Page 6 of Absolution
“I’ve seen the crime scene photos. It could best be described as a crime of passion, not defense.”
I suppress a shudder. I’m glad that I don’t remember anything about the murder. Knowing Dane and his protective rage, I can imagine that Stephen’s death was brutal.
A spark of vindictive satisfaction flickers in my chest, a feeling that I’m reluctant to acknowledge.
Men have touched me without my consent so many times, but it will never happen again. Dane won’t allow it.
I settle into my decision to protect my white knight, my dark god. I’ll do everything in my power to save him.
“The police will find the mug Stephen gave me,” I say quickly. “It’ll probably have traces of the drug, won’t it?”
If they find that piece of evidence, it won’t be too difficult for them to paint a picture of what happened to Stephen.
Mr. Wells nods grimly. “I’m sure it’s already been collected as evidence, but they won’t have had time to test anything yet. I’ll inform Lord Graham, and he will make it disappear before that happens.”
I’m not shocked that Dane’s father has the connections necessary to destroy evidence. Especially not now that I know he can muster a team of lawyers in less than an hour once he learns of a threat to his family.
“Dane won’t like it,” I inform Mr. Wells. “He won’t want to accept anything from his father.”
“Not even if it costs him his freedom?”
“Not even if it costs his life.”
I know it deep in my bones. Dane loathes his family, and he truly would rather die than accept anything from them. Especially when they’re only helping him to save their own reputation.
Some cruel part of him will probably be satisfied at ruining them with the scandal of his arrest and incarceration.
I can’t allow that to happen.
I straighten my shoulders. “I need to talk to Dane’s brother, James.”
Half an hour later,James is sitting in the chair formerly occupied by Mr. Wells; the lawyer is waiting outside to give us privacy.
James’ eyes—so like Dane’s incisive green stare—skewer me. “So, my brother has already confessed to murdering Stephen Lansing.”
I nod. “He did it to save me.”
James’ auburn brows draw together. “I understand that Lansing drugged you, but my brother didn’t have to kill the man to save you.”
“No,” I agree. “But Dane is very protective. And that’s not what I meant. He confessed because the police came to arrest me. They knew I was with Stephen at his time of death, so they thought I might be guilty.”
James scoffs. “I saw the crime scene photos. Considering your stature, it’s highly unlikely that you could be capable of inflicting that kind of damage.”
I suppress a shudder. I hope no one ever shows me the photos. Knowing that Dane killed to save me is difficult enough, even if I’m not upset that Stephen is dead. I’d rather not see the evidence of his gory demise.
“Dane would do anything to protect me,” I assert. “And I love him for it.”
In this moment, I accept that I’m not responsible for Stephen’s death by proxy; the blame lies with him for drugging and assaulting me. If he hadn’t been a sexual predator, he’d still be alive.
James sighs. “I’m not sure if my brother deserves such loyalty if he’s a murderer.”
“He does,” I declare.
Dane deserves to be loved. Especially because his family has never loved him. He needs someone in his corner, and I resolve that from now on, that person will be me.
I belong to Dane, but he’sminetoo.
“Well, you’ll be relieved to know that everything will be fine,” James says. “My father will make sure that Daniel—Dane—is released without any record of his arrest.”
