“Just say it.”
“We think your mom is behind your attack and all the threats against you. She’s been trying to frame me. I’ve documented it all, and I can make a case to prove my innocence.”
I’m stunned speechless.
“I’m sorry,” Duke goes on. “I…I don’t understand her.”
I shake my head, even though he can’t see me. I shouldn’t so readily believe him. I mean, it’s my mother. But somehow, I’m not even surprised. “Where is she now? What do I do?”
“I don’t know. I’m guessing I’m going to be called in to speak to authorities soon.”
“You’re sure you’re okay? You don’t need anything? I can vouch for you.”
“I appreciate that. I appreciate you trusting me—more than you know.” Duke blows out an audible breath. “I’ll be good, though. I’ll let you know where things are at.”
There’s a kerfuffle down the hall near where my security is positioned, and I say a quick goodbye to Duke, thanking himprofusely for what he did to help me and promising to be in touch.
My mother comes around the corner at that very moment. She’s got a police escort. Because of course she does. Everything’s always a production with her, even though she could walk around America and no one would know her from the next sixty-something-year-old.
“Anton, there you are. Thank goodness you’re safe.” She reaches out her arms, the picture of a doting mother.
I hold up my hands, preventing her from embracing me. I catch the look the cops shoot each other. I nod at them and make eye contact with my security over my mother’s shoulder. I have a feeling I’m going to need their services here shortly.
She furrows her brow. “What’s going on?”
“You tell me.” I cross my arms.
“What are you talking about?”
“I’ve just been informed that Charles was working for you.”
“Charles? Where is he?” My mom peers around.
“Don’t play dumb, Mother. Charles is in custody.”
My mom balks, but her eye twitches. It’s the only tell I need. “Why?”
“Because he tried to shoot me.”
“You think I had something to do with that? Charles was working with Duke. If anyone from Penwick is behind this attack, I should think we would look to him first.”
“Funny. That’s what he told me you’d say. He’s got proof that it wasn’t him. It was you this whole time. Charles was working foryou.”
My mother pulls herself up to her full height. “You’re clearly not thinking straight. Why would I hire someone to shoot my own son?”
“I can think of a couple reasons. For starters, maybe you were so put out that I wouldn’t return to Penwick with you that you tried to scare me into compliance. Or perhaps you actually wanted to kill me rather than risk the social disgrace of having a son abdicate.”
My mom’s eye keeps twitching as she shoots a covert look at the police, who are shifting on their feet. “This is the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard.” She waves me off. “You’ve obviously had a long and emotional day. I’m going to go and let you cool off.”
“You’re not going anywhere but to jail.” I motion to the police and wave my security forward. I don’t really know how this works in America and with a foreign dignitary, but I’m hoping they do.
“I can assist with that.” Lennox steps up from behind me.
I whirl around. I’m not sure how long he’s been standing there. He nods at me. “Duke and Rose looped me in earlier today. I didn’t pay their notes much attention, which was my mistake, but I have the evidence necessary to prove this was Queen Della’s doing.”
I turn to my mom, who looks a bit like a caged animal. She glares back at me. “This is all your fault.”
“My fault? That you tried to kill me and injured Rose in the process? Yeah, I don’t really think so.”
