22. Kinsley

22

KINSLEY

Briefly alone with Tiberius, I whisper, “That was the most awkward dinner. I thought Cannon might leap across the table and stab Rossi with his steak knife.”

“Edge is good with knives. All he’d have to do is throw one at the man and it’d kill him.”

I shudder and turn my body toward him. My arms slip inside his dinner jacket as they wrap around his waist. “I love being able to claim you as mine in public. No hiding how I feel about you.”

He cups the back of my head and tips my face up to his. "How do you feel about me?"

My heart pounds. My eyes sparkle as I look up at him, a mischievous smile playing on my lips. "I love you, Tiberius Beckett," I whisper.

He leans in to kiss me and whispers, "I love you too, sweetheart."

A throat clears, interrupting our moment.

"Can I speak to Kinsley?" Cannon asks.

After a brief hesitation, Tiberius says, "The library. I will give you privacy, but I'm not leaving her alone with you."

Cannon holds Tiberius’s gaze as if they are silently communicating.

As one, we head toward the library. I notice Veronica and Cleo huddled together in one corner of the living room, engaged in a hushed conversation as we pass. Rossi sits in an armchair with a glass of bourbon in hand, while Xavier looks bored to death as he stands beside Saul. The tension in the room is thick as we continue toward the library.

Cannon’s proximity has me on edge, but I maintain my composure as Tiberius guides me to an elegant chair in the far corner of the room, away from the windows. He indicates for Cannon to take the opposite chair.

"I am trusting you with everything I hold dear."

"I gave my word, Beckett."

Tiberius backs to the opposite corner and leans against the wall as he watches us closely. The atmosphere is thick with unspoken words and hidden intentions, making me wonder what secrets are lurking beneath the surface of this awkward situation.

Without speaking, Cannon types on his phone and then holds it out to me so I can see the words.

Has Rossi given you anything?

My brows pinch together as I slowly nod and point to the swan brooch.

Cannon curses and types something else.

Remove it. Bugged.

My eyes widen in surprise. I wave Tiberius over with a finger over my lips. I pass him the brooch and nod toward Cannon to show him what he typed.

Tiberius’s jaw clenches tight. He picks up a glass jar from the table and removes the lid. The brooch ends up inside with the lid on tight.

“You’re free to talk,” Tiberius says.

“I know you hate me, Beckett, but don’t let that cloud your judgement.”

“What judgement would that be?”

“The one where you accuse me of killing Jude. The one where you accuse me of trying to kill Kinsley and you. Open your eyes, Beckett.”

I squeeze Tiberius’s hand, and he squeezes mine back before he returns to his position to stand guard.

“Stubborn,” Cannon mutters. "Kinsley," he says quietly, drawing my attention from Tiberius. "Do you feel safe in this house with Beckett?"

That is not what I expected him to ask.

I nod and smile. "Yes." He glances at my neck, and it takes everything in me not to reach for it. "Tiberius didn't do that."

His jaw goes taut. "The man who attacked you”—he pauses—“did that, didn't he?" He runs a hand through his hair, and I let him think it was his fault. “He was supposed to watch and report back. I killed him for touching you."

Startled, I blink back my surprise at his confession.

"I know Beckett has told you about me. Some of it will be true, some not."

"Did you kill my parents?"

His eyes flare with an emotion I don't understand because it looks like grief. How can that be if he took their lives?

Cannon leans forward and rests his elbows on his knees. I find myself doing the same. He whispers, "No. I would never hurt Anna." His voice catches on my mother's name, and pure grief swims across his face. "My father was killed two days before Jude and Anna. I had nothing to do with either, although it has been made to look as though I am behind it all. I am not the monster Beckett has told you I am."

"I-I think I believe you." I don't think anyone could fake the kind of grief I see on his face. "If it wasn't you, and someone is trying to make it look like it was, who would do that?"

"I have my suspicions,” he says, and I sit back, startled. "It’s not Beckett. Jude was his brother. It’s someone who does not have a family connection to either of us but has a stake in this game that seems to be playing." He holds my gaze.

Is he suggesting I know this person? I don't know anyone in the world that Tiberius and Cannon spend their lives in. Then it clicks. My eyes widen.

"Rossi," I hiss. "Are you sure?"

“Yes.”

This man sitting across from me is my brother. I prepared for this evening thinking every guest was an enemy to the Elliott and Beckett names. Now, I’m not so sure. I desperately want to believe him.

He slips his hand into his pocket and retrieves a small, wrapped package. "Happy birthday, Kinsley."

I take the neatly wrapped gift and slowly unwrap it. A black box sits in my hands. I glance at the man. He waves a hand toward the gift and looks embarrassed. I open the lid and find a gold necklace with a heart pendant. I recognize it.

"Yes, Kinsley. It belonged to your mother," he says, his voice husky.

"She never took it off," I murmur. "It was the only piece of jewelry she never went anywhere without. She never let me touch it." I gaze at Cannon as so many questions run through my mind. "It disappeared the night she died. I asked the police about it. She wasn't wearing it. How did you come to have it?"

He opens his mouth to speak but doesn't get that far as the library doors burst open.

Cannon shoots to his feet and stands in front of me. His protection startles me, and I glance at Tiberius.

"Why are you three behind closed doors?" Rossi asks, taking in the scene before him. "Looking guilty, I might add."

For some reason, I do not want the man to see the necklace Cannon has given me, so I slip it into my bra. I quickly remove the brooch from the jar and pin it back onto my dress before standing and moving beside Cannon. Tiberius doesn't know who to keep his eyes on—Cannon or Aldo. To help him, I move past Cannon. For some reason, I feel the need to reassure him as well, so I squeeze his arm before continuing toward Tiberius.

"Mr. Rossi, I am sorry we left our guests. My brother wanted a private word with me, which is why I thought you suggested this event." I smile to take the bite out of my words, hiding my annoyance at the interruption. Cannon had more to say, and I wanted to hear it. I did not feel threatened by him at all. I do feel threatened by the man who interrupted us, though.

"I did suggest this little birthday party; however, my intention was for us all to be present as you met your half-siblings. I didn't intend for it to take place behind closed doors."

Tiberius bristles at his words, and I notice Cannon clench his fists before he forces himself to relax.

I intervene once more. "Mr. Rossi, please forgive me. Having been brought up apart from the rest of my family, I had no idea that was the decorum. I wanted a private conversation with my oldest sibling. Please forgive me as I did not mean to slight you in any way."

Shut up now, Kinsley. That's enough groveling.

Rossi narrows his focus. "Come, dear, I would now like a private word, but let’s step out onto the patio. It is a beautiful evening, with the moonlight glinting off the lake."

"I…" I hesitate.

"As with Edge, I will accompany Kinsley," Tiberius says, determined.

"I will speak to her alone. She will be safe with me. Probably safer than she would be with Edge," Rossi snaps. "This is not up for negotiation."

I am not interested in being alone with this man, but it seems I have no choice in the matter.

Both Tiberius and Cannon look ready to go to battle for me, which surprisingly settles my stomach. Plus, I have to assume Rossi isn’t stupid enough to start something with Tiberius’s men all over the grounds.

"I will be fine." I place a hand on Tiberius’s chest. "Give us ten minutes."

"Then I'm coming for you," he says.

"Why don't you and Cannon get reacquainted?" I suggest, turning my attention to Cannon, who shares the same look of displeasure as Tiberius. I roll my eyes. "Please. For me." I turn back to Tiberius and lean in to whisper in his ear. "I don't think everything is as it seems. Talk to Cannon about my mother.” I smile and pat his chest.

"Shall we, Mr. Rossi?" I approach the man.

He holds his arm out for me, and I slip mine through his against my better judgment. If what Cannon told me is to be believed, then this man killed my parents. I need to be very careful around him.

As we walk out onto the patio, I can't shake the unease settling in the pit of my stomach. Despite his charming facade, there's something dark lurking beneath the surface of Mr. Rossi.

"Let's walk. It's a lovely evening, and I'm sure Beckett has men stationed all around."

I neither confirm nor deny as he leads me down the central path of the lawn toward the lake.

"What do you wish to talk about?" I ask, uneasy at the silence.

"What did Edge tell you?"

Is he fishing for what Cannon knows about him?

"He told me not to believe Tiberius and that he really does wish to get to know me."

"Is that all?"

I frown, wondering what else to tell him. I am certainly not going to share what Cannon really said. That would be a death sentence.

"Pretty much, yes."

"You were inside the library for a time. I'm sure more was discussed." His tone has now changed from polite to angry, although he tries to hide it.

"Mr. Rossi, I do not mean to offend you, but what Cannon and I discussed is none of your business."

I feel the weight of the necklace against my chest, a constant reminder of the secret Cannon trusted me with. One which I will never tell Rossi.

At the edge of the lake, we come to a stop. I make the mistake of looking into Rossi's face. The man is red with anger. I pull my arm away from him and take a few steps back. His eyes narrow, but he doesn't say anything. I turn and find myself facing a giant of a man dressed entirely in black. My heart thunders in my chest. I open my mouth to scream, and my world goes dark.