Chapter 39 #3
“Look, I am not the biggest fan of Alexander. However, if he told you that he followed Xavier and saw him get in the car with Alexander and now he is saying he went looking for him then he is a liar.” Matthew stood up from his chair with an aggression that told me he was pissed off.
“This entire time, for the last twenty-three years, we have all kept an eye out for Alexander. We wanted to make him pay for what he had done to Xavier. Or at least what we thought he had done. We blindly trusted Ray, and it is seeming that he either had a soft spot for Scott or a secret dislike for Alexander. Why wouldn’t he have investigated it further before now? ”
“Hey, I can’t speak for my grandfather because I was only just introduced to all of this.
What I can tell you without a doubt is that he was a good man.
He would never intentionally cover up a murder.
If he believed what Scott told him, then it was because he trusted him, and history apparently was working against Alexander and his credibility.
It’s easy to blame someone that isn’t here to defend themselves.
” I could feel my anger rising at an alarming level, and I was determined not to let it get the better of me.
“It’s easy to get out of taking responsibility for something when you’re dead.”
“Fuck you. Are you always such a fucking twat or did you forget there’s supposed to be a dick between your legs? Act like a fucking grown man and not a petulant child.”
Maddox and Oscar both snorted as they erupted into laughter.
Matthew was fuming and I was beginning to fear for my safety.
I really needed to work on trying to filter myself.
Caspien grinned but said nothing; he didn’t have to deal with us at all if he didn’t want to.
He could simply resign, and they would put another witch into his position.
My guess was that it was better for him to stay neutral.
“So, then who do we blame for this?”
“For what? Killing Xavier? The person that fucking killed him. If you are talking about having it pinned on the wrong guy for twenty-three years, then I guess Ray is the only person to blame. Everything was piled on him. Everything was his job. Do you understand now why I don’t want that responsibility?
We would have found this out sooner if more people had been involved.
There would have been multiple people examining what he was saying.
Maybe Alexander would have felt more comfortable in coming forward.
I mean, as soon as I took over, he went to extreme measures to get my attention.
Why do we need to blame anyone? We are fixing it and that’s what matters now.
We are taking strides to make it right. I can’t undo it, but I can do my damnedest to correct it. ”
“I feel like if Scott was responsible for Xavier’s death, and it was left unchecked for twenty-three years, then what else could he be responsible for?” Matthew wasn’t giving an inch.
“I can’t answer that question because I don’t know. If Alexander isn’t going to hold a grudge—if he was the one who was wronged—then I think that you should probably dial it back a little. Your little blame game isn’t going to make anything better.”
“I have to second that one, man. You actually do need to chill the fuck out a bit.” Oscar added growing tired of the bickering.
“If you keep attacking people, this new way of doing things isn’t going to work at all. It’s a team, not a constant argument that is going to accomplish things.” Maddox scolded Matthew.
“That’s how you all feel?” he asked, looking at Caspien. Caspien said nothing but he did nod his head once and that was all I needed. “Fine, I will chill the fuck out, but this shit better not happen again.”
“If we are all as smart as we think we are, then that shouldn’t be a problem. Humans do make mistakes though. I’m not too sure about cryptids.” I smiled knowing full well that cryptids weren’t perfect either.
Matthew sat back in his seat looking slightly defeated. “Well, I can’t fight with all of you.”
“You shouldn’t be fighting with any of us. We all have a common goal; how to maintain peace has just changed a little,” I responded, not wanting to look at him like the enemy—because he wasn’t.
“So, when are we planning on speaking with Alexander then?” he asked, looking at all of us.
“Three o’clock tomorrow is when we plan to hear what Alexander has to say on the matter.
Until then, I think we all need to take some time and just relax.
I also have another idea that may be able to facilitate that.
I don’t know if I want to sit through another eight-course meal; I’m not sure any of us really want to do that.
How about I get in touch with Bonnie and have more of a casual evening? ”
“I think that sounds like a phenomenal idea. I would prefer to get out of these clothes and not have to put on even more business or semi-formal attire.” Oscar was elated at the idea of just hanging out.
“Okay, well, I will go see what I can do, and I will make sure everyone is aware of the plan once I speak with Bonnie. I think we are done for now. Gentlemen, I will see you at dinner.” We all got up from our chairs and filed out of the room.
When I had finished working out the details with Bonnie, she had reassured me a million times that I hadn’t caused any fuss with the kitchen.
The menu in place could easily be altered to what we were planning.
The meat hadn’t been cooked yet and the kitchen was prepared for things of this nature.
She explained that cryptids weren’t always creatures of habit and tended to change their minds at the last minute.
Once I was finished being a pain in the ass, I exited the kitchen and found Maddox in the lobby waiting for me.
“So, did you and Bonnie figure it out?”
“Yes, but I felt so bad for changing things at the last minute. I told her nothing extravagant and she told me it was already in the works, and she understood the assignment.”
“Then let’s get back to the cabin. I’m hungry now and dinner isn’t for another three hours.” I laughed and followed him out of the front door to the waiting cart.
When we arrived, Maddox followed me into the cabin, shutting and locking the door behind him.
I picked up the charger from the counter and plugged it into my phone.
I wasn’t expecting it when I felt his large body behind me, pressing me against the counter.
I felt his breath in my hair and felt him inhale deeply.
“Do you know how many times today I thought about bending you over the board room table, the breakfast table—this counter?” His breath was heavy on my ear, and I cocked my head so I could see his face—exposing my neck. I smirked at him.
“How many times, my love?” I pushed my ass back against him. “Or would you rather demonstrate?” I heard and felt the low rumble in his chest—a chill went up my spine.
I leaned forward over the counter and was quickly reminded that my skirt zipped all the way up in back—and could also be unzipped.
For the next two hours my boyfriend gave me a delicious demonstration of his mental creativity. Then, of course, duty called—not to mention hunger and thirst.