Page 18 of Sinful Empire (Mount Trilogy 3)
“Thank you,” I whisper.
He looks surprised at my response. “Why would you thank me for that?”
“Because I never want to see his face again for as long as I live.”
“You never will. Next question.”
We’re both quiet for several moments while I decide what t
o ask next. When it comes down to it, there’s one question I haven’t been able to reconcile at all.
The night I decided he was the only man for me, the one I’ve been waiting for my whole life, I still can’t piece it together in my brain how that could have happened. It seems like fate stepped in, but I need to know the truth.
“How did you get my note the night of the masquerade?” When I first learned that it was Lachlan and not Brett, I cut him deeply when I lashed out, and that’s not my intent here at all. But still, I have to know.
“It’s not a how so much as a who,” he answers carefully, and the possibilities riot in my head, my anxiety growing with every second that passes.
“Who?”
“Magnolia Maison.”
Mount
When Keira’s face drains of all color, I wish I’d been able to keep this knowledge from her, but I promised her no more lies. Besides, this is something she needs to know, regardless of how much I’d like to protect her from the feeling of betrayal no doubt charging through her system right now.
“Magnolia gave you the note? How? Why? I don’t understand why she’d do that. You said you thought I was a gift. It doesn’t make any sense.”
I wish I had better answers for her, but I haven’t had Magnolia brought in to get them. “I don’t know what her motives were, but she definitely had one.”
“But—”
Stricken. That’s the only way I can describe Keira’s face. I thread my fingers through hers and squeeze, not taking a chance that this could be a wedge driven between us.
“Magnolia’s a madam. She rose to power by having the best girls and the ability to procure anyone for any reason.”
“But why would she bring me into it?” Keira’s tone is beyond distraught as her hand drops, along with her jaw. She sits up, wincing at a bite of pain, her legs over the side of my bed before I can stop her.
I want to wrap her in my arms and stop her from moving, especially because I hate seeing her in pain, but this is how she processes things. I’ve learned that, and I let her have her space. For a few moments, anyway.
If only I could spare her this . . . but I can’t. She deserves the truth.
“She knew that the note was supposed to go to Brett. She . . . .” Keira trails off, and I can guess where she’s going with it.
“She suggested you write it?”
Keira nods, as if at a loss for words, her confusion and emotions warring on her face. I want to make one thing absolutely fucking clear before this conversation is over—that I’m thankful as hell I got that note.
I reach out and take her hand, closing mine around it. “Look at me, Keira.”
Her gaze drops to mine.
“Regardless of how or why she did it, getting that note was the best fucking thing that’s ever happened to me. It put you on my radar. Without it, I would’ve never known you existed.”
She swallows and nods. “That’s not the part I’m struggling with. It isn’t. I swear. I wouldn’t take back that night for anything.” She squeezes my hand.
Her words and tight grip fill me with another measure of hope for the future. We’re stronger than this. Stronger than the circumstances that brought us together. Magnolia’s motives don’t matter to me anymore, but I know they matter to Keira, and I understand why she needs answers.
Unfortunately, I can’t give her answers I don’t have. What I do have is a little more information, which I hope won’t cause her more pain.
