Eva doesn’t move, still reeling from my comment.
I speak first. “Adam Von Dietz, I presume?”
“You presume correctly.” His lips twitch almost into a smile but not quite. “Welcome to MESS.”
Eva brushes past me without a word.
I follow her in.
5
ALEX
The briefing room, with its concrete walls, low ceiling and long metal table, looks like it belongs in a spy thriller. There are no windows or decorations, unless you count the row of mounted screens on one wall, most of them black, with one displaying a map of Mount Evor in topographic detail.
Eva sits across from me, her posture flawless, as rigid as the chair beneath her. She hasn’t taken off her trench coat. Her fingers twist the wedding band still on her hand.
Christ.
If I were married to an asshole like Geoffroy, I would’ve thrown that band into the trash the moment I’d heard he was dead. No, I would have tossed it long before that. There’s no way I would’ve stayed married to him for more than a month.
Adam Von Dietz steps in and closes the door behind him. No smile. No folder. Just his sharp suit and tired eyes.
He takes his place at the head of the table. “We appreciate you both coming.”
“I’m assuming you can tell us more about Geoffroy’s and Julian’s deaths?” I say.
He nods. “It was agreed by the Crown, the prime minister, and me that you be read in.”
“Does that mean Eva and I aren’t on your suspect list?” I ask to clarify.
“You never really were,” Von Dietz replies.
“Why not?” I knit my brows, perplexed. “We both expected to inherit. Idid. That’s motive.”
“Thank you for reminding me, my lord,” Von Dietz says with an amused glint in his eyes. “Let me assure you, the police didn’t clear you and the duchess without thorough investigation.” He cocks his head. “Does that help?”
I grunt in response.
“It does,” Eva jumps in with feigned cheer. “I appreciate that MESS considers the Castellanes honest and trustworthy.”
Von Dietz inclines his head in quiet acknowledgment of her effort to smooth over my bluntness.
I start to speak but he raises his hand and addresses me, anticipating my next question, “Both of you were subjected to deep background checks before being cleared for this briefing. Given the context, one cannot be too careful.”
“What context?” Eva asks at the same time as I do.
“Current threats to the stability of Mount Evor, a shooter still at large, and the presence of at least one active enemy spy in our midst,” Von Dietz answers.
Eva and I exchange a look.
Von Dietz continues, “You are both cleared to be read into the attempt on Princess Felicia’s life.”
“So, Geoffroy and Julian were definitely not the targets?” Eva asks.
“We’re still waiting for the medical examiner’s autopsy report on the duke’s driver,” Von Dietz replies. “His body was severely damaged in the crash, so it’s taking time. But based on trajectory analysis and forensic reconstruction, our analysts are nearly certain that the intended target was Princess Felicia.”
“So, my half brother and nephew were collateral damage?” I ask.
