Page 35 of Broken Crown

“I do.”I chew on my bottom lip, toiling over everything Jameson has shared with me today.And yesterday.

All along, I tried to blame Jameson Gates for being involved in something simply because he looked at Gianna.

Maybe he was just a pawn, and I should have been looking at Silas Archer with more scrutiny.Hehadraised his suspicions about Archer when he told Adam about his secret relationship with Callie.

“Why would Archer want us to marry so badly that he was willing to kill over it?Assuming that’s your theory.”

“It’s the most rational one.And the only reason I can come up with is money.”

“Money?”

“There’s no doubt in my mind my father was willing to pay him a small fortune once we were married.Again.It’s all speculation.There’s no smoking gun.”

“What should we do?”

“We?”He arches a brow.

“If he killed Callie and Adam, or at least hired some man with a scar to do his dirty work, he deserves to pay.Callie deserves justice.So does Adam.”

“And I’d give anything to get Callie the justice she deserves.To make this bastard pay before…” He trails off, pinching his eyes shut.

“Before what?”I slide closer, placing my hand over his and squeezing.He returns his red-rimmed eyes to mine, offering me an appreciative smile.

“Unfortunately, Archer’s well-connected,” he responds, ignoring my question.

“So am I.As are you.”

“But he’s one thing neither one of us is.That we’ll never be.”

“And that is?”

“Dangerous, Esme.Silas Archer isextremelydangerous.And calculating.And manipulative.It’s why he’s been able to get away with all of this for so long.Why he’s been able to frame other people for his crimes.But everyone eventually makes a mistake.And I plan on being there when Archer does.Then I plan on making him pay.”

There’s a harshness to those final words, causing a chill to trickle along my spine, a hint of trepidation washing over me.But I quickly push down any feeling of unease.This man just revealed his deepest vulnerabilities and secrets.Every single explanation he gave me makes perfect sense.

Hell, I probably would have come to the same conclusion if I hadn’t been so insistent on finding something wrong with Jameson.

“Well, I should be off,” he says after several long moments.“Let you get back to binge-watching true crime documentaries.”

With a wink, he stands from the couch and buttons his jacket.But it doesn’t fit his body like it should, the shoulders and waist loose.As I scan the rest of his frame, I notice his pants appear ill-fitting, as well, his belt the only thing keeping them secure.

Physical proof of how much this has been affecting him.

“Thanks for stopping by.”I pull myself to my feet.“And for…sharing.”

“I hadn’t planned on it, if I’m being honest.I just wanted to check on you, especially after you mentioned seeing the man with a scar.I guess…” He trails off, shaking his head.“I guess I just needed you to know that I believe you.And to tell you to be careful.Can you promise me that?That you’ll be careful?That you won’t go poking around in this?”

“I…”

“Please, Esme…” His voice is choked with emotion as he clutches my biceps.“I’ve already lost Callie to this.And nearly lost you…twice.I don’t want the third time to be the charm.Promise you won’t do anything to put yourself at risk.Okay?”

I tilt my head, studying him.Why would a man who’s essentially been little more than a stranger this past decade feel so strongly about this?Does he have some ulterior motive here?

It’s sad that I’ve been around selfish, narcissistic people so long that whenever someone does have altruistic motives, I immediately question it.

“Okay,” I finally say.“I won’t dig around.”

His shoulders fall out of relief.“Thank you.”

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