Page 201 of Burning Daylight

Right now, I’m hiding behind a parked car in the alley behind the Round Table, waiting to see Benjamin.

He texted late last night, before I got rid of my phone, and begged me to meet him here.

It’s probably a trap, and I’m most likely the stupidest fucking guy in the world, but what other choice do I have?

The moment he gets to the back entrance, I have him shoved up against the brick, a pocketknife at his throat.

He throws his hands up, but he doesn’t fight me.

His eyes seem hollow, dark circles underneath them.

“Roman,” he breathes, like he’sthankfulto see me.

“Tell me what’s going on, Benny,” I demand. “No more half truths. No more bullshit.”

“Merrick’s alive.”

Relief coasts through me, and I blow out a deep breath, my eyes flicking to my hands without thought and then back up. I got his blood off me after scrubbing for what felt like hours, but knowing he’s still breathing makes the vise grip on my chest ease, just a little.

I drop Benjamin from the wall and back up a few steps, keeping a healthy distance between us. “And Tyler?”

Benjamin swallows and runs a hand through his hair, his fingers shaky and his skin sallow like he’s trying not to puke. “I’m not sure about him. I don’t know.”

“You’ll forgive me for not believing a word you say.”

Benjamin nods, his tongue pressing against his cheek, and then he exhales like he’s steeling himself for something. “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

My chin lifts and my jaw tenses. “Forwhatto happen?”

He swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

“Spit it out, Benny,” I snap.

His brows draw in, and his face contorts like he’s trying to hold back tears. “It wasn’t supposed to get so out of control. Merrick was never supposed to be involved. To get hurt. I didn’t—” He chokes on a sob, and he’s pacing now, his fingers tearing at the roots of his dirty blond hair.

“Benjamin,” I say, my voice loud and direct. “You’re rambling. Tell me what’s going on.”

He stops. “Frederick Lawrence isn’t who he says he is.”

“No shit,” I reply. “Neither are you, it would seem. How could you, Benny? How could you betray the family this way?”

“Formyfamily!” he snaps and then tugs on his hair again. “Uncle M lied. He covered things up. Madeherout to be the problem when all she ever tried to do was survive.”

My heart trips. “Who?”

He meets my gaze, his eyes hollowed out by grief. “My aunt Eleanor. Marcus’s wife.”

The name lands like a sucker punch to the ribs, and I stumble back a half step.

“That’s…” I shake my head. “What do you mean? She’s dead, she died, my mom always said…”

“That she was unstable? Dangerous?” Benjamin’s voice cuts deep. “That she made Uncle M fucking miserable?”

“No, she always said Eleanor was the reason why I couldn’t come back.”

Benjamin lets out a short, humorless laugh. “She did hate you, Roman. You were the proof of everything that was taken from her. Uncle M humiliated her. He had a child with his mistress and then gaveyouhis last name. And when she planned to run away with Craig Calloway, he had the fucking gall to kill her for it.”

I stare at him, but the world is tilting again, everything I thought I knew being rearranged. “That’s not…”