
He graduated three years ago after my freshman year.
He looks good. Dirty blonde hair, blue-green hazel eyes, a strong, clean-shaven jaw.
I don’t remember seeing him at the last gathering but then again, I wasn’t really looking.
I also tend to leave as soon as I can without a backwards glance.
At least he sounds sincere. “It wasn’t always great, but it wasn’t always terrible, either.” I turn to face him. “You look really tan.”
He grins, all white, perfect teeth. “Yeah, I was in Bermuda for work, I just got back a few months ago before hurricane season hit.”
I try to reach for what his family does, but they’re so low on the pole I can’t remember. “What is it you do again?”
“Oh, corporate financing for companies that either buy out smaller companies or merge with another. I was in London before Bermuda. Before that I was in Australia. Only flying in for initiations since they’re so infrequent.”
I nod. “That’s right. Sorry. I just haven’t seen you in a while.”
He shrugs as much as the tight peacoat he’s wearing will let him, shoving his hands in the pockets and burying his face in the scarf around his neck, surely having forgotten how cold the winters get here.
“That’s all right. I don’t think we really talked much before except at practice.
And that was mostly grunts, roasts, and calls. ”
He’s right. We didn’t ever really talk. We both see the Elders stepping away from each other and the older Mikaelson, not an elder but still his father, and mine, walk toward us.
They look almost identical except Mr. Mikaelson has brown hair and isn’t tan.
If I remember correctly, Mr. Mikaelson has a slight Swedish accent, having been born here but raised in Sweden and returned to attend Rayne-Moore.
“Ah, Jonas. How good to see you.” He says, extending his hand. Yup, there it is.
I shake it, firmly. “Mr. Mikaelson, likewise. Father.” I nod to my dad.
“Jonas. I suspect you’ve spoken to your mother?”
I flash him my sweetest smile. “Unless Raven takes the phone from me so she can talk to her, yes, I’ve talked to her.”
Dad’s eyes that look like mine but aren’t, glimmer. He loves Raven, too. He’s just… wary of everyone. With her episodes and mine, I’m sure he thinks we’re a fucking catastrophe waiting to happen. I miss George. He’d say the right thing about my relationship – fucking nothing .
“Come, son. Let’s get a move on, the sooner this ends, the better. I’d like to fu- uh, see my wife before I have to leave again.”
I grimace but hey, as long as I don’t see it, whatever.
We tilt our heads to the Mikaelson’s and head to the Audi since he was dropped off by Towne Car. Once we’re in the safety of the Audi with no extra ears listening, he takes off his gloves and we begin our journey to the Prescott estate.
“How is my future daughter-in-law?” he asks.
“She’s great. Getting better every day.”
“And you? How are you dealing with Riordan’s death?”
I blow the air out of my lungs. “Do you really want the truth, or do you want the lie? ”
“Well, the lie is always much more interesting. Let’s go with that one first.” He answers, looking out the windshield.
“Alright. I’m not fine with it.”
“See? Interesting.”
“Dad, there is so much happening.” I can see him looking at me from my peripheral, but I keep my eyes on the traffic ahead, the red lights blinking through the snow now falling. I hope I don’t get stuck out here and have to stay at the estate.
“We have twenty minutes or so before we arrive. Paraphrase it for me, son.”
I groan.
“Okay then, since you’re being so forthcoming, does this have anything to do as to why Ivan is following you?”
“You know about that?”
“Did I notice my wife’s most trusted bodyguard is being paid double since Thanksgiving, and hasn’t been around just as long? Yes, I do know about that.”
I groan again but this time inwardly and let myself think of a way to tell him everything without incriminating ourselves. When I’m done talking, we’re at the old brownstone mansion and I’m parking in the long circular driveway behind a dozen other luxurious vehicles.
“Riordan was quick to point fingers. But son, it doesn’t look good that he dropped over eighty feet while screaming her name.”
I shake my head, looking at the snow-covered mansion harboring evil. “He didn’t do it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Before he dropped, there was someone else up there with him. I… Dad, I think he was dead before he was thrown over.”
“You’re sure of it?” he asks, hazel eyes meeting mine.
I nod.
“Then you need to tell them everything you saw, or they’ll be out for blood, Jonas. Hers .”
My stomach recoils into itself, feeling like it’s plummeting. I’m about to ask for more, to tell me more about whatever he can since it’s the first time we’ve truly been alone together in months, but someone begins tapping at my window makes me look back.
Stephen fucking Prescott.
My father and I both unstrap ourselves but not before dad says under his breath facing away from the window, “You keep that girl close to you, son. Do you understand? Don’t let her out of your sight. If any of them even get a whiff, I don’t know if I can help you once you’re in their grasp.”
My stomach squeezes as we tug on our coats quickly, opening the doors to slip out into the brisk air.
I greet Mr. Prescott, to which he gives me a curt hello back and then we follow him up the steps to his lavish familial home.
I pause, beside one of the gargoyles, remembering the scream before Riordan dropped from George’s neck and almost let out a soft whine.
Did the person that did this to Riordan choose the belltower because it was my safe space? Did they do that to ruin it for me? It’s been days and there’s been no crime scene tape anywhere. No cops have shown up around campus or come to question us. It’s fucking bizarre.
I feel sick, putting on my cloak and mask, stepping into the room where everyone else is waiting and take my place between the cloaks.
Like during the last initiation, I feel eyes on me and look up to see Axel’s green eyes peeking over at me from his half mask.
I guess he was able to make it in after all.
From the way his eyes crinkle, I know he’s offering a small smile. I nod back and bow my head again.
Stephen begins to talk, his voice a low, monotonous booming noise to me, droning on and on, bringing up Riordan’s murder when he calls my name. I step forward, out of line, my head snapping up to meet his icy blue gaze. It sends chills down my spine and throughout my body, but I hold in my shudder.
“Sir?”
“Witnesses said he cried out your… girlfriend’s name before…” he can’t bring himself to finish the sentence .
“Yes sir.” I flick my eyes quickly over to my father’s and back on Stephen’s. “If I may give you something to think over?”
“Proceed.”
I inhale, letting it calm me. “They called out her name and when I looked up, I saw a hooded figure behind Riordan before he dropped. It wasn’t Ri that called out for her.
When the rope snapped and landed, I made sure to lead Raven to safety before going to up the belfry and I saw signs of struggle.
Blood on the ground. Not a lot. Riordan did not do this…
If I’m honest, sir, I believe he was dead before he was… over the railing.”
He nods, slowly as if taking in my words. “Yes, we already had someone from the police department check out the scene. We’ve decided to handle this… internally .”
Chills. Chills erupt everywhere from beneath my cloak, and I step back into formation.
“Thank you, for speaking up about what you saw, you confirmed what we already knew.”
I simply bow my head and wait for it to all be over.
I just want to get home to my girl.
I’m desperate to feel her in my arms and hear her tell me she loves me while I come inside her. It’s all I ever want.