She took it with a chuckle. “Are these your friends?”
I introduced Hannah and Mark to her. They began talking and when I turned, I came face-to-face with the king.
“Wynn Carter, you’ve really shaken things up, haven’t you?” I didn’t know him well enough to tell if he was being sarcastic or serious.
“I didn’t mean to,” was how I answered and thankfully, he began laughing.
“Funny.” He held out his arm. “This is my daughter, Grace, and my other two sons, August and Felipe.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” That was the right thing to say, I was sure.
Grace beamed at me and stepped forward. “I can’t believe you and my brother are together.” She shook her head. “Never thought I’d see the day anyone could tame him.”
“Oh, he’s not tame,” I answered and while she laughed, no one else in the family did.
“How about tea?” Victoria broke the awkward silence. “Minnie, be a dear and bring us some tea.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Once Minnie left, I waited until everyone else sat and then followed suit.
“So, tell us about yourself, Wynn.” Victoria seemed sweet, the king was quiet, and his calculated glare never left my face. I did my best to ignore him and focused on the queen.
“Well, okay,um, I’m a journalist, and before you all panic, it’s not like that. I’m not reporting anything on this family.” Cue the uncomfortable laughs. “My parents are retired and live in Florida. We see each other a couple of times a year. I was a later-in-life baby, no brothers or sisters. Hannah, Mark, and Seth, who is in the States, are my closest friends. I knew Seth first—we met in high school, and he honestly is more like a brother. He accepted me for all my quirks. Hannah and I met at a convention five years ago and through her, Mark entered my life. The four of us have our own thing going on.”
“Your friends are your family.” Grace beamed.
“Exactly.” Thankfully, the next ten minutes were filled with Hannah and Mark telling them about their lives and as soon as tea came, I figured I’d keep my mouth full so I couldn’t answer any more questions.
“If you’ll excuse us, I’d like a word with Julian and Wynn.” King George stood.
So much for being able to keep my mouth shut.
“We can go to my office so everyone can enjoy the rest of their tea,” Julian offered.
“Perhaps Felipe and I should come too.” August placed his teacup down.
“If you’d like, let’s go.” George left the room, and we all followed behind. I shot one last look at Hannah, who mouthedGood luckto me.
Inside Julian’s office, there was a small conference table, which George walked over to. Julian held a chair out for me, and I sat. Before the door shut, Edward joined us.
“Tomorrow I will go in front of the press and use the crown to remove Wynn from any wrongdoing with the governor.”
“Your Majesty, no offense, but I didn’t do it. You’re simply removing me as a suspect.”
“You may refer to me as George in private. And yes, you are innocent, but this Detective Ridgeway seems to have sunk his teeth in you.”
“Sir, I believe it’s not Wynn the detective is trying to ruin,” Edward added.
Everyone turned toward Julian. George hummed. “We suspect he knows?”
“Does Wynn know?” Felipe asked.
“I do.”
“And you’re fine with it?” August rested his hands on the table.
“I’m not sure fine is the word one would use here. I’m not really sure I understand it, but I know this is something within Julian that he can’t fight with drugs and therapy. You’ve given him a life where he can coexist with the darkness inside him, and he has some weird moral compass when it comes to his victims, minus the governor.”
“Whydidyou kill her?” August’s attention was on Julian now.
