Page 66 of Prince of Control

He stops.

I try unsuccessfully to swallow. “What about Baron?”

Leo catches the intensity in my voice and looks up from his phone, where he’s still working while we speak. “There’s nothing between them,” he says dismissively. “I don’t mean that. But Baron has a hard time with people getting hurt on his watch.”

There it is again—another reference to this protective aspect of Baron and a hint to an underlying trauma that caused it.

“What happened to him?” I ask quietly.

Leo sends me a quick look, then shakes his head. “Not my story to tell.”

My pulse quickens simply at hearing I’m right–there is a story. But I respect Leo’s boundary. He’s right–Baron should share it with me. I hope he can.

Leo’s phone buzzes, and he responds to something.

“Fuuuuuuck.” He runs a hand through his hair.

“What is it?”

He hands me the phone, which is open to the New York Times app, with “Breaking News” at the top.

The headline reads “Daughter of Vice Presidential Candidate Gabe Tracy Drugged and Assaulted at Thornecroft Party.”

I suck in a sharp breath, ice sluicing through my veins. “But… that didn’t happen. Did it?”

Leo shakes his head. “Definitely not. This is Titan House fucking with us.”

I see doubt on his face, though. “Would another society house go to such lengths just because your parties are better?” I ask doubtfully. “They wouldn’t assault a woman, would they?”

A muscle jumps in Leo’s jaw. “Well, she’d be the one to pick if they wanted to be sure we get permanently closed down and prosecuted.”

He muses some more. “Or it could be her father’s political opponents trying to make him look weak.” He shakes his head. “No, that doesn’t make sense. It has to be a set-up to get at Baron and our house.”

He returns to his phone, scrolling through video footage. “Here, look.” He shows me the video of Anders escorting Lara out to a security cart–one of the open-air electric carts the campus security patrol in. He gives her a kiss before helping her into the back seat then stands and watches as the cart drives away. “Did she look drugged to you?” Leo asks.

I shake my head, drawing in a much-needed breath.

Leo has evidence. Everything is going to be okay.

He stands and walks up to the counter. “I’d like to speak to the person in charge of the Melinda Tracy case,” he says, showing the screen of his phone. “I have time-stamped video evidence of her leaving our party.”

Baron

They grill me for what feels like hours. I don’t second-guess not calling my mom. If I get formally charged, she’ll probably kill me for not bringing her in immediately, but for now, I’m cooperating. For Melinda’s sake.

Finally, they tell me I’m free to go. “Your wife is here to pick you up,” the detective says.

Surprise pours like warm liquid into my chest. “She is?” I ask stupidly.

Lara came.

It’s early morning, which means she probably didn’t sleep.

Which means she cares.

My wife is here to pick me up.

No words have ever meant more to me.