“Thank ye for yer condolences, Mr. Easton,” Killian said before shaking Richard’s extended hand.
“He was a good friend to me. Not just a business partner.”
“Then ye must understand how it pains me that he was murdered,” Killian answered.
Lily noticed how Richard’s eyes widened a little in shock.
He did not know it was murder?
“Murder?” Richard asked as if reading her thoughts.
“Aye. Murdered by the last business partner he trusted to work with. I understand that ye can lead me to who that is. The last time ye did business with my brother… who did he introduce to ye?”
Richard’s eyes darted from side to side as he slightly withdrew from Killian and heaved out a deep sigh. “I knew there was something suspicious about that night when I met your brother and his—”
An explosion erupted around them before he could finish his sentence. The ground at their feet shook, and the force tossed Lily off balance.
The windows around them burst open as she landed on the ground, and masked men dressed in black jumped in through the shattering glass to attack them.
Killian and Fletcher drew their swords and charged into battle while Richard Easton’s men surrounded him for his protection.
Lily recovered from her fall in time, drew out her sword, and stabbed the man aiming at her with a dirk. She sprang into action, swinging her sword over her head in defensive mode.
These men were skilled, and even as Killian’s men filed into the hall to join and help in the fight, their attackers still edged on, killing as many of Killian’s men as they could, alongside Richard Easton’s men.
“Lily,” Killian yelled when one of the masked men got to Richard and thrust his sword into his gut.
“No!” Lily yelled and leaped towards Richard, but she was too late.
Richard Easton coughed out blood. His attacker withdrew his blade, then thrust it again, twisting it deeper this time.
Lily got to him, sliced him down, then tossed her sword to the ground so she could crouch down beside Richard.
Their attackers began escaping, and she heard Killian yell for his men to follow. Fletcher led them, and Killian rushed down to her side.
“Richard,” Killian called in an insistent tone, gently lifting the man off the ground.
Lily pressed both hands to the gushing wound in Richard’s abdomen. His warm blood soaked her hands already.
“The… the—” Richard coughed as he tried to say something.
“Dinnae speak,” Killian urged him. “My healer will care for yer wounds. Ye will be all right.”
Richard coughed again, harder this time. Lily saw him raise a finger before his eyes fluttered shut.
“I’ll get the healer,” Killian said in a rush and dashed out of the hall before she could stop him.
Alone with Richard now, Lily pressed her hands harder against his wound.
“My ledgers,” Richard gasped, coughing harder. “My… The man with him that night—” He struggled to speak, but there was not much he could say, as blood spluttered from his lips. “It was not…”
“Richard… Richard!” Lily yelled as he gasped one last time, his eyes wide open. “No… No!” She shook his lifeless body as he sighed one last time. “No…”
“Richard,” Killian called as he rushed into the grand hall with the healer.
Lily turned to him slowly, tears in her eyes as she shook her head. “He’s gone,” she sobbed just before Killian dropped to his knees at Richard’s side.
She saw Killian’s torn expression of anguish as he squeezed his eyes shut and lowered his head. This had been their one chance of ending all of this for good. Lily had been sure Richard Easton would clarify who the real culprit was and put an end to their doubts.
