Protecting Her(27)

I need to know if he killed her, or if he listened to me and left her alone. I have to know if I was able to save two innocent lives. I know it doesn’t make up for the fact that I’m having a man killed today, but still. If I can save someone, I will.

When I get to the gate outside Royce’s mansion, I have to wait for the guard to ask Royce if I can enter. Royce must’ve agreed to it because the gate slowly opens.

The maid answers the door, but Victoria pushes past her. “Pearce, you cannot just show up here unannounced,” she says, scolding me.

She’s wearing a white pantsuit, and her dark hair hangs down over her shoulders. I haven’t seen her hair down since she was a teenager. She always wears it up, twisted into a knot and pinned in place behind her neck. She obviously hasn’t fixed her hair for the day, which is probably why she’s angry I didn’t call first.

I walk past her. “I need to speak with Royce.”

“Your manners are atrocious.” She follows me and grabs my arm. “Royce is still dressing. He is not ready for visitors.”

“It’s almost ten in the morning.” I yank my arm back. “The man should be dressed by now.” I have difficulty being nice to Victoria because she still refuses to show any kindness toward Rachel, and I know she gossips about her to the other women.

“Royce has been on the road and didn’t get home until midnight last night. He’s resting and then he has to leave for New York. He has no time to meet with you.”

“He told the guard to let me in, so obviously you are incorrect.” I start down the hall but she steps in front of me.

“You are done being friends with him.” She scowls at me. “My husband is on a path to greatness and cannot associate with people like you.”

I glare at her. “And what is that supposed to mean?”

She waves her hand, haughtily, in the air between us. “You’re a disgrace, Pearce! Marrying that piece of trash girl, then having a—”

“Stop!” I grab her wrist. “You will NOT speak of her that way. And if you don’t stop gossiping about her, I will—”

“Pearce.” Royce appears, dressed in a suit and tie.

I let go of Victoria. “Hello, Royce.”

Victoria hurries over to him. “I was just telling Pearce that he must give us more notice before stopping by. I haven’t even done my hair yet.”

“It’s fine, Victoria,” he says, moving past her. “Run along and do your hair.”

She glowers at me, then storms off.

Royce adjusts his tie. “So, Pearce, what was so urgent that you felt the need to race over here, unannounced?”

“Can we talk privately?”

“Certainly. Let’s go to the study.” He turns and walks past the foyer to the other side of the house, stopping when we reach the study. It’s a dark room with no windows. It has a fireplace, some brown leather chairs, and the walls are lined with bookcases. He turns on a lamp and we sit in adjoining chairs, facing the fireplace.

“Did you do it?” I ask, getting right down to business.

“Do what?” he asks, tugging on the sleeves of his dress shirt and adjusting his cuff links. He’s obsessed with his appearance. His clothes always have to look perfect or he becomes agitated.

I lower my voice. “The woman you had an affair with. Did you…harm her?”

He chuckles. “You’re still thinking about that? What’s wrong with you, Pearce? Don’t you have your own problems to deal with? Or is your life so mundane that you feel the need to spice it up by interfering in the lives of others?”

“Just tell me. Did you do it or not?”

“No.” He tilts his head to one side, and then the other. “My neck is killing me from sitting on that plane. I need to schedule a massage.”

“Did she have the baby?”

“Yes.” He rubs his neck. “A girl. Another damn girl.”

“What about the mother?”

“I took care of her,” he says casually.

My body stiffens. “What does that mean?”

“It means I took care of her. I gave her enough money to keep quiet.”

I relax again. “So she asked you for money?”

“No. I simply gave it to her.” He slowly grins. “I can sometimes be compassionate, Pearce. The girl had to drop out of college and she has no job. I didn’t want my child growing up in poverty. The two of them now have plenty of money to live a comfortable life.”