Page 69 of Guarded Knight

My chest tightens when I glance up and see a head full of Freya’s cheerful, bouncy hair. She doesn’t deserve this. She was mortified thinking she might be dating a bad guy.

They haven’t been dating that long. I’m not sure she’s exactly obsessed with the guy, but she still deserves better than the betrayal I’m about to drop in her lap. But I have to.

I steady my voice, not too emotional, not too professional and detached. “Freya. I need to talk to you about something.”

She looks up, eyes wide. “What’s up?”

“You remember the transactions I told you about?” My face scrunches despite myself, as I prepare to upend both our lives. I turn the screen toward her, the numbers sharp and damning. “I just read one of the annual reports, and Kevin has allowed a shit load of money to bleed out into personal purchases at other charities.”

Freya’s lips part, her eyes flickering between the screen and my face. Shock lines her features. “So it’s… he… you’re sure he knows?”

My throat tightens. “I can’t be sure of that yet, but here’s the real kick in the teeth. All the charities Scarlet Hope has supported have one thing in common. A woman named Belinda Doyle.”

She says what I’m thinking. “Do you think Kevin and Belinda know each other? Like personally?”

“I don’t know, but there are some coincidences I’m not too excited about.”

“Like what?” There’s dread in her voice, her gaze flickering between me and the screen.

“It might be nothing,”Though my gut says otherwise.“But one of the charities bought a few expensive vehicles. One of them… it’s the same car as Kevin’s.”

Freya’s eyes go glassy. She looks like I just punched her. “What do you mean?”

It didn’t even occur to me until now. I made it sound like he’s cheating on her. And maybe he is, but I didn’t mean to drop that bomb.

Freya’s jaw tightens. “What’s this woman’s last name? Doydle?”

“Doyle,” I say, wincing. Gosh, I hope she doesn’t find these two are an item.

I don’t think Freya was too invested in Kevin, but then again, I wasn’t in Cameron either, but finding out he was messing around still stabbed at my self-esteem.

I try to backtrack. “I still don’t have anything besides these reports from Belinda’s charities but I hate keeping things from you, Freya. I’m already keeping too many secrets as it is.”

She darts her gaze to Gabriel, still planted at his table, eyes on us, and then back at me, quick as a heartbeat. “No. I get it. You have to do what you have to do.”

I hope shedoesn’tget it. When Gabriel barked at her in the barn, he apologized, which probably made her think he’s just stressed or a hard-ass. He is both, I’m sure. But I hope she doesn’t realize he’s been suspicious of her, too.

Though I think he’s eased off that.

He hasn’t mentioned it again, not out loud.

Freya’s eyes harden. “Doyle.” She pulls out her tablet, a determined glint in her eyes, and searches with hope on one shoulder and a fuck you on the other.

I hope I’m wrong about Belinda and Kevin being connected.

I squeeze her hand. “I’m sorry.”

She shakes her head. “What the hell are you sorry for? You’re on my side.” She swallows thickly. “I have mixed feelings, but… it’s better we figure this out.”

God, I love this woman.

My phone buzzes, and I jump. Shit. I hate that I still flinch at the simple sound of a text.

A reminder pops up.Meds.I glance at the clock. “I need to run to the pharmacy.”

Freya waves me off. “Leave me here. I’ll be busy and can make it back to the apartment. Prince Protector will be taking you home after, right?”

She’s already deep into her search and won’t be coming up for air soon. Both of us have been down the rabbit hole with cyber-snooping before. I know what it’s like.