Julian stared right at August, no guilt and no shame. “She was awful to Wynn, embarrassed him, and it was a direct disrespect to the crown.” Before anyone could rebut, he turned to his father. “Had I not killed her, I would have told you to replace her. She was an awful person. It was believed she was stealing funds, and she had a temper that often targeted Crellesia residents. Very unbecoming.”
The king regarded Julian. “There’s a code for a reason. Dismissing her from her post would have been what I would have done if you told me she was disrespecting your partner.”
“Yes, Wynn explained to me that I may have acted harshly.”
All eyes were on me now, shock evident in their features. “Yeah, so hopefully mistakes like this won’t happen again.” I chuckled nervously.
“I never thought I’d see the day Julian would listen to someone.” August snorted.
“As entertaining as this conversation is, we need to discuss Ridgeway. I propose getting him dropped from the case and returned to Crellesia,” Julian suggested.
“What if he retaliates? He did send that man to the café.” Judging by the way George nodded at Edward, it seemed he’d heard about that.
“I will speak on Wynn’s behalf, and make sure Detective Ridgeway is removed from the case…he’s Rona’s cousin, correct?”
“Yes, sir,” Edward answered.
“Good, then we can say it’s a conflict of interest. Edward, get people on Ridgeway to watch him when he’s back in Crellesia.”
“Yes, sir.” Edward got up and left the room, I assumed to do the king’s bidding.
“Now, Wynn.” George sat up, and his smile didn’t settle me.
“Yes?”
“Before I speak on your behalf, did you sign the papers?”
“Not yet.”
George motioned to Felipe, who happened to have a folder I hadn’t noticed. The brother slid it across the table to me.
“We go no further unless you sign.” With that, George, August, and Felipe left the room. Leaving Julian and me alone with contracts that would forever alter my life.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Julian
Wynn stared at the folder,not making any move to open it. I knew his feelings about tying himself to me. He didn’t love me, not yet, but I knew he would. This life, this world was different than any he’d ever known. He’d watched me kill a man, and I would have killed Corey if Wynn hadn’t stopped me. And that was another thing—he’d stopped me. Never had anyone been able to curb my urges. Wynn Carter was special, and I’d have him forever.
I pushed over a pen, but he simply glared at it. “Can’t I just sign an NDA?”
“There’s one of those in there too, but you have to understand, in order for my father to risk the crown and for it to be legal, you must be my partner to wed.”
“Even though I’m innocent and in time that would be proved?”
I sighed and pulled the file closer to him. “I don’t know that it would.”
“What do you mean?”
“Ridgeway knows he’ll never be able to pin Rona’s death on me. It’s likely what’s frustrating him so much and making him desperate. You, however—he’d be able to make that work. It’ll hurt me, and maybe he hopes he’d get me to do something irrational.”
“So he knows I didn’t do this, but will pursue it to upset you?”
“Yes. However, if you’re protected by the crown, that can’t happen.”
He blinked. “That’s not justice, Julian. I mean I didn’t murder her, but let’s say I did and you were still interested in me, would you still be doing all of this?”
“I would.”
