Page 87 of Emperor of Lust

My brow raise. “And?”

“He’s dead, Damian.”

I go still.

“He was found with his wrists slashed in the bathtub of his London flat a few nights ago. On the same night Prescott Harding mysteriously asphyxiated in the hospital after you beat the fuck out of him.”

She eyes me cooly. I don’t blink.

“Something you’d like to ask me, Frey?” I say quietly.

“I would, but I know you weren’t in London that night.” She gives me a hard look. “Ichecked.” She coughs delicately. “You know, a toll booth picked you up heading to the hospital where Prescott was staying on the night he died.” She exhales slowly. “Don’t get sloppy, Damian,” she mutters.

“Noted. Does anything appear suspicious with Edward’s suicide?”

My cousin frowns slightly. “You know, I’m really fucking good at what I do. But I can be even more helpful if I know what I’m looking for. What exactly am I trying to help you with?”

I shrug, feeling the weight of it settle over me. “It’s…something personal.”

Just then, Hana passes behind Freya. She turns, and when our eyes lock, she gives me a small, easy smile that disarms me in a way nothing else can, or ever has.

I manage to pull my attention back to Freya. When I do, she’s got a look on her face that says it all.

“Something personal involving Hana?” she says quietly.

Slowly, I nod.

“You really care about her, don’t you?”

“What if I do?” I growl quietly.

“I’d say that’s terrific,” she says quietly, squeezing my hand and grinning at me. “I’m happy for you, D. Both of you.”

Her face turns serious again.

“So, Ididdig into Edward a little. Hacked his home computer, poked around his bank accounts. The usual.”

“Anything good?”

She makes a face. “Honestly, as suicides go, Edward’s is pretty buttoned up. Money issues. Drug issues. His wife left him a year ago when he got fired from his job.”

“Working for Senator Donahue,” I grunt.

That motherfucker’s father.

Who was shaking Hana down for years, holding what Takeshi did to avenge her over her head.

I blink away the rage and focus on Freya.

She nods. “Right, for Kempton Donahue. He won’t be Senator Donahue much longer, though.”

I frown. “Why not?”

“His term is up in two months, and he’s not seeking reelection. He’s been appointed Ambassador to Japan. He’s actually in Tokyo already.”

My mind flickers to that fucking iPad Hana received.

…Sent through shell companies.

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