Page 115 of It's a Wonderful Knife

I asked, “Why did you have Jax’s knife?”

She gave a funny little smile. “I like to take things of his sometimes.”

“You encouraged her.” Elle glowered at Jax. “You had to have donesomethingto make her think she was in love with you.”

“No. I didn’t,” Jax said gruffly. “I swear.”

“He didn’t touch me, but I wanted him to.” Chloe lifted her chin. “I’m not a little girl, Mama. That’s a fact.”

“Oh, Chloe.” Elle’s bottom lip trembled.

“What happened tonight?” Royce asked. “Did you go there planning on killing Richard, Chloe?”

She shrugged. “I had to protect Jax.”

“So, you knew Richard wasn’t drowned?” Royce’s gaze was assessing.

“Yes. I knew he was meeting Jax tonight. They needed to get the drugs off the property before the cops come tomorrow. I also knew Richard would get there early because he liked to dip into the drugs when Jax wasn’t looking. I knew he’d be high and that would be my best chance to surprise him.”

“Asshole couldn’t stop pilfering.” Jax scowled. “He thought I didn’t know he’d steal bags and go use in the bushes. The guy was a mess.”

Chloe nodded. “That’s why I had to protect you, Jax.”

Jax pulled his teeth tight across his lips. “I wish you hadn’t have done it, honey.”

Shrugging, Chloe said, “What’s done is done.”

Royce asked, “How did you get in the barn? I have a key, and Jax had a key. Did you take Jax’s key?”

“No. There are three keys to that padlock. I have one. I got it out of Mona’s desk. I used to like to go in the reindeer barn and just think about things. But not now.” She shuddered. “I don’t want to go in there ever again.”

“Three keys?” Mona frowned. “I thought there were only two.”

“Nope.” Chloe shrugged. “There were definitely three.”

Hermina hugged Mary Puppins. “She seemed like such a sweet girl.”

Dakota looked heartbroken, but he didn’t speak.

Royce let out a tired sigh. “I don’t even know what to say. I really wish this wasn’t where things had landed.” He glanced at Elle. “I hope you know this isn’t easy for me to be in this position.”

She stared at him, resentment glittering in her eyes. “I don’t want to even look at you right now, Royce. You’ve destroyed my life and my baby girl’s life.”

Anger prickled me because I could see her words bothered Royce. “Your daughter murderedtwomen. Is Royce supposed to just pretend that didn’t happen?”

Royce glanced at me. “It’s okay, Max.”

“Not it’s not. She’s mad at you because her daughter slaughtered two men in cold blood. How is thatyourfault? It doesn’t matter if they weren’t nice people. That’s not the point. We don’t get to just kill people we don’t like.” I glanced at River.

River raised his brows. “Why are you looking at me?”

Mona said softly, “Max is right, Elle. I can’t imagine the pain you’re feeling, but it’s not fair to be mad at Royce. He’s just doing his job.”

“You’d have beenhappyfor the sheriff to arrest any one of us if we’d killed those men. Your daughter isn’t above the law just because she’s your daughter.” Amelia scowled. “I loved Santiago. Maybe our relationship wasn’t perfect, but I loved him, and Chloe took him from me.”

Elle swallowed hard, still looking obstinate. But at least she didn’t say anything else mean to Royce.

“By rights, I should lock both of you up tonight.” Royce rubbed his jaw, weariness settling on his features.