“He seduced you,” Jasmine said, so I didn’t have to. “To stay blameless.”
I shook my head. “Come on. He wouldn’t do that.”
Jasmine didn’t argue, but she watched me with so much pity that I felt I should’ve walked right back to Ladiall and turned in my resignation. How could I have been so careless? I knew all along that I shouldn’t catch feelings for Cassian, but I did, and now I was in this impossible situation.
The answer had been right in front of me all along, and I was too love-struck to see it. Even Ricky’s mother tried to tell me it was Cassian, but I denied it because I cared about him too much to accept the possibility.
“I’m sorry, Sterling. I really hope you’re wrong,” she murmured.
I covered my face with both hands and sighed. I hoped I was wrong too. To think Cassian was the criminal all along made me sick to my stomach. Did I have it in me to arrest him if it came to that? Was I really so blinded by my feelings that I let the most obvious conclusion slip past me unseen?
Jasmine removed her bag from her shoulder and dug inside, retrieving the unmarked envelope Penny had given her. “Let’s see what this is about. Maybe it’ll tell us something,” she said as she peeled the sealed wax and pulled out the letter.
I dropped my hands. “What are you doing?”
“He was my grandpa too. I want to see what he said.” She shrugged.
“You know that’s illegal, don’t you?”
She scoffed as if I were joking. “What are you gonna do, arrest me?”
I snatched the letter out of her hands. “Yeah, Jasmine. I could.”
“Hey!”
I stuffed the letter back in its envelope, catching a few of Boris’s last words to Cassian before shutting the flap and pressing my thumb against the seal. I paused for a moment, struck with horror at the sudden revelation. I had the answer.
Cassian and I were about to have a very uncomfortable conversation.
Chapter Eleven
CASSIAN
Business was a slow trickle, but it was back. Willorunia’s advice had helped, but the inn still wasn’t the same. On a night like this, we would typically have at least eight guests, but tonight we had three.
Still, it was a cause for celebration. I knew how to fix my inn. I spent the evening in the pub chatting happily with Griffin. His mood was up too, and he was happy to drink with me.
We were deep in a bottle of wine when the pub door opened, and Sterling and Jasmine stepped inside.
I slid off my stool, beaming at them. “You’re back!” I said a little too loudly. I wanted to throw myself into Sterling’s arms, but I couldn’t do that in front of Jasmine and Griffin. We were still trying to keep it quiet.
Sterling smiled, but there was something hiding behind it. He looked exhausted, and Jasmine looked somber.
“Hey, Cass,” Jasmine said with a small smile.
“What’s the matter? You didn’t get the writ?” I asked, glancing at each of them.
Sterling shook his head, approaching me. “That doesn’t matter. We need to talk,” he said, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder.
I frowned at his hand. It didn’t feel like the usual loving touch, and it made my stomach turn. “Sure, Sterling. Should I make you some coffee first? You look tired.”
He let me go. “No, thank you. Can we go somewhere private?”
“Yeah, all right.” I smiled at him before sliding my wine glass across the counter toward Griffin. “Thanks, Griffin.”
“G’night, Cassian,” Griffin grunted.
I brought Sterling to the office, and Jasmine followed close behind. I didn’t speak until the door shut. “Did you two have fun?” I asked, trying to lighten the mood.
