Page 60 of Draco Family Duet

"I have no doubt," I responded. "Of course, if anyone harms a hair on her head, who's going to savethemfromme?"

Fredo chuckled. "Why...Peri, ofcourse."

In my mind, I could see her, flashing her smile…the one that pierced my heart, staring at me with those violet eyes, and then arguing with me over God knows what. Inhaling deeply, I felt somewhat better. "Thank you, Fredo. I'm going to call the police station and see what I can find out. I'll be in touchsoon."

"You're welcome, Mr. Draco. Happy tohelp."

I ended the call and searched for the number to the police station, but before I could hit the button to connect, my phone began to ring and I recognized Adam's extension. "Why did you find out?" I bit my lip and struggled to hide my fear. Ever since Peri had disappeared, I'd been filled with a nagging doubt, concern over hersafety.

"Well, sir," Adam began with a serious edge to his voice. "You're not going to likeit."

"Right. Continue." I rubbed my eyes and tried to remain calm, but I could feel the burning in my gut and decided to grab a glass of water just to be safe. While I made my way to the kitchen, he started to relay what he'ddiscovered.

"So, the Reclaim the Kingdom Project is actually a fake 403b. It's not really a charity atall."

"I'm shocked," Imurmured.

"It seems to be the account where all the money from the recent Draco deaths ends up. Oddly enough, each of the Dracos essentially had the same will, which specified that in the event of their untimely death, their entire estate would go to this so-calledcharity."

"Any idea who runs it?" I grumbled before swallowing a few swigs ofwater.

"Actually, yes. And here's where it gets interesting," headded.

"Right, because it wasn't interesting before," I mumbled. "Goon."

Adam ignored me and finished relaying his information. "The director is Spencer Morse, whois..."

I set my cup on the counter so hard, I expected it to break. "One of the partners in Abingdon, Betters, andMorse.”

“So, you know them.” He sounded more confident now that he’d shared all theconnections.

“Yes, and now I really have to go.” I ended the call, stuffed the phone in my pocket and gathered my hair into a quickbun.

Stephen walked up behind me. “What’s goingon?”

I whipped around and frowned. “Peri’s indanger.”

* * *

Peri

“If I’m notunder arrest, you wanna explain the handcuffs?” I grumbled as the officer removed them. We had arrived at the station. I’d been immediately ushered into a room for questioning. Then the officer disappeared without a word and had left me sitting eversince.

While I sat there, for what seemed like forever, but was probably more like twenty minutes, I thought about everything that had happened the last twenty-four hours and struggled to piece it all together. Who could’ve done this? I rubbed my temples as I tried to recall the evening in detail. We’d arrived early Friday night. I spent Saturday morning working on the seating arrangements, the music, and ensuring the set-up on the lawn was precisely how I’d envisioned it. Devon mostly slept in late and hobnobbed with the guests as they arrived. Then it was time to get ready, and the will signing. There was something in his eyes, like he was already nervous then. What had he figured out that I was missing? Judging by the papers I’d never seen before, even though I knew some details, he certainly hadn’t shared everything. I sighed. Wouldn’t it be just like Devon to protect me right to the bitterend?

The door opened while I sat there rubbing my eyes, promising myself I wouldn’t cry. It took everything in me to not jump and study the man who’d entered the room. Chances are I’d only find out it was Detective Jeffries anyway. And he seemed like a serious asshole. I slowly leaned on my elbow and stared across the table at the man Iexpected.

“I’d like to ask you a few questions,” Jeffries commented while looking through the file folder in front of him. From the tab, I could see it was Devon’s and my frowndeepened.

“Me,” I grumbled. “I’m dying to know how I became a person ofinterest.”

He closed the folder and laid it on the table in front of him. I could read the disgust in his eyes. “You were spotted running from the scene of the crime. That should beobvious.”

I shook my head. “Well, you’re halfright.”

His brows shot up. “Half right? How’s that?” He folded his hands on thetable.

“I was being chased from the scene of the crime. Apparently, whoever made the report failed to mention that key piece of information.” Ihuffed.

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