Page 128 of Their Fairy Princess (Office Intrigue Duet 7)
“Tell me.”
“A warrant’s been issued for Vernon’s arrest,” Isaac said, plating the last omelet.
“A warrant?” I glanced at Ian, who nodded. “For what?”
“Conspiracy to commit murder,” Ian relayed.
“Whose murder?”
“Your father’s,” Isaac said.
Everly gasped, her hand covering her mouth.
I knew he was dead, knew it hadn’t been a pleasant way to die, but considering the hell he’d put me through, I had never found it in myself to give a shit.
“Who killed him?”
“Hathaway hired a hit man.”
“They’ve got proof?”
“Yeah.” Isaac nodded to the stool once more.
Realizing my legs were shaky, I managed to make my way over, drop onto it.
Everly was behind me in a second, her arms draped around my shoulders, holding me. I put my hands on her arms, clutched them tightly. I would never deny that her comfort always managed to settle me.
“But that’s not all,” Ian added, walking over to stand in front of me.
“What else could there be?”
“Vernon’s gone to ground,” Ian explained.
“Doesn’t surprise me,” I told him. “With his father’s money, he’ll likely stay hidden for as long as he wants to stay hidden.”
“True,” Isaac said, standing beside Ian. “But there’s something Daddy’s money won’t be able to cover up.”
I frowned, glancing between the two of them. “What? Just fucking tell me.”
Their disapproval at my outburst was instant, both of them glaring at me. I could see their desire to punish for the transgression, just as easily as I saw them erase the idea instantly.
“Vernon’s father … Thomas Hathaway…” Ian sighed, crossed his arms over his chest. “From the information that’s been gathered, he’s responsible for your mother’s murder.”
“Murder?” Hating myself for doing it, I released Everly, pushed her away from me. “What are you talking about? My mother abandoned me when I was a baby. Left me with him.”
“Actually, she didn’t,” Isaac stated. “Your mother, at the age of sixteen, just months after you were born, was sold to Thomas Hathaway.”
My mouth was dry, as though I’d swallowed sand. “Sold? By…? No.” I shot to my feet. “That bastard sold her?” I glared at them, baffled. “For how much?”
“Ten thousand.”
A scream formed in my throat, anger, bright and fierce, unable to escape as a roaring sounded in my ears. My father had sold my mother for a measly ten grand?
I was barely aware of Isaac approaching, strong arms banding around me. Instinct had me fighting him off, but he was stronger, more determined than I gave him credit for. He jerked me back against him, his steely arms banding around me, pinning my arms to my chest.
“I’m so fucking sorry,” he murmured in my ear and I could hear the pain.
My breaths sawed in and out of my lungs as my legs weakened. He held me, never letting go as all the pain built and spewed out. Angry tears burned my eyes. Vicious sobs scoured my throat. How could he do that? To her? To me? How could God let that happen?
The next thing I knew, I was on the floor, Isaac still kneeling behind me, holding me, his strength the only thing safe in my entire world. I was vaguely aware of Everly crying, Ian soothing her with words.
“She didn’t leave me.”
“No,” Isaac assured me. “She didn’t leave you. The devil took her.”
“And the devil’s spawn tried to take me,” I acknowledged aloud.
“Yes.”
I sat there until the pain subsided, my breaths returned to normal. “I’m sorry, Master,” I whispered, hoping he heard the sincerity in my tone.
Isaac pressed his lips to the top of my head. “Do not apologize. Not to me, not to anyone.”
“I need to get up.”
When he released me, I pushed to my feet, turned to Everly.
“Come here, sweetheart.”
She ran into my arms and I held on tight as she shook, her tears soaking my shirt, but it didn’t matter. When she settled, I didn’t move, didn’t release her, but I did turn my attention back to Isaac and Ian.
“How did you find this out?”
“Let’s just say, there’s quite a bit of support when it comes to friends and family.”
I knew he was talking about his friends, his family because I didn’t have any.
“They didn’t do it for us,” Isaac said, a slight edge in his tone as though he knew what I’d been thinking. “They did it for you because they know how important you are to us. That makes you family, Dante.”
My heart felt as though it wobbled slightly, but I ignored it.
“Now what?” I asked, releasing Everly when she pulled back. “How do we find him?”
“We don’t,” Ian said firmly. “It’s being taken care of.”
He sounded so sure of himself, but he hadn’t met Vernon. He didn’t know the depth of his depravity. That man would not go down without a fight.
And though I prayed I never had to see him again …
There was no way I would get that lucky.
