Page 4 of Absolution (Favorite Malady Trilogy #3)

DANE

“ I don’t want to see you either,” I sneer when my brother appears outside of my holding cell. “There’s nothing you can say that will change my mind.”

Years of resentment are etched into every taut line around his eyes and mouth. “I know. But maybe you’ll listen to her.”

He steps aside, and my stomach drops.

“You can’t be here.” My knuckles turn white as I clutch at the bars, as though I can tear them down so I can get to Abigail. The urge to throw her over my shoulder and drag her out of this place tenses all my muscles, but there’s nothing I can do.

As long as I’m caged, I’m powerless.

Her chin tips back in that defiant posture that transforms her into an imperious queen.

“I’m here because your brother made sure I could get in to see you,” she says, infuriatingly calm. “If you just listen to me, you can walk out of here.”

I gnash my teeth. “I will not let you take the fall for what I did.”

It’s madness that she might even think of sacrificing herself for me after everything I’ve done to her. Maybe our time in my family home warped her mind. Maybe I’ve broken my little dove without realizing it.

“Neither of us has to go to jail,” she reasons.

Her dainty fingers close around mine, so that we’re both gripping the iron bars to my cell. I didn’t realize how cold my hands were until she touched me.

“Your family can ensure?—”

“No.” I recoil as though she’s thrown acid at my face. “I’m not accepting anything from my father.”

She reaches through the bars, grabbing my forearm before I can fully retreat. “Not your father. James is going to help you.”

My lips curl with contempt, and I glare daggers at my brother. He put her up to this. He’s putting her at risk.

“Get her out of here,” I seethe. “If I’m not guilty, they’ll look at her again. They’ll arrest her.”

He scoffs. “She’s physically incapable of inflicting that kind of damage on a man. The police have no evidence to hold her. Especially once I arrange for that drug-laced mug to disappear. There will be no motive or evidence to build a case against either of you.”

“I’ve already admitted that I did it.” I fling at him like the physical blow I so desperately want to deliver. “There’s nothing you can do to save me now.”

Abigail’s fingernails bite into my forearm, commanding my attention.

“If you tell the police that you only said it to protect me from arrest, your family’s lawyers will get your admission omitted from the record.”

My stomach sours with betrayal. “You of all people should understand that I won’t accept my family’s money and influence. I thought you knew me better than that.”

Her lips twist in a disapproving frown, as though I’m being unreasonable.

And maybe I am, but I’ll die before I accept a bail-out from my parents. If I do, they’ll hold leverage over me for the rest of my life. I’ll never submit to their control.

“I’m not asking you to accept anything from your parents,” she insists. “I know you won’t want to hear this, but James has done nothing wrong. It’s not his fault that your mom and dad tried to replace your sister with him. He was a child, just like you were.”

I scowl at him. “He’s not a child anymore.”

“No, I’m not,” he snaps. “And I’ve accepted a man’s responsibilities while you ran off to America.

I have to be the heir now. You took that choice away from me.

You’ve been free to live as you choose for years.

You can be free again if you just listen to Abigail.

Do you want to spend the rest of your life in prison? ”

Abigail’s hold on my arm gentles, and she laces her fingers through mine. My fist loosens to accept her.

“Choose us,” she urges, her aquamarine eyes shining. “Be with me, Dane. I don’t want to face a future without you.”

Something twists painfully at the center of my chest. “I can’t risk it,” I rasp. “I won’t let them arrest you.”

She squeezes my hand in a pulse of comfort. “They won’t. James won’t let them.”

That gets my hackles up again. “It’s not his job to protect you.”

She’s mine.

Her shoulders straighten. “It’s my job to protect you , and I won’t let you face a life sentence. There’s a way for both of us to walk out of here. Together.”

I reach my free hand through the bars and cup her cheek, tracing the delicate line of her jaw with my thumb. She’s so fragile, even in her defiance. If I’m not by her side, anything could happen to her. Some bastard might try to hurt her again, and I won’t be there to kill him for her.

“I’m listening,” I rumble.

I can swallow my pride and bend for her. I would sacrifice anything for Abigail, even if it means putting myself at my family’s mercy.

The space outside my cell is more cramped than inside it. Mum, Dad, James, and Abigail are clustered together, all their attention fixed squarely on me.

“Has the American made you see reason, then?” Mum demands, not even bothering to use Abigail’s name. “You’ll retract your statement of guilt?”

I cross my arms over my chest and fix her with my fiercest scowl. “Yes.”

“At least she has some influence over you,” Dad sneers. “I suppose you’ll want her to come live at the house with us. You might be easier to handle if she’s around. I’ll arrange her visa today.”

“We’re not going back to the manor.” I drop the words like a bomb. “I have one condition to retract my statement: you will give up your title and retire to the villa in Spain.”

Dad’s mouth opens, then closes. His lips seal shut, as though he’s holding in a tirade, and his face turns beet red.

“Daniel!” my mother squawks. “How dare you even suggest such a thing.”

I lift a brow at her. “I dare. It’s your choice. Face ruin or flee the country. Surrender your precious place in society, and you can at least keep your dignity intact. Whatever dignity you possess.”

“Preposterous!” Dad thunders. “You have no right to ask such a thing.”

“I’m not asking.” The words are icy daggers. “Let me be clear: this is a threat. I’ll give the press a full interview with my explicit confession about how I murdered Stephen Lansing with my bare hands, or you will pass on the title to your rightful heir.”

“You… You think…” Mum splutters. “If you expect us to make you the heir again after this…”

“Not me. I’m going back to America with Abigail. James is the Earl of Ripley now. He’s more than earned the right.” I look at my younger brother. “The better man will get the title.”

He blinks, and his jaw goes slack with shock.

I suppose it’s the nicest thing I’ve ever said to him.

Possibly the only kind words I’ve ever spoken about him.

Abigail was right. It’s not his fault that my parents replaced Katie with James. He had no control over their actions. I should’ve realized that years ago, but I was too wrapped up in my own loathing for my family name to see that he’s innocent in all this.

“You can’t do this,” Dad blusters. “You want to go to jail? I hope they bring back the death penalty for you. You can hang for all I care.”

A slow, cruel smile spreads over my face. “The only thing that will die is your reputation. I’ll happily rot in a cell if it means your ruin.”

“You’re bluffing,” Mum says shrilly. “Always these sick games, Daniel. We’re not falling for it.”

I fix her with a steady stare and allow her to see the depth of my vindictive loathing in my eyes.

“It will be my greatest pleasure to see you brought low. I will relish your downfall. If I’m going away for life, guaranteeing your demise will be my sole purpose.

Or…” I draw out several beats of tense silence, watching my parents squirm.

“You can be content with my quiet return to America. You can disappear from high society, and James will do you proud. Only we will know your shame.”

“You are my greatest shame,” Dad seethes.

“Your greatest shame should be the fact that you killed your own daughter. But if I have to take up that mantle, I will. Gladly.”

No one says anything for a full minute. I spend the first several seconds relishing my parents’ anguish.

But, as always, my attention is drawn to Abigail like a magnet.

The cold satisfaction that pulsed through my veins warms to a gentle heat as I thaw in her rapt gaze.

She looks at me like she’s…proud of me. Those perfect lips are curved in a small smile, and her lovely eyes glow with pale blue fire.

I should’ve known she would never ask me to compromise myself. She wouldn’t beg me to succumb to my family’s control and place myself in their cruel hands.

My clever Abigail devised this plan to punish my parents for all the pain they’ve caused me. After decades evading justice, they will finally pay penance for what they did to Katie. What they did to me. And James.

At least he’ll be free of them now too. He can live his own life as Lord Graham, and he will answer to no one.

He’s almost a stranger to me, but maybe that’s been to my detriment. I’ve always spurned my family, but I might not have to be entirely alone anymore.

I have a brother.

And I have Abigail.

“Give up the title, or your murderous son will be the first thing the British public sees on the morning news.” I twist the knife, compelling my father’s compliance.

He’s almost purple now, but my mother’s complexion has gone chalk white. Even her lips are pale; they’re pressed together so hard that I wonder if she’ll ever be able to unlock her jaw to speak a cruel word again.

“Damn you,” Dad hisses. “Fine. James will have the title. We will go to Spain. Return to your American exile. I never want to see your face again.”

“The feeling is mutual,” I assure him. “I anticipate our renewed estrangement.”

He braces a supportive arm around my mother before her knees can buckle, and he mostly drags her out of the cramped space.

Abigail is beaming at me, as though we’ve been engaged in a thrilling game, and we’ve just won. Her giddy energy is catching, and I grin right back at her like a fool.

James sighs, but I don’t bother looking in his direction. I can’t tear my gaze from her: my perfect Abigail, my miracle.

When she found out that I killed Stephen for her, I’d thought she would never be able to live with it. Some part of me preferred prison to the prospect of seeing her disgust at my murderous capabilities. A jail sentence would’ve been easier to bear than her rejection.

But she’s not turning from me in horror. She’s choosing me. She devised a way to make my parents pay for their sins and free me at the same time.

“Come on,” she urges. “Let’s get out of here.”

I nod. “I’m ready to retract my statement.”

Wherever she goes, I’ll follow. I won’t allow anyone to separate me from her ever again.