Chapter 31
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Wynn
I was going to make an ass out of myself—I was sure of it. I was staring at Hannah and Mark, hoping they’d be able to offer me some hope, but they looked as freaked out as I did.
Julian slipped his hand in mine. “Breathe.”
That was easy for him to say. He knew these people, had been raised by royalty.
Me? My knowledge consisted of what I’d learned on television and in books.
Not to mention, the king was putting his neck on the line for me even though I was innocent.
He had to know Julian was the one who’d killed the governor, so perhaps that had something to do with it.
Brantly and Edward entered the sitting room and Julian rose, so Hannah, Mark, and I did the same.
I could only gawk as each family member entered. There was rich, and there was whatever they were. It wasn’t like they came in wearing gowns and tuxedos, but they emanated wealth and power and I was speechless. I hoped they didn’t want to actually talk to me.
A woman, clearly his mother, walked up to Julian and kissed each one of his cheeks. She then smiled at me…. Shit.
“Hello, you must be Wynn Carter. I’m Victoria, Julian’s mother.”
Shit, shit, shit. Do I call her Victoria or Queen or…
“Don’t mind him, he’s kind of freaking out internally,” Julian offered.
“No need, dear. Please call me Victoria, if that’s what was confusing you?” Her expression was all knowing.
“Yes, that’s…” I held out my hand. “Wonderful to meet you.”
She took it with a chuckle. “Are these your friends?”
I introduced Hannah and Mark to her. They began talking and when I turned, I came face-to-face with the king.
“Wynn Carter, you’ve really shaken things up, haven’t you?” I didn’t know him well enough to tell if he was being sarcastic or serious.
“I didn’t mean to,” was how I answered and thankfully, he began laughing.
“Funny.” He held out his arm. “This is my daughter, Grace, and my other two sons, August and Felipe.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” That was the right thing to say, I was sure.
Grace beamed at me and stepped forward. “I can’t believe you and my brother are together.” She shook her head. “Never thought I’d see the day anyone could tame him.”
“Oh, he’s not tame,” I answered and while she laughed, no one else in the family did.
“How about tea?” Victoria broke the awkward silence. “Minnie, be a dear and bring us some tea.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Once Minnie left, I waited until everyone else sat and then followed suit.
“So, tell us about yourself, Wynn.” Victoria seemed sweet, the king was quiet, and his calculated glare never left my face. I did my best to ignore him and focused on the queen.
“Well, okay, um, I’m a journalist, and before you all panic, it’s not like that.
I’m not reporting anything on this family.
” Cue the uncomfortable laughs. “My parents are retired and live in Florida. We see each other a couple of times a year. I was a later-in-life baby, no brothers or sisters. Hannah, Mark, and Seth, who is in the States, are my closest friends. I knew Seth first—we met in high school, and he honestly is more like a brother. He accepted me for all my quirks. Hannah and I met at a convention five years ago and through her, Mark entered my life. The four of us have our own thing going on.”
“Your friends are your family.” Grace beamed.
“Exactly.” Thankfully, the next ten minutes were filled with Hannah and Mark telling them about their lives and as soon as tea came, I figured I’d keep my mouth full so I couldn’t answer any more questions.
“If you’ll excuse us, I’d like a word with Julian and Wynn.” King George stood.
So much for being able to keep my mouth shut.
“We can go to my office so everyone can enjoy the rest of their tea,” Julian offered.
“Perhaps Felipe and I should come too.” August placed his teacup down.
“If you’d like, let’s go.” George left the room, and we all followed behind. I shot one last look at Hannah, who mouthed Good luck to me.
Inside Julian’s office, there was a small conference table, which George walked over to. Julian held a chair out for me, and I sat. Before the door shut, Edward joined us.
“Tomorrow I will go in front of the press and use the crown to remove Wynn from any wrongdoing with the governor.”
“Your Majesty, no offense, but I didn’t do it. You’re simply removing me as a suspect.”
“You may refer to me as George in private. And yes, you are innocent, but this Detective Ridgeway seems to have sunk his teeth in you.”
“Sir, I believe it’s not Wynn the detective is trying to ruin,” Edward added.
Everyone turned toward Julian. George hummed. “We suspect he knows?”
“Does Wynn know?” Felipe asked.
“I do.”
“And you’re fine with it?” August rested his hands on the table.
“I’m not sure fine is the word one would use here.
I’m not really sure I understand it, but I know this is something within Julian that he can’t fight with drugs and therapy.
You’ve given him a life where he can coexist with the darkness inside him, and he has some weird moral compass when it comes to his victims, minus the governor. ”
“Why did you kill her?” August’s attention was on Julian now.
Julian stared right at August, no guilt and no shame.
“She was awful to Wynn, embarrassed him, and it was a direct disrespect to the crown.” Before anyone could rebut, he turned to his father.
“Had I not killed her, I would have told you to replace her. She was an awful person. It was believed she was stealing funds, and she had a temper that often targeted Crellesia residents. Very unbecoming.”
The king regarded Julian. “There’s a code for a reason. Dismissing her from her post would have been what I would have done if you told me she was disrespecting your partner.”
“Yes, Wynn explained to me that I may have acted harshly.”
All eyes were on me now, shock evident in their features. “Yeah, so hopefully mistakes like this won’t happen again.” I chuckled nervously.
“I never thought I’d see the day Julian would listen to someone.” August snorted.
“As entertaining as this conversation is, we need to discuss Ridgeway. I propose getting him dropped from the case and returned to Crellesia,” Julian suggested.
“What if he retaliates? He did send that man to the café.” Judging by the way George nodded at Edward, it seemed he’d heard about that.
“I will speak on Wynn’s behalf, and make sure Detective Ridgeway is removed from the case…he’s Rona’s cousin, correct?”
“Yes, sir,” Edward answered.
“Good, then we can say it’s a conflict of interest. Edward, get people on Ridgeway to watch him when he’s back in Crellesia.”
“Yes, sir.” Edward got up and left the room, I assumed to do the king’s bidding.
“Now, Wynn.” George sat up, and his smile didn’t settle me.
“Yes?”
“Before I speak on your behalf, did you sign the papers?”
“Not yet.”
George motioned to Felipe, who happened to have a folder I hadn’t noticed. The brother slid it across the table to me.
“We go no further unless you sign.” With that, George, August, and Felipe left the room. Leaving Julian and me alone with contracts that would forever alter my life.