“No idea. However, there is one other thing. His abrupt retirement.”
Aiden nodded. “Probably decided working was too much effort. He’s got money.”
“He didn’t. That is until his retirement after Claudia’s body was found. Cleveland’s assets prior to that amounted to a two-bed condo on Mars.”
Tension pulsing in his head, Aiden checked the files, which confirmed PI Deverson was right. This made no sense. Why would a police officer lie about a body and then retire and buy a mansion he shouldn’t have been able to afford? Where did the money come from?
Glaring at the tablet, Aiden read on, searching for the missing piece. But instead of finding it, he stumbled upon something even more confusing, a single sentence that made his brain feel like it was about to implode.
On February 4th at 8:45 p.m., Patrick Cleveland visited the DuLaurent Corporation’s Headquarters.
“What the Hell? This makes no fucking sense. What was Cleveland doing visiting Marcus four daysbeforeClaudia was even found dead!?”
“Those are all great questions, Mr. Kesley, but I’m afraid I can’t offer any answers yet. Just more questions.”
Aiden wanted to scream. To punch something. He felt nauseous and disoriented, like the rug had been pulled from under his feet and he’d hit his head on the way down.Whatever was going on here, it ran deep. Deeper than he’d assumed it ever would.
“Prioritize Cleveland. And keep me posted. I want to know why he lied and what he was doing at the DuLaurent’s HQ.”
PI Deverson offered a sympathetic smile. “I’ll do my best, Mr. Kesley. This level of involvement... It will be tricky, but I’ll get to the bottom of it. I promise I’ll call you as soon as I have something.”
Aiden clicked off and glared at the lines across his palms. Just what was going on? Why was Claudia’s case turning from strange to truly bizarre? The police… was having their officers potentially forging reports. Cleveland hadn’t been the one to take Claudia’s body to the Lecart morgue. So who’d done it then? And more importantly, knowing what Aiden knew now, had his fiancée’s body even been taken to that morgue to begin with? If not, where and why?
Groaning from the sharp pain that assaulted his head, Aiden popped two anxiety pills into his mouth. He needed them if he was to survive the flight back to Europa. February 4th was the day of Claudia’s arrival to Mars. Why had Cleveland visited the DuLaurent’s HQ on that same date? There was a connection there, there had to be, a thread leading to the answers Aiden needed so he could lay Claudia to rest and move on with his life.
He just had to find it.
Chapter 9
This week’s two-hour businesslecture was as entertaining as last week’s. Thanks to a certain thick-headed dumbass’ second attempt to beat Aiden Kesley in a verbal battle, Darren had a rather enjoyable time watching the latter absolutely annihilate poor Eddie. Without batting an eye or stooping down to the inmate’s level, which was, in part, regrettable. Or maybe lucky, seeing as Darren’s dick really appreciated it when the warden let dirty words slip through those full lips.
After class ended, Darren stayed behind, scribbling additional notes in the textbook. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Nyle sway his pert ass to the teacher’s desk, lean in and smile. He said something to Aiden, whose response was a low, sexy chuckle.
And, boy, did that rumbly sound make Darren’s cock even harder.
He was sure sweet Nyle wasn’tafterAiden; after all, the little thing seemed to prefer bad boys more so than the collected, intellectual type. Still, Darren couldn’t deny the curiosity pulling at his gut. Later, he’d pin Nyle in the restroom, maybe give him a fun time too, while extracting exactly what sort of scheme he was up to now. After their rather pleasant—and enlightening—exchange in the library last week, Darren knew exactly how cunning the twink was. Unlike what most men seemed to think, Nyle wasnota frail lamb that needed protection, but more of a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Lost in thought, Darren didn’t notice Aiden approaching until the man’s long fingers were tapping against the desk’s scratched surface. Lifting his gaze, Darren scoured the room, finding it empty save for the two of them. He suppressed a smile as his pulse elevated slightly. Nyle must have left without him realizing.
“Mr. Howe? Can I help you with something?” Aiden said, his hazel eyes inquisitive as they roamed Darren’s face.
He liked them on him, maybe more than he should. In fact, he was letting this whole thing get to him a little too much. It was probably in his best interest to slow down, to figure out what Aiden Kesley’s deal really was, where he’d come from and whynow, but at the same time, he didn’t want to wait. He felt like a dog that had been thrown a bone and didn’t want to let it go now that its taste was flooding his mouth.
And what if that was exactly what Aiden Kesley was hoping for? That Darren would throw caution to the wind and go headfirst? That he was so desperate for a change from his sad prison life, that he’d forget the ghosts haunting him from his past and let them trick him?
“Ah, no. I was just making sure that I noted down everything,” Darren said with a little delay.
Aiden retracted his hand, massaging his wrist. “How very diligent of you.”
There was something enticing in that little show of smooth ivory skin beneath the sleeve, just a peek enough to spark an avalanche of indecent images inside Darren’s mind. He wanted to be the one rubbing those circular motions… and not just there, but all over Aiden’s body. Perhaps he was a little obsessed with the man, but could anyone blame him? Fantasizing about Aiden Kesley sure beat some of the other stuff that plagued his mind.
“I do try…” Darren replied, running his tongue over his lip piercing.
Aiden’s attention snapped to it immediately, his eyes narrowing slightly.Followingthe movement of Darren’s tongue like they just couldn’t help it. When he finally looked up, a knowing smile replaced his hard look, transforming it into a half-scowl. “If there is anything you don’t quite understand, please feel free to ask meanytime.”
Oh?Arching an eyebrow, Darren reveled in the pleasant tingle that raced down his spine.Was this a slip up or had it been intentional?“I will.”
“Very well then. Since there seems to be nothing I can help you with today, I will see you on Friday, Mr. Howe. Make sure you are well prepared for the test at the start of class.” Aiden strode back to the desk, picked his things up, and left the classroom.
