Page 79 of Without Judgment

I moved closer to the bed in order to take his one unbandaged hand. When I looked up at Mason and my brother, I could see neither were pleased with the action. Hell, I wasn’t, either, but I did have some sympathy for his condition, despite what he’d put me through.

“Doctors say I’ll be all right. Couple broken ribs, broken wrist. Lots of bruises.”

“Tell me what happened. From the beginning.”

His gaze flicked to my brother and Mason, who were standing on the other side of his bed. “Alone.”

I shook my head, but it was Mason who spoke.

“Not happening. Not after what you’ve put her through.”

My jaw clenched at him choosing to speak for me. “Trevor is definitely staying. Mason’s presence is up in the air, depending on if he can keep quiet.”

My eyes locked on his, waiting to see if he got the message. With the way his jaw set, it seemed he had.

Edward hesitated at first, but then began talking. “I got into trouble. Gambling trouble. I was so stressed about the wedding and not getting into grad school.”

A kernel of guilt started to take root, but I wouldn’t let it. I wouldn’t take responsibility for Edward’s poor choices. I needed to ignore his attempt to shift accountability onto me. “You were gambling with Theo?”

“Yes. Especially after we broke up. I was drinking more. Acting stupid and losing money. My father wouldn’t have lent me any. He’s so ashamed of me after the whole video thing he’s not even here.”

I so did not want to get into a debate about fathers. “Maybe if you own up to your mistakes, he’ll forgive you. None of us are perfect. Tell me about Theo’s dad, Mr. Knopff. How did he get involved?”

“He bought the debt from the local loan shark I’d borrowed from. Told me there was one way to work it off.”

“The video.”

“Yes. He said he needed your father out of the mayoral race. You have to believe I had no choice.”

I didn’t believe it, but telling him so would halt this flow of information. “And when the first one didn’t work, you did the second video.”

“I— Yes.”

“Who was the girl?”

“I’m not sure. Someone he hired. He also arranged a room that he staged with cameras and everything. I swear I had to take a pill to get it up with her. I’m sorry, Beth.”

“For that you’re sorry?” Mason quipped from the other side of the room.

“Last chance,” I warned. No one needed his peanut gallery comments right now.

Yes. It was ridiculous. Edward had cheated with my best friend. Lied about me being on a sex video. But now he was apologizing about having sex with someone other than me—after we’d been broken up for months. As if that last part was what I’d be most upset about.

“I’m sorry about it all. Every bit. You said yourself nobody is perfect. You have no idea how relieved I am to finally have it out there. Please forgive me.”

His fingers gripped mine, but I couldn’t let him get off track. “Who did this to you, Edward?”

“Mr. Knopff was pissed about the scar that proved it wasn’t you on the video. On the phone, he told me I should’ve known better. Then next thing I knew, I got jumped while leaving a bar. The three guys who did it said it was a lesson. Also made it clear that if I told the police I’d regret it. It couldn’t have been coincidence.”

It made me shiver to discover Wade Knopff was not only dishonest, but also dangerous. “But why did he not want my father to be mayor?” That was the critical missing piece.

“I’m not sure, but Theo once mentioned something about having someone with the city who helped with permits and inspections. Could be related.”

I looked up at Mason, who appeared to be taking a mental note. Hopefully, this was a lead.

“You need to tell the police. All of it,” I said.

“I’d implicate myself.”

---