24. Tiberius

24

TIBERIUS

Rushing toward the barn used for storage, I find Blaze moving about, fully loaded with weapons.

“Kinsley?” I question. “Is she here?”

“I thought she was with you.” He frowns. “I haven’t heard or seen anyone other than Edgar, and that was about two hours ago when he went into the barn.”

I turn and run for the lake, spotting a figure heading my way. He weaves unsteadily, as though drunk.

“Help!” Rossi shouts.

I race toward him and frown at his disheveled appearance. Blood rushes from a cut on his forehead.

“Where is she?” I growl. “What the fuck have you done to her?”

“Not me. Edge attacked me and took off with Kinsley in your boat.”

Nine and Salem come running, followed by Jock and Ryan.

“I want you out on the bikes looking for them. Edge took off on the lake, so search all the places he could reach land.” I pause. “Salem, hang back with me. We are going to have a chat with Xavier and Cleo.”

Veronica appears, rushing toward her father with a napkin in hand. Ignoring them, I stride into the house and find Xavier pacing with his brows tight.

“I know you think this is Cannon, but I’m telling you, he did not take Kinsley.”

Cleo scoffs. “Oh, brother, you always want to believe the good in him. Cannon hated Father, and he hates Kinsley. You know this.”

“He doesn’t fucking hate Kinsley,” Xavier shouts.

The room falls silent at his outburst. Xavier rarely says a bad word.

“You”—he points an angry finger at Cleo—“stop throwing our brother to the wolves.” Xavier rakes a hand through his hair. “I’m telling you, Beckett, whatever happened to Kinsley has also happened to Cannon. Instead of pointing the finger at him, we need to rescue them both.”

“Are you saying he didn’t just try to kill me?” Rossi asks, bursting with anger.

“If he wanted to kill you, you’d be dead!”

“I have to agree with him,” I say, adding in my own two cents because something about this whole fucking mess does not add up.

Edge’s apology was sincere, I’m sure of that. But Rossi is here, and Kinsley and Cannon have disappeared. The logical reasoning is that Cannon fed me bullshit to divert my attention to Rossi. My gut, however, tells me Rossi is playing me.

I glance at Veronica as a thought occurs to me. She raced out of the house toward her father with a napkin in hand, ready to tend to his wound. How did she know he’d been injured when she had been inside the whole time?

“We’re leaving,” Veronica says. “I have no wish to locate the girl.”

“How did you know your father would need a napkin?” I ask, stopping their exit. “I didn’t see you with one beforehand.”

Veronica bristles. “I picked one up to dab at my mouth. It was still in my hand when the shouting started.”

Her excuse is plausible, but is it what actually happened? I rub at my temples and wave them toward the door.

Cleo looks ready to follow, then curses when Xavier sits in a wingback chair with a large glass of bourbon in hand.

“I don’t drink, but tonight is fucked up,” Xavier says.

The phone clenched in my hand remains silent as I close my eyes.

“What do you know?” I eye Cleo.

Her eyes go wide in surprise. Xavier frowns at his sister.

“Cleo? Please tell me you don’t know anything about this,” he says.

Cleo huffs with indignation. “I might not like the girl, but I love my brother. I don’t know anything. I promise.” She frowns. “Mother did say something odd before we left, though.”

“Well, don’t hold out on us,” Xavier shouts.

I give Salem a silent message, and he removes the glass and bottle from Xavier’s reach.

“She said, ‘The events of eighteen years ago created a deep rift between Cannon and your father, causing Cannon to hate him. Your brother has never gotten over it. Do not underestimate his loyalty to Kinsley,’ which I found confusing.”

Xavier frowns and glares at his sister, who glares back.

“Enough of this. I need to find Kinsley, and you are both not helping. Salem,” I snap. “Get the men to report in.” I stride from the room with Salem on my heels, his phone to his ear.

I grab the keys to the SUV, and Salem raises a brow in question.

“We’re going to talk to Maia Edge,” I say. “Everyone has been under the impression that Cannon wanted vengeance. If what his mother said is true, along with what Cannon told me, then there is something we haven’t figured out yet.”

The plan for now is to find Cannon. Rossi gets momentarily shoved aside, which makes me pause. Am I doing the right thing by not following up on what Cannon told me? Or was he planting misleading information in preparation to take Kinsley?

Motherfucker! I’m going to go crazy!

Maia sends Cleo and Xavier out of the room, so I ask Salem to leave as well. I have no doubt that he is guarding the doors. I feel out of place in the drawing room with Maia. The room is filled with floral decor and antiques, with not a speck of dust in sight. There are plenty of cats, though. A big black beast of a cat settles itself partially on my lap and purrs away.

“That is Goliath. He likes you, as he hasn’t bitten you.”

“Give it time.”

She laughs and sits opposite. “My daughter tells me my son and Kinsley have disappeared and that you believe Cannon was involved. Is that correct?”

“Do you think otherwise?”

“My son will not harm a hair on the girl’s head. You have my word on that.”

“It’s difficult for me to believe. Do you know where they are?” It takes all my patience not to beg for the answers.

Maia watches me closely as I fight to hide the fear running through me. Kinsley is out there somewhere and needs me, but I don’t have a fucking clue where to look.

“You love her,” Maia says.

“Yes.” It’s the truth.

“Cannon did not kidnap the girl. He only wants to have her openly in his life.”

“Do you expect me to believe that after he had my brother killed?” Or did he? I don’t know what to believe anymore.

“Have you ever considered talking to my son? I think you would be very surprised.”

“I’m getting a fucking headache.”

“You will not curse in my presence, Tiberius Beckett.”

I wince at her tone while I remove the cat from my lap. I rest my elbows on my thighs as I lean forward. “All I want is the woman I love home. Safe. With me. That is the most honest thing I have ever admitted to someone I am not close to.”

Maia swallows and sits silently for a moment before speaking. “Cannon did not have his father killed, nor did he kill Jude and Anna. I know you have been led to believe otherwise, but what I’m telling you is the truth.

“My son has harbored hatred for his father for the past eighteen years, but he did not kill him. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t wanted to, but he wouldn’t because of me. Now believe that or not, but it is the truth.”

She takes a sip of tea, and continues. “I promised Pierce I would never speak of Anna, and I keep my word. The only person who can tell you what happened back then and what is going on now is Cannon. I believe my son is in as much danger as the woman you love.”

It takes me a few minutes to sift through everything she has said—or not said. I’m left with more questions than answers. The main question is: what the fuck happened eighteen years ago that has been kept hidden?

My phone beeps.

Nine: Found the boat. You need to come.

I jump to my feet. “I have to go.”

Maia stands and grabs my hands. “When you find them, I beg you to talk to my son like you used to do.”

“He apologized to me earlier, and I accepted.” I pause. “I’m torn about which direction to focus on.”

Maia has tears in her eyes. “He apologized? He has never done that. Does he know how you feel about Kinsley?”

I nod.

“That must be why. However, my son never says anything he doesn’t mean. Surely, you know that. You must listen to him, Mr. Beckett. Give him a message from me. Tell him it’s time to let the truth set him free.”

I don’t know what the fuck is going on, but I nod. “I will.”

Batting the foliage in front of my face, Salem and I make our way toward the lake where the boat was found. My heart is in my throat as we approach. If Nine told Salem anything, my friend has not repeated it. I do know Kinsley is not here, so why do I need to see the boat?

I burst through the last of the brush and reach the shoreline where Jock and Nine are standing. A quick glance at their faces gives me no clue as to what I’m going to find on the boat. All I want is to find Kinsley safe and unharmed, but that isn't going to happen right now.

"What couldn't you tell me over the phone?"

Nine nods his head for me to follow him, while Jock won't meet my eyes. "It's troubling."

"What is—" I trail off as I spot the body of a male lying in the boat, his neck twisted at an unnatural angle. My eyes scan the rest of the boat and zero in on the pool of red liquid. I rub at my chest. "That's a lot of blood."

"It could be from a head wound. They bleed like a bitch. It could also be Cannon’s, if we are to believe he's been kidnapped as well."

"I just want Kinsley back," I say quietly.

Nine looks at me with sympathy before turning his attention back to the scene in front of us. "We need to figure out what happened here and find Kinsley," he says firmly. "And notify Jackson's sister of his death."

My head shoots up. "Fuck! I didn't recognize him." Jackson worked for me for a couple of years. "I want him treated with respect. Get him back to the house and call our friend at the funeral home to come and collect him. Make sure the man knows Jackson was one of us. Let his sister know, and make sure she has everything she needs to help her."

I look out across the lake and take a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever lies ahead.