Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Julian
The man in the café was Corey Walker. He wasn’t as tough as he’d claimed to be because as soon as he’d been questioned by police he’d explained that someone had paid him a thousand bucks to go into the café and cause a scene with either Wynn or his friend Hannah. It was such an odd thing to do.
A Detective Henderson, who was good friends with my father, was keeping me in the loop. Corey wouldn’t divulge who’d paid him, kept saying he didn’t know the guy’s name but that it was a man. I was sure he’d make bail and once he did, I would absolutely find out who’d paid him to attack Hannah.
Hannah was right; Mark freaked out, then proceeded to dote on his wife. The two of them went up to their room, Mark asking if dinner could be brought up to them. That left me alone with Wynn, who was currently staring out the window and looking at the garden.
“Did you know the man that hurt Hannah?” He didn’t turn to face me.
“No.”
“Why would he say something like that about you? A fanatic?”
I moved up behind him, relieved that he didn’t flinch or stiffen when I wrapped my arms around him.
“Likely political, but the police will figure it out.”
He released a heavy breath. “Julian, I came here for a vacation and it’s been beautiful, and meeting you has been amazing, but I’m not cut out for this life.”
“It hasn’t been forty-eight hours.”
He turned and lifted his head to meet my eyes.
“I think this thing between you and me is over, Julian, and you can’t honestly say you love me or that you’d be lost without me.
Me staying here, with you, this need to ‘keep’ me, is likely just because I’m new.
A foreigner—oh, how neat. And I don’t think your father should risk anything for me.
I’m innocent. Let the evidence, or lack thereof, speak for itself. ”
I wanted to scoop him up and lock him away until he changed his mind. Or hell, just to keep him from running. But that would hurt him and I couldn’t do that, but I had to make it clear that he simply couldn’t leave.
“You can’t go, Wynn.”
His smile was small. “I can’t stay, Julian.”
“You can. Wynn, I won’t let you leave.”
There was that flicker of fear again. “You say things like that and it’s not endearing, Julian.”
I cupped his face in my hands and lowered my head, stopping a hairbreadth away from his lips that I wanted to kiss so badly.
“You don’t know me, not truly, and I get that.
There are things about me that I fear you’ll not like—dare I say, want to run from.
But you have to know that since I met you, there are more calm moments, everything is quieter in my head, my skin doesn’t feel like it’ll tear apart if I don’t… ” I pressed my forehead to his.
“Don’t what, Julian?”
“You have to want me as much as I want you.”
“I do want you, Julian, and maybe we would marry after some time, but this hasn’t even been a whirlwind so much as a frantic tornado.
The sex, yeah, that’s out of this world.
Our conversations are amazing. This thing you speak of that if I saw I’d run away from…
I need to see and know that part of you too. ”
“No.”
“Why?”
“You’ll hate me.”
He pulled away, and it took everything in me not to tug him closer. His brown eyes were stormy. “All of you or none of you, Julian. That’s how this works. You give me that, and I give it back. How can I know if we’re truly meant to be together if I can’t see what lurks in the dark?”
My hands dropped from his face. “I’m what lurks in the dark, Wynn.”
His brow dipped and he lightly shook his head. “You see yourself in a way I don’t. What you think might not be what you are.”
I released a humorless laugh. “Oh, my family would disagree with you on that.”
“Your Highness?”
I turned, and Minnie stood there, Detective Henderson beside her.
“Come in.” Wynn and I would have to talk later. He shook off the remnants of the uncomfortable conversation and joined me and the detective in the seating area.
“Sorry to disturb your evening, Your Highness.”
“It’s no bother. I appreciate you keeping me abreast of the situation. Is there cause for concern with this man who attacked Hannah?” Not that it mattered. As soon as he was out, he was mine.
“No. He’s quite rattled about whoever paid him. He’s been acting paranoid at the station. He will go before a judge in the morning, and while I know you have your own security, perhaps we should get some officers on you too.”
I chuckled. “I have an entire military battalion at my disposal, Detective. I assure you we’ll be fine.”
“Your Highness, while I don’t believe Corey is a danger to you or anyone in this residence, not knowing who is behind this leaves us blind. They might escalate.”
Oh, they could try. “I understand, but I’m well fortified here, as are Wynn and his friends.”
He looked at Wynn. “You’ll have to stay on the premises until we can determine the threat is gone.”
“Between this false murder charge and now some fanatic, the Lamdera Islands aren’t the relaxing and magical place the brochure promised.” He sat back and folded his arms over his chest.
“I do apologize,” the detective said, then regarded me. “I’ll let you know how court goes in the morning. I have Detective Ridgeway with Corey now, trying to get some information out of him. I’ll bring every detective and cop that’s here in there. I’m sure he’ll crack.”
I didn’t want Ridgeway near Corey. “Why Ridgeway? He’s not a Thrindell detective.”
“He offered, and the others were busy.” He shrugged. “Figured, why not?”
Well, if that didn’t raise every red flag on the island. “I see.”
“I won’t force you to accept our help, but please let me know if you change your mind.” Henderson stood and I followed suit.
“Will do, thank you.” We shook hands and he left, and Wynn and I were alone again.
“Julian.”
I moved nearer to him, sat, gently grabbed his face, and kissed him.
When I pushed my tongue into his mouth he moaned and gripped my shirt, pulling me closer.
I didn’t want to talk about my demons, Wynn leaving, or Henderson’s visit.
I just wanted Wynn…I craved him. I needed him to become obsessed with me like I was with him.
Why couldn’t he just give himself to me?
A throat clearing broke us apart. Edward stood there, a stern expression on his face.
“Your Highness.”
“Your timing is terrible, Edward.”
Wynn chuckled, and I looked over at him just because his smiles were like medicine to my toxic soul.
“Forgive me. I needed to speak with you…privately.”
I knew this had to do with him wanting to know my plans with Corey, and normally I didn’t discuss my proclivities with anyone, but this situation was born of the bad decision of me killing the governor.
“Very well.” After one more peck on Wynn’s lips, I got up and followed him to my office.