Page 78 of His Haunted Desire

“I pray that’s what happens,” she says tearfully.

I leave the limo again, filled with nervous, furious energy. Grandma has gone from being certain he’s not involved tohopingthat’s the case, which means she was never certain at all. She let her love cloud her judgment. Can I blame her? He’s her grandson. She loves him as much as she loves me and Julian.

“Detective Drake,” I say when she answers. “I’ve got news.”

CHAPTER 29

AURORA

Raiden and I linger at the edge of the party. I’ve got my hand on his arm and an adoring expression on my face, a requirement of my role, but Raiden isn’t playing the social rich guy very well. He stares broodily around the room, his jaw pulsing, teeth clenched so hard it’s a miracle they don’t shatter.

“It’s going to be okay,” I whisper, standing on my tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek.

“When I’ve got word the cops have found him, I’ll try to relax,” he says gruffly.

“I’m sorry about this. You must be devastated.”

“I thought my father loved my mother. I thought Grandma was always honest with me.”

“It’s a lot to take in,” I say, squeezing his hand.

“I’m too old to pout.”

“Don’t do that.”

He looks down at my sudden sharp tone. “Do what?”

“Downplay your feelings. Act like you’re not allowed to have any. You’ve learned some devastating news, Raiden, news that would shake anyone to their core.”

“Everyone wears masks,” he says sourly, looking around the bright ballroom, the chandeliers glistening, a band playing soft music from the stage, men in expensive suits and women in elegant dresses mingling and networking.

“All this time, Sebastian has been wearing a mask. The loyal butler. He was my brother this whole damn time.” His voice suddenly grows louder. “Julian!”

Julian, his cousin, approaches us. His curly black hair looks wet with sweat, and thick beads slide down his forehead.

“Nervous about something?” Raiden says.

Julian laughs… nervously.

“Get a call from the detective?” Raiden goes on relentlessly.

Julian’s face goes pale. “You got the same call?”

“Did you know?” Raiden grabs Julian’s shirt and gives him a shake. “Don’t just look at me, dammit. Answer me.”

I touch Raiden’s arm. He’s burning up even through the fabric of his suit. “Raiden, people are looking. Remember your mask.”

He lets his cousin go, but he’s still visibly shaking.

“Well?” he snaps.

“No, man. Jesus. If I’d known I had another cousin, I would’ve said something. This is a shock to me too.”

“Do you know who it is?” Raiden says.

Julian narrows his eyes. “Doyou?”

“Think, Julian. It’s someone we know. It’s someone who’s always been there, but we’ve never looked too closely at. Because we were born into a certain class and certain kinds of people are invisible to us. That’s an ugly fact, but it’s a fact all the same.”