Page 65 of Silos and Sabotage

“No! Of course not!” She pushed back her chair and stood. “I think my daughter and her friends had the right idea. I should leave.” She was no longer sure why she’d agreed to come in the first place.

“Stay,” Raleigh pleaded, standing to face her. “My father will be heartbroken if you skip dessert.” He reached out to lightly touch her hand.

It felt good. It shouldn’t have, but it did. “Why?” It was a loaded question, aimed as much at herself as him. She wanted to know why the Bolanders had invited her to dinner. She wanted to know why they weren’t ready for her to leave. And so help her, she wanted to know why she wasn’t in nearly as much of a hurry to make her exit as she should’ve been.

“Because you and Ella are our last links to Mick.” Raleigh curled one finger around hers. It felt like he was testing the waters.

“You and Mick were friends once upon a time. You used to be close.” The words burst out of her. It was something she’d grappled with for years. “What went wrong?”

“Nothing.” Raleigh glanced away from her.

“Something happened,” she insisted, giving his finger a short yank.

“Yes, something happened.” He returned his piercing blue gaze to her. “You, Avery. You happened.”

She wrinkled her forehead at him, not comprehending what he meant at first. Then it slowly came to her. “Me?” She stumbled back a step, but he was there to steady her.

“You never knew?” One strong hand enclosed her elbow, just long enough for her to regain her footing. “I think I’m offended.”

An incredulous chuckle slid out of her. “Are you serious?” It was preposterous, yet his expression said otherwise.

“About being offended?” He raised his eyebrows at her. “Yes.”

“There’s no way,” she murmured. “Our families have always hated each other.”

“Speak for yourself.” His jaw tightened. “Because I am very sure that I’ve never hated you. On the contrary, I would’ve dated you in a heartbeat if…” He shook his head, sighing.

“If Mick hadn’t asked me out first,” she finished softly.

“And that, my dear, is what came between two brothers who were once friends.” He reached up to run a hand through his hair, tousling it even further. “We stayed in touch over the years. I attended one of his promotion ceremonies, but I don’t think he wanted me around his daughter.” He cleared his throat. “Your daughter,” he corrected.

“Meaning you’re not the one who killed him.” It was a relief to finally be able to rule him out. For the past five years, he’d been on her list of potential suspects.

“Avery!” He snapped out her name. “You did not just say that!”

“It was a fair consideration. I’m sure the police asked you the same thing.” She straightened her shoulders. “If your father had legitimized him, you and Billy Bob might’ve had to share some of the hallowed Bolander empire with him. I’ve watched enough police shows to know that’s called motive.”

“There’s nothing fair about what you just said,” he retorted angrily. “Quite frankly, it’s beneath you.”

“Prove it.” She tipped her face up to his. “Tell me anything that makes you and your father look innocent.”

“I’ll tell you the same thing we told the police.” His jaw tightened. “Mick was in my father’s will, right up to the point we laid him to rest in the family mausoleum.”

“Since when?” She was fairly sure that hadn’t been the case when she’d married Mick.

“Since the day he was born, darling.” Raleigh curled a second finger around hers. “When my mother found out, she divorced him. She said it was proof that he’d been unfaithful to her. The divorce court didn’t agree, ruling that he can legally bequeath his estate to anyone he wishes, related or unrelated.”

“Why didn’t he just own up to what had happened?” Avery was tired of all the dishonesty.

“He’s old school, Avery. Things like image and reputation meant more back then. In comparison, our generation runs through marriages like his generation ran through shirts and shoes.”

But not you.Raleigh was cut from the same cloth as his father, biting his lip no matter how many times his ex-wife publicly shamed him with her illicit exploits.

“I take it back,” she sighed. “You’re right. It was beneath me to question your integrity.” She glanced away from him, more than a little angry with herself for noticing how well his broad shoulders filled his suit. “You really cared for Mick, didn’t you?”

“I’m going to find his killer, Avery, if it’s the last thing I do.” The harshness of his tone made her gaze snap back to his.

“You really mean it.” A sob of gratitude rose to her lips. It took all of her strength to swallow it.

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