“Noted.” He crossed his arms over his chest and nodded. “So, anyone can be attacked at random, including my future wife, and you’re not doing a damn thing. Why am I not surprised?”
“My hands are tied, Max. My father says it’s his responsibility to handle these situations.” Kingston’s tone held an edge he usually contained. “I’m not happy about it either.”
Max scoffed. “Fine. I’ll protect her myself.”
He left the room so quickly, I barely had time to process what he said, but it hit me two seconds later like another blow to the ribs.
His future wife.
My hands shook as I clasped them in my lap. Max didn’t have to come, and I thought it had meant something.
But he didn’t have to storm out either.
It was just the three of us. He could’ve given me a sign. He could’ve asked for help.
Instead, all he showed was concern for Vivian.
“Quinn,” Kingston said carefully. “It’s going to be alright.”
“Breathe, beautiful. We’re here with you. He’s?—”
“Hers.” My heart beat against my ribs, pain flaring that had nothing to do with my injury. “He’s always been hers. That’s what Elaine said. It’s what Morty and Merle said.”
“What?”
“I overheard them talking. Morty implied that Max has been using me. That his goal has been to get him and Vivian out of Camelot Court’s control. I—” I met their eyes, shaking my head. “I didn’t say anything because I didn’t believe it.”
“You shouldn’t believe it. There’s no way that’s true.”
“But what if it is?” I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “What if they were right?”
Neither of them said anything.
But they shared a look that tore my heart to pieces.
Kingston turned back to me with a sympathetic gaze. “Let’s not jump to conclusions until we know for sure.”
“Can I use my phone? I need Gia.”
“Of course.” Kingston’s agreement came right as Landon took my hand. “For now, Quinn, you also need to rest. Stay here and get some sleep.”
Anxiety prickled my nerves. “No way.”
“Quinn—”
As Kingston paced in the doorway, I sensed he picked up on my thoughts, so I shook my head at Landon. “I can’t stay in bed all day. I’d be a sitting duck. Ben said he was bringing me to someone else. What he tried—That wasn’t the reason he took me there. And whoever found me…”
“It was Morty.” Landon filled in the blanks. “He had gone to Winchester Hall for something and noticed the golf cart haphazardly parked outside the Round Tableau. So, he went inside to investigate and found you. He called Kingston, and Kingston found me. We went to meet you there. When we searched the Round Tableau, the cameras showed us where you’d left Ben. I wanted to leave him there, but…”
Kingston’s resigned sigh communicated his reluctance to save him, too. “Yes, Morty argued we should bring him back here, at the very least, so if he died it wasn’t on our hands.”
My brow creased. “He’s always popping up. Morty. I can’t figure out if he’s good or bad. He gave me the knife, but?—”
“He what?”
I glanced up at the surprise in Kingston’s tone. Skirting my gaze to Landon, I closed my eyes at the realization I’d forgotten to tell him about it.
“He gave me a pocketknife on our first day of training. During Ben’s lesson. I wasn’t sure why he did, but I decided to hold onto it. Now, I can’t help wondering if he knew about the attack. What if he—Could he be playing both sides?”
