“What?” He frowned. “What are you talking about? Why is she in jail?!”
“Do you have any idea what you did by telling them about her work at the school?” I decided not to ask questions, to just talk about the whole thing as if we already knew everything. “That’s treason, Kostya. And the royal family thinks she helped you. She’s in prison and going to be tried for treason.”
“She didn’t do anything!” he cried. “You don’t understand! They were trying to hack into the school’s computer system and asked me to get information from her. They said I owed them because now they weren’t collecting taxes from the people in Vinake anymore, but I wouldn’t do it. That’s why they burned Braksa, and I still wouldn’t do it. So they went there to kill Solange, to force me to start spying on the family, since they found out I was living at the palace. That’s why they went to the school—not for the computers—for Solange.”
My blood ran cold.
“What are you saying?” I asked, trying to keep my voice even.
“I told you—they were there to kill her, to show me they were serious, that they would take everything from me if I didn’t do what they wanted. Our home, my family, the town, everything. But Solange wasn’t involved!” He was on the verge of tears. “Your friend wasn’t supposed to die… She was. They think she’s dead and I’ve been in hiding so they can’t find out anything else. I didn’t know what else to do.”
“Jesus fucking Christ.” I glanced at Xander, who was shaking his head.
“You mean, like, you know, coming to one of us for help?” Xander asked dryly. “We could have stopped this…kept Solange safe. What were you thinking, man? And you don’t think they’ll go after your parents?”
“I was trying to do the right thing! I wouldn’t do what they said. I didn’t know they’d go after her. I think they have someone working in the kitchen, but I only found that out today, when I talked to my friend Felix.”
“He involved in this Brat bullshit too?” I demanded.
He nodded. “He hasn’t had a choice. They threatened his family once they lost me.”
“I’m done with these fuckers!” I growled, looking at Xander.
“I need to update Sandor,” he said quietly.
“We need to get back to Hiskale,” I told Kostya.
“I can’t leave Magda here.” He slid his arms around her.
“She can come.”
“She has her car.”
“Fine. Xander will follow us in her car; you and Magda will ride with me. It’s not safe for her to be driving on her own. Not with the Brat after you.”
“If they catch us, they’ll kill me.”
“Not on my watch.” I motioned with my head. “Let’s go.”
We left for Hiskale immediately and Xander said he would update Sandor on the way. Kostya and Magda were in the back, huddling together and talking quietly in Limaji. They were both pretty subdued and my gut told me he’d been telling the truth. Which was both good and bad. It meant I wasn’t going to have to kill him and Sandor didn’t have to put him on trial for treason. It also meant Solange was innocent. Unfortunately, my biggest takeaway was that I’d made a huge mistake and had hurt the woman I loved. There had been extenuating circumstances, but Xander had been right; I should have given her my support, even if we’d had to temporarily cut all ties.
Innocent until proven guilty, right? That was the American way and I was fucking American. That’s what I’d believed growing up and yet, when it came to the most important person in my life, I hadn’t extended that courtesy to her. From the outside looking in, my lack of faith was unforgiveable. I’d managed to prove her innocence but I’d lost her in the process. And if that was true, it would be the biggest mistake I’d ever made.
39
Solange
I paced until I couldn’t anymore and sank onto the bed. I could watch television, but I didn’t feel like it. I didn’t want to do anything but cry, but I was all cried out. I was simply impatient at this point, waiting for word, one way or another. Had they found Kostya, and more than that, what had they discovered? I felt a little selfish, as if I’d thrown him under the bus, but he’d done this to himself and he’d cost me everything in the process. My new job, the man I loved, and potentially my freedom.
A knock on my door made me jump to my feet and I ran to open it. I was surprised to see Elen and Elena standing there. Elen was holding the little girl’s hand and the child looked up at me with big, dark eyes.
“Miss Solange, I bring cupcakes!” She held up a small container.
“Thank you,” I said softly, smiling at her.
“Can we share?” she asked, giggling.
I glanced at Elen, who was smiling, too, and gave me a quick nod.
“Sure.” Elena held out her hand to me and I took it without thinking, but I wondered what was going on. They’d sent Elena to soften me up for something, though I was now hopeful it wasn’t prison.
“They found Kostya,” Elen said. “He told them everything.”
“Did they hurt him?” I asked quietly, absently cutting the cupcake in half and giving Elena her share.
“No, he’s okay. They’ll be here soon but I thought I’d come give you the good news.”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
“Miss Solange, don’t you want cupcake?” Elena held up the other half to me.
I managed a tiny smile as I shook my head. “You have it, sweetheart.”
Elena dug in happily and Elen continued talking.
“The good news is that Kostya verified everything we’d already figured out, minus a few details, and you’re in the clear. The bad news is that Logan wasn’t the target the night he was killed.” She met my eyes.
“What? Then who was?”
“You.”
“Me? Why?” I was flabbergasted.
“They were trying to show Kostya they meant business and that he couldn’t just walk away.”
“He was trying to get out from under them,” I said in relief. It was a little disconcerting to know I was supposed to die that night, but I was simultaneously relieved that Kostya had been trying to redeem himself and hadn’t actually sold out the royal family.
“Yes.”
I sank down onto the edge of the bed and closed my eyes. I truly didn’t know what to do. It was over. Not being accused of treason was a huge relief, but the rest of it was heartbreaking. Though none of this had been my fault, nothing would be the same in the aftermath. There would be no going back. Not to Axel, not to my job, not even to my new friends. I understood why they’d treated me the way they had, but that didn’t mean things would ever be the same between any of us.
“You’re hurt and angry,” Elen said, sitting beside me.
“Yes.”
“I understand. Truly. I would be furious. But you must understand that the Royal Protectors have to—”
“I know what they do. I respect and admire it. Unfortunately, the relationships I had here will never be the same, so my exoneration is bittersweet.”