Page 61 of Wilder
Kara digs around in the drawer in front of her, coming up with a potato masher. She eyes me as she works it through the steaming potatoes. “Have you thought about telling Chase that Royal is his D-A-D-D-Y?”
Chase looks up, his eyes bright. “Woyal! Where he at, Mama?”
My heart clenches at the excitement in his expression and the happiness lighting his pale-green eyes at the mention of his daddy. “He’s at the gym with Wilder. They’ll be home soon for dinner.”
“Otay. I wanna play wit Woyal. And I yike Widah’s pancakes. And Becky. He funny.” Chase nods to himself, propping his chubby cheek on his hand as he continues painting.
Kara lowers voice. “See? He likes all of them.”
“Oh, I know he does,” I murmur. “And actually, yes, we talked about it over the weekend. I think we’re going to tell him Friday night. Just me and”—I glance at Chase again—“Royal. The three of us could use an evening alone to kinda… solidify things.”
Kara smiles, as she dumps cheese and butter into the potatoes, then mashes it all together. “Right. I think that’s perfect. And needed for the three of you. River might stick around, but she’s pretty good about minding her business. I think she’s finally relaxing the tiniest bit. Feels safe here.”
My chest tightens. “I think you’re right.” Wilder’s sister is so damn strong for having dealt with Brian this long. “I’ll give her a heads-up about our plans.”
“I assume that means you’re still good with being full-time mama this weekend?” Kara raises her brows a fraction, but goes right back to her recipe, reading it over again before adding some salt and pepper.
“Yeah, of course. There’s a memorial for Freya, but the guys can be here with Chase. Or at the very least, Royal can be.” I wink at her. “Yeah, you have your thing with Todd. I haven’t forgotten.”
That’s the other reason I’ve been a little concerned with how Kara was handling us staying here. She hasn’t gotten to see much of her boyfriend. Whether she feels like it’s too much to add him into the mix here or what, I’m unsure.
Hopefully, we’ll get to meet Todd the accountant sometime soon.
TWENTY-EIGHT
BECKHAM
Tuesday afternoon,after my favorite criminology class, I head into KU’s library. Over the course of my collegiate career, I’ve come here at times to study, but I haven’t been in the building at all this semester. Granted, it’s only been a couple of weeks, but it sure feels like an eternity since there’s been so much going on. Unfortunately, my grades so far definitely reflect that, which totally sucks because usually I start off strong. I couldn’t have predicted a real-life murder investigation would overshadow the ones we study in my classes, but it’s definitely taken up the majority of my brain space. I’ve been fucking distracted by all of it. It’s been bad. Really bad.
And now with Megan no longer being in prison, she’s on my mind when I’d never wanted to spend a single second thinking about her ever fucking again. That woman robbed me of part of my youth that I’ll never get back. I refuse to let her steal anything more from me, so I shove thoughts of our time together into a box in the back of my head and lock it up tight.
With an uncomfortable sigh, I jog up the stairs to the top floor, where the guys said they’d wait for me in one of the study rooms. They’re great little places for stuff like this. Tables, chairs, no Sin Keeper cameras in sight—not that we know wherethey are in the SIN house—and a door we can close so no one can overhear what we’re discussing with this computer-whiz guy Wilder says might be able to help us.
Yesterday, right after Royal and Wilder returned home from their workout, Royal asked me to come with him upstairs because he needed to show me something. At first, I thoughtsomethingwas code for his cock, which I must admit, I did not mind in the slightest. Then, when he grabbed his laptop and ushered me onto the bed beside him, I figured I was about to be treated to some porn or something, but no. That hadn’t been the case at all.
He pulled up a bunch of files and proceeded to tell me how he transferred them directly from Rich Frank’s computer and had kept their existence to himself for a while because it’s all Sin Keeper bullshit, and he couldn’t figure out what he was looking for anyway. But the night of the murder, he finally found the right folder, which he believes is loaded with Sin Keeper secrets. Echo caught him looking at it that night, so she already knew, but I guess he’d gotten tired of hiding it because he informed Wilder of it while they were at the gym, and then he filled me in, too.
We all share the same opinion. There has to be a reason the Sin Keeper wants Royal to know about these weird-as-fuck files. So, now that we’re on a mission of sorts to find out what they contain, though I can probably guess a lot of it. At least the four with our names on them, anyway, which means things could get highly uncomfortable.
I’m guessing the truth behind why we were all selected to become brothers in the Sigma Iota Nu fraternity is in those damn files. There’s gotta be a spectacularly gruesome mash-up of our pasts in there. Wilder’s dad’s death. Royal’s vehicular manslaughter. My grooming by a pedophile.
Since Royal sprang all this on me yesterday, I’ve been wigging out. Why the fuck would Rich Frank have Sin Keeper files on his computer? What the fuck is that all about? Was it planted there because the Sin Keeper knew Royal would find a way to get access? If that’s the case, why in the ever-loving fuck didn’t he make it easier on him? I don’t fucking get it.
Fuck, I’m so confused but also certain all the bits and pieces of this mess are close to lining up, and I have the distinct feeling we’re going to feel like fucking idiots for bumbling around for so long when everything falls into place. But seriously, how twisted is this going to get? How deep does the deception and lies and plot for revenge go?
“Beck.”
I look up at the sound of Royal’s voice, shaken to find that I’d stopped at the top of the staircase and had been standing here for who knows how long, lost in my own damn nightmare. Clearing my throat, I lift a hand in greeting. “Hey.” Royal and Wilder are sitting at a table in one of the study rooms. The guy, who’s supposedly a genius, is already seated with them. I study him as I approach, immediately suspicious of anyone outside our circle. Gray button-down, black pants, and a spiffy-looking pair of shoes. Not gonna lie… I kinda like his style. It’s unique. And the entire ensemble is capped off, interestingly enough, by a pair of suspenders. What’s really funny is that I feel his assessing silver-gray eyes on me, like he’s sizing me up, too, and I cock my head to the side, wondering if this guy is going to be a pain in the ass… or if he’s going to be my new best friend. I can’t fucking decide, which is odd in itself, because I usually get an immediate read on people. This guy, though, is a straight-up enigma.
A moment later, as I reach them, an unassuming grin spreads across his face, and he sticks out his hand in greeting. “Hey. I’m Archer. Sounds like I’ve been summoned by some ofthe most notorious fraternity brothers on campus for a little of my expertise.”
Wilder looks at the surprise on my face, then shakes his head, chuckling as he waves me into the study room.
Focusing on the newcomer, I murmur, “I’m Beckham,” as I give his hand a quick squeeze. My gaze shifts back to Wilder and Royal. “Did Echo get to class okay?” She’d been slightly peeved to discover Wilder’s friend is only available to meet with us now, while she’s in class, but had also agreed that it needed to be done. She’d made us promise to share whatever information we learned… especially if we’re able to access her file.
Royal is the one to answer. “Yeah. Walked her there myself. Asked her to stay put until we showed up.”
Archer’s brows raise, but he doesn’t remark on our show of caution.
