Chapter 98
Darius
“Did the doctor take a blood sample?” She asked, and I nodded.
“I think she ingested a small amount of poison, and I also think she is pregnant,” she said, and I was panicked because she could be right.
“No need for alarm; her system is fighting whatever was introduced into it,” She said and patted her hair gently
“She is pregnant,” I confirmed, and she gasped. A wide grin spread across her face.
“Congratulations,” she said softly and looked at Zora lovingly.
“I hope she will give me another chance.” She said, and I doubted Zora would be that nice again, but I kept it to myself.
“You were going to tell me something about Donald Brighton, mother,” I said, and she nodded. We moved to the couch area, and she sat.
“Yes, Ava Brighton. A bitch…” she said scornfully.
“She and Gretchen were brought as trophies. Gretchen was Jake’s younger sister. She was stunning and a looker. Your father eagerly drafted her to join his harem and reluctantly drafted Ava. He favoured Gretchen of all his bedmates, and Ava got jealous. Gretchen thought she was being nice when she pleaded with Collier to send her sister In–law back to her husband, and Collier considered it. I hated that bitch because she almost took my husband from me. Ava did not see it as an act of kindness on her part. She saw it as a way of reducing her competition. The bitch thought Collier liked her too, and Gretchen was only trying to get rid of her. So
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she pleaded with Collier to remain in his service and continue to warm his bed,” She said and wiped away her tears.
It was clear that my mother’s selective memory was her coping mechanism.
Sometimes she would say he had to sleep with those women to learn their husband’s secrets and be ahead of them, but here she was admitting that his method was fucked up, but I held my tongue.
“Ava murdered Gretchen in cold blood, driving a silver blade through her heart in this room,” she said, looking around.
“She had come to plead with Collier to let her say, and instead of finding Collier, she found Gretchen in his bed naked, looking freshly fucked, and she snapped. You see, Collier had stopped touching Ava, and it bothered her,” she said and bowed her head.
“Collier had her locked up in the dungeon, and one drunken night, he went to her cell and took her life,” she said, and I was stunned.
“What he did was against the law. Ava was supposed to stand trial for her crime, slave or not. But he acted on impulse, and we swept it under the carpet. No one knew this, but Donald hates the Hands because of it. He thinks his mother was brought here as a slave and killed unjustly. I doubt Jake knows the truth,” She said, and I looked at Zora.
“Our family has many enemies, hence why the rest of the Hand bloodline are quiet and not bearing our last name. It was wrong to send her to Brighton. I am sure they wanted to kill her. She just didn’t ingest enough,” she said, and I hoped for Jake’s sake there was nothing in Zora’s blood or I would destroy Brighton.
“Is there a record of this?” I asked her, and she nodded.
The recordkeeper kept a record,” She told me, and I nodded, hoping to use it when the time comes.
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“The council have sent enforcers for Abelardo’s hearing. They want to move him and Bryce to the council prison,” Raphael said through the mind link, and I got up immediately.
“What is the matter, son?” My mother asked, and I shook my head. I dared not tell her what was happening.
“Council matters,” I said, and she nodded.
“I will take my leave. Zora likes yoghurt and fruits. She also likes smoked salmon in her salad. I will have the kitchen staff prepare her favourite so she can eat when she wakes up; she has lost some weight.” My mother said, and I thanked her.
We both left the room.
Although I knew she meant no harm, I did not want her to be the first person Zora would see when she woke up.
I linked Kara and Eloise to go to my room and be with Zora, then headed to the dungeons where the enforcers were waiting.
Marcel was there, and Abelardo stood in chains with fear in his eyes.
“What is the meaning of this?” I asked, and the leader bowed his head.
“Your Eminence, Councilwoman Pamela asked us to transfer the suspects to the council prison so they can stand trial tomorrow,” He said, and I nodded.
“They will stand trial tomorrow; tell her I will be presiding over the case, and the prisoners will remain in my custody until then. Now leave,” I said. I knew it wasn’t my place, but I was going to bend the rules for Abelardo’s sake. Someone wanted him to be the fall guy, and I wasn’t going to allow it.
“With all due respect, my lord, the council decides on criminal matters,”
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he said, and I nodded.
“Then tell them I am overriding the decision this time. If they have an issue, they should face me directly on the matter,” I said, and the man nodded, saluted me with respect and left.
“What is with the council? Why are they quick and eager to convict Abelardo,” Marcel said, and I looked at my brother.
“Someone is desperate to cover their tracks by making him the fall guy,” I said, and there was hope in Abelardo’s eyes.
“What?” Marcel said.
“Zora and I have been digging, and we found some really troubling things. They were hoping I wouldn’t investigate because of the friction between Abelardo and me. They were right, had Zora not insisted, I would have let them deal with him,” I said and looked at Abelardo, who
looked ashamed of himself.
“You did this to yourself, big brother. Always working against me and trying to prove that I am incompetent. You would have been the fall guy for nothing.” I said, and he remained ashamed.
“Double Bryce and Abelardo’s security. I do not want a mishap,” I linked Marcel and Raphael, and they nodded.
I returned to my room to be with Zora
