Page 90 of The Villain

“Oh, God. That’s terrible.”

“Cassian’s father confuses Seth and Cassian sometimes.”

“Did you know Seth?”

He nods, sips. Doesn’t offer more.

“How long ago did he disappear?” I ask as casually as I am able.

“Just about two years.”

“Is he dead?”

“It’s assumed, but no one knows. No body no crime, right?”

“Is that supposed to be a joke?”

“Poor taste. My bad.”

“Why did his father say what he said about Cassian putting Seth in that terrible place? What place?”

He shrugs a shoulder as my mind fillsin the blank. A grave? Did Cassian put his brother in a grave and his father knows it?

“From what I know about Seth and Cassian, Seth was the favorite. Seth was everything to Samuel, or so Cassian told me back when he told me things. Now he’s left to shoulder the burden of his father’s dementia while everyone thinks he killed his brother.”

“He wouldn’t do that.”

“No?”

“Why would he? I mean, he’s close to Vivi. It sounds like he takes care of her and her son.” Then something occurs to me. “He’s not in love with her, is he?”

That confuses Jet for a moment, but then he chuckles. “They’re very close and he takes care of Gage that’s true. And I’m not suggesting he did anything to his brother. It’s just what people assume, but you know what they say about assuming.” He chuckles, drinks more whiskey. “I mean it’s logical. Power thing. If Seth were here, he’d be running the show. With Seth out of the way, Cassian’s the boss.”

“He wouldn’t do that.”

“So you keep saying, Allegra, but do you know it for a fact?”

I open my mouth to answer, but I don’t have an answer. I guess I can’t know that. At least I don’t know it more than a feeling.

“Why does he call you Moth anyway?”

“What?”

“Cassian. He calls you Moth.”

I shake my head, look away not because I feelembarrassed although I guess I do a little. It seems like it’s a private thing between Cassian and I, but it shouldn’t be. I have to remember that to Cassian, I’m collateral. I’m here to make sure he gets his money.

“Probably trying to annoy me.”

He chuckles. “Probably. He doesn’t often give his girlfriends nicknames. Although he doesn’t really have girlfriends.”

“Well, I’m not his girlfriend.”

“No?”

I open my mouth to set things straight, but before either of us can say more, the door opens, and Cassian is standing there looking huge and pissed as hell, but unsurprised. I jump to my feet.

Cassian looks from Jet to me and back.