Hence the utter lack of security.
Stupid boy.
He continues, rubbing his forehead and I can see the frustration that flickers in his energy, “He was going to propose to Drayton’s granddaughter thatnight,” Camille, “and the crew was notified about his plans for proposal but not the diamond.”
The memory of Josei and Camille’s dance on the cruise ship clashes with the memory of her holding his lifeless body close, and I can't help but feel... sorry for a single moment. A happy ending, shattered before my very eyes.
...Idiota. Still, something doesn't add up.
“He had to have told someone.” My eyes narrow.
“Or someone saw him take it,” Father considers.
But that doesn't add up either.
“No.” My mind is whirring as I consider the options. “Whoever attacked us knew exactly what he was planning and when. The timing was too... perfect.”
The moment Josei unveiled the diamond...
“Josei was shot first,” I realize.
Father is watching me and I can tell he's slowly coming to the same understanding.
“It had to be someone he planned it with,” he grasps it. “Someone only he could name, who knew the details—”
“Someone close,” I finish for him. Someone stabbed Josei in the back. And the thought of finding them is making that chaos in my chest go a bit wild with anticipation.
“In the first place, Josei isn't the type to run around stealing jewels and offering them to his beloved,” I’m thinking aloud. Did he come up with the idea on his own? Or did someone plant the idea in his head? How many others did he plan it with? Was it just one close friend or a group?
I can’t help but tilt my head as my thoughts focus on the minds behind the mysterious attackers. Whoever it was that used the naïve Josei and disposed of him without a second thought.
I wonder how many colours I can get them to show me before I mute them. I'm imagining a fireworks display of fear, agony, and regret. A pretty palette ofchaotic golds and blacks, before fading into the colour of bright blood and the scent of death—
“Reuben.” Father’s voice is sharp, pulling me back from that strangely compelling dark place and I have to rein in the strange smile that’s suddenly on my face.
“It’s only conjecture,” he says.
“Sensible conjecture,” I correct.
“The mouth on you,” Father mutters with narrowed eyes and there’s a warning light there with his next words. “Whatever the case. It doesn’t justify your reckless behaviour.”
I can’t like the direction of this conversation. Not if it’s leading to where I think it’s going.
“I handled the intruders well, Father.”
“I’m sure I said that’s not what I was worried about,” his tone is so stern it makes me wince.
“Butjumpingoverboard?”Mamajumps in and the air immediately becomes three times colder.
“If it wasn’t for Christian, I would’ve been the one freezing to death in the sea,” I reply with a sharp look. “Not just me but Camille too. Tobias.”
“It's their responsibility to make sure nothing happens to you,” She retorts pointedly. “I don’t care if they break all their limbs. That’s their duty.”
“I had everything under control.”
Baachanscoffs and the room turns to look at her. “Crazy child, none of us believes you for a moment. I heard you pulled a gun on your second.”
Curse Tobias. I choose my words carefully, “… I might have.”
