XXXI
Tori
A s the inside of Royal’s car grows warmer, my mind seems to go numb. I barely paid any attention to where Preston had taken me, and it wasn’t until we’d been driving on the freeway for a while that I even thought about it.
The digital display shows that the car is playing music from Royal’s Spotify playlist, but he’s muted the sound. My focus is on the time. It’s a little after midnight. Somehow, it seems like it should be much, much later than that.
I’d like to be able to close my eyes and sleep the journey away… actually, I’d like to be able to skip everything that falls between now and Cole being released.
Tonight, the only hope I had was to make Preston believe that Cole was innocent, and I wasn’t the one he needed to take his revenge out on. Honestly, I wasn’t even expecting Preston to admit to sending Declan after me.
Syn, Royal, and Gemini allowed me to believe the museum would be safe. And why wouldn’t it be? A public venue with three guys by my side. They had been confident, and in spite of everything, I was confident in them.
Not that I blame them.
I don’t think any of us expected Preston to kidnap me or attempt to kill me. If anything, I’m grateful they managed to find me and save me in time…
How did they find me?
Tonight, I got more than I ever dared hope for.
Not just the truth about what really happened the night JP was murdered, but a confession from the real killer.
Trying to be subtle, I glance over my shoulder at Syn. He’s staring out of the window, but I have a feeling he’s not looking at the scenery. I feel like I’m experiencing a dozen emotions at once, but all of them are positive.
Syn’s just found out that his brother was murdered by his best friend.
I’ve been holding tightly to the bottle of water Syn gave me, and I finally take a sip. Then a gulp. Before I know it, the bottle is empty.
“You want another?” Royal asks, breaking the silence.
“No, thank you.”
The car falls into silence again. I have a million things I want to say. I’m sure they do too, but silence is easier.
Somehow, it doesn’t even feel uncomfortable.
After a while, everything on either side of the freeway starts to get bigger, brighter, and busier, and it’s not long before Royal takes the exit, and we’re driving down Broadway.
Usually, I love all the Christmas lights and window displays, but tonight, it seems surreal.
Outside, even though it’s late, there are still people about. Most seem to be in high spirits with smiles and laughter, enjoying the festive cheer. Every single one of them is oblivious to the fact that tonight, the lives of everyone in this car have changed.
Finally, we’re pulling into the underground parking garage of Syn’s family apartment. There’s a security guy who stands when Royal pulls up beside his booth, but he seems to recognize Royal and lifts the barrier without question. The garage is a single floor and mostly empty. The few cars parked there are all luxury models.
Royal pulls into a bay in the corner and switches off the engine. He turns in his seat to look at Syn. “What are we doing about Preston?”
“Leave him in the trunk until my father says what to do with him.”
“Will your father be back from the gala?” I ask him.
Syn just nods.
“Let’s get this over. I don’t want a murderer bleeding all over my car,” Royal mutters before he gets out of the car.
I turn to do the same, but the door opens before I can touch the handle.
“After you, my sexy lady.” Gemini waves his hand as he bows into a ninety-degree angle.
The four of us head over to the nearby glass doors and take the elevator to the penthouse. The room we walk into isn’t the same one I entered through last time, and I don’t recognize the first few we pass through. Eventually, Syn leads the way to the office I found his father in last time.
Although it’s late, a voice tells us to enter after Syn knocks on the door.
Mr. Keyingham is standing by the window, drinking a glass of whiskey as he looks out across the city. He turns back to face us, his frown quickly changing to a surprised expression as the four of us file into the room.
“What in god’s name have you been doing?” William’s eyes zero in on me. “And what is she doing back here?”
“This is Victoria Reynolds, though I’m sure you already know that by now,” Syn informs him. “And her brother didn’t murder JP.”
“Her brother is only in prison because I couldn’t get the death penalty. He confessed to murdering my son.”
I start to step forward, ready to object, but Royal reaches for my hand. When I look up at him, he gives me a very subtle shake of his head.
“Cole Reynolds was forced to confess by the person who really killed him. The same person who kidnapped Tori tonight, with the intention of killing her to keep that truth buried.”
“And who might that be?” William asks, scoffing.
Syn walks over, keeping the desk between himself and his father. “JP was killed by Preston du Pont.”
William falls silent, staring intently at his son as though he’s waiting for the punchline. When Syn remains as silent as his father, William’s gaze moves to the three of us standing behind, sweeping over each of us, one-by-one. He raises his glass to his lips and finishes the drink before he sets the glass down heavily on his desk. “That’s a dangerous accusation you’re making there. You need some serious evidence to back up your claim.”
“Preston confessed,” I blurt out. “I’ll go on any record I need to.”
Despite the revelation, Syn’s father gives me a look of disdain. “His word against yours? You’re hardly credible.”
“I heard the confession too,” Syn tells him.
Pressing his lips together, Syn’s father drags his attention back to his son, but before he can speak, Gemini steps forward. As he does, he pulls his phone out of his pocket. “And I recorded it. Or, most of it.”
“You did?” I ask, surprised.
Gemini glances back at me and grins. “Of course. What did you think I was doing while these two were playing hero?” He turns back to Syn’s father. “The sound’s a bit sketchy at the beginning, but I watched it back in the car. The important parts are there.”
William draws in a deep breath as he turns his attention back to his son. “You know who his father is.”
“Does that matter? He killed JP—he killed your son and covered it up, and he’s walking around, free.” Syn doesn’t shout, but his voice is raised. He pauses, glancing back at me. “And Tori’s brother is serving a life sentence for a crime he didn’t commit. We need to make this right.”
“Let me see the video.” William holds his hand out to Gemini, who passes him the phone. He presses play, and I hear muffled noises for a few seconds. Then, Preston’s confession is played, clearly.
Hearing it a second time feels surreal.
I’ve managed to already commit his words to memory, but I’ve also questioned if the whole thing had been a dream, and I’ve imagined it all.
The clip is only a minute or two long. By the time it’s finished, William’s complexion has gone ashen. He moves over to his chair and sits down, placing the phone on the desk in front of him. He licks his lips and then looks up at us. “Where is Preston now?”
“Bound and gagged in the trunk of Royal’s car in the garage,” Gemini says, gleefully.
Syn’s father sits back in his chair, his gaze drifting to one of the walls. Sitting on a shelf is a framed picture. He and his wife are standing together in the center. Next to William’s side is JP, and book-shelfing his mother, is Syn. Syn looks like he was in high school when the photograph was taken.
Even though no one is smiling, it’s still a painful reminder.
“Father?” Syn prompts, gently.
William rubs his hand over his face, and like he’s wiped whatever emotion he’s feeling away, he pushes the phone away. “Send that video to me.”
Gemini grabs his phone. After a couple of taps on the screen, he slips the phone back into his pocket. “Done.”
"Royal, I need your car keys.”
Releasing my hand, Royal steps forward, sliding the key fob onto the desk to replace the phone.
“The four of you will need to stay here tonight. The maids should have already turned over the guest rooms. I will handle this.”
The others seem satisfied with that and start to make their way to the door, but I don’t move with them. I head towards William’s desk. “What about my brother?”
William looks me in the eyes. “I said, I will handle it.”
“But what does that mean?”
A hand rests on my shoulder. “Tori, my father will handle it,” Syn tells me.
I shake my head. He might be happy with the lack of details, but I’m not. “My brother is in prison. I know he’s not going to be released overnight, but I need to know if that’s being handled—” I use finger quotes. “Or if I need to do something.”
“It’s fine,” William says, giving his son a dismissive wave. “If we are to put James Patrick’s real killer behind bars, you should be able to deduce that they’ll have to release the wrongly convicted one. I can’t give you the details until I’ve spoken to my lawyers, because I don’t know how this process works myself. However, I assume they will want to speak to your mother rather than his sister. I suggest you go home tomorrow.” He narrows his eyes as he directs his attention to my left hand. “Unless, of course, my son’s fiancée is planning on spending Christmas with us?”
I know I’m overreacting.
That I’m worrying over nothing.
But even if my experience with the Keyingham’s hasn’t been great, as Syn’s father pointed out in his patronizing tone, Cole can’t stay in prison for long once Preston has been arrested.
Wearily, I allow Syn to lead me out of the office, and to his bedroom. All traces of the flurry of activity from earlier have been cleared away. Once again, Syn’s room looks as pristine as a hotel room.
“What now?” Royal asks.
Gemini grins. “Victory sex.”