Novel Palace
15. Time for Answers
15. Time for Answers
A/N: Ignore the chapter numbers as I've made a mistake, my editor will have to fix this.
~ ENRIQUE ~
By the time the meeting is about to commence, I’m a lot calmer. I found the dagger Jose had taken on the bed and placed it back in my drawer after cleaning it.
Idiot, I don’t like people touching what belongs to me.
There were dark bloodstains on the bed. Did the bruises caused by those Crawlers actually get worse? And if so… did he ask ‘her’ how to deal with them?
I hope not.
I had managed to remove all thoughts of a certain naked doll who is far too fucking sexier than should be allowed, but now she’s back on my mind.
The men are here already, seated in a row with a low table in front of them. The members of the pack who will be sitting in to hear the case are all here. Sitting in the chairs that had been set up in the pack hall for this meeting.
A lot more people than I was expecting are here. Rumours had spread since Francisco’s death, and everyone knew I had a foreigner in my custody.
I like to run things fairly and although I do hold the authority to make all decisions, I also can’t deny that the position of Alpha means power… as an Alpha, we hold control to destroy or build whatever we want…
My father ran this place brutally, with no mercy. That was his law.
He ruled with fear and power, and there was none who could question him.
If you failed him, you were promised death, if you betrayed him, you were promised death… if you disobeyed… you were promised death…
In my case, I was let off with a punishment that impacted my entire life.
He has left a shadow on the people of this pack, and although I try to run my pack fairly, they still see him in me. When they mess up, I don’t miss the fear as they prepare for the worse.
Deep down, there are thoughts inside of me that often threaten to surface, thoughts that I dared not delve into, thoughts I don’t want to acknowledge. When there’s an avenue to direct that hatred at, it’s easier than to be left with the pain of how cruel life was…
Why am I even going down that train of thought?
I have far too many issues to ever become a father myself, or even settle. Finding my mate is even rarer and I don’t think I’ll ever find her and nor do I want to. No one deserves to be with someone with so much baggage, baggage that I know I can’t let go of. I fucking know my own issues, and I acknowledge that.
I push the thoughts away as I sit back in my chair. There are two chairs flanking me, where my Beta and Delta would sit. They are the voices of reason, possibly the only ones I will ever listen to, if I want to, of course. The only ones who know the most about me, but even they don’t know everything… some things, I’ll take to the grave.
‘Cabrón, how long until you get here?’ I ask Jose.
‘On my way.’ His instant reply comes. ‘Impatient to see our beautiful prisoner? She is dressed, by the way. Sofia found her a gorgeous dress-’
‘Shut it.’ I growl, blocking him out.
Glancing over at the men, I can tell they’re on edge, unease etched on their faces and yet there are still no answers to how the one who is dead, died. Could that death have been linked with Crawlers? I feel the answers to these questions might be something that the Rossi Princesa may have, but I’m not sure… she seemed shocked to know he was dead, and I do think she’s innocent… Well, in his case, anyway.
‘Carlos, have you got the post-mortem results?’
‘Yes, and you are going to want to see these.’
‘Cut to it.’
‘There was poison in his body, Enrique, the same one that has become quite common here… I don’t think the woman had anything to do with his death. Either he took it himself or he was given it, but it was in his system long before his death. I’m assuming it’s why his wound didn’t close. Maybe there was something else mixed with it.'
My brows furrow as I glare ahead at the dark floors. No, she said her injuries made by her claws took longer to heal… but that’s not something I plan to share if not necessary.
I can sense Jose approaching and I frown. Why is he alone?
Didn’t he just say he was bringing her?
But the moment he steps through the door, I realise he isn’t alone… I just wasn’t able to sense her, just like back then. You have to see her before you notice her. What exactly is this, Princesa?
She’s wearing a white dress with flowing sleeves and looks… almost radiant.
She holds a lot of power too, that’s clear. The sun hits her golden curls. One wouldn’t think she spent the night in a cold dark cell. The goddess sure loves the Rossis… Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.
I look away from her, my demeanour darkening as I glare across at the men who all have their eyes on her, hostility clear in their eyes, but if they’re trying to intimidate her, they’re only digging their own graves deeper.
They all think they’re here because of their dead friend, but I plan to kill two birds with one stone. Everything will be dealt with today.
“Take your seat,” I say to the blond princesa, not bothering to look her in the eye. In my anger, I had thrown her in the cells, but I fucking know that was messed up… but she does behave like a spoilt princesa and she needs to learn that in Puerto Rico, I’m the king, not her old man.
Carlos shows up soon enough, passing me the file, and he looks a little pale.
‘Take a look.’
What’s so bad about these images?
I flip open the file, the morbid images of Francisco’s body, these wounds…
I snap the file shut and toss it onto the table, feeling sick to my stomach. His body deteriorated faster than anything I have seen.
“Without further delays let’s get down to business. This council has been called because of the scuffle that took place the other night… As everyone knows, the following day Francisco Cruz, part of Squad Eighteen - a low-rank warrior, was found dead…”
A ripple of murmurs crosses the room, but I raise my hand, silencing them as I adjust my jacket.
A few of them turn their attention to Kataleya, and I find myself glancing over at the woman who is sitting there, her head raised, her back straight, her hands resting on the table before her. A sombre expression on her face.
The image of grace and innocence mixed with lustful temptation.
Fuck me, there’s no way anyone could accuse her of being a killer…
I glance at the punks on the other side and sit back. I don’t plan to drop the truth, not until we cover the events as they unfolded. One fucking step at a time. I stretch my legs out, crossing them at the ankle as I take out a cigarette and light it.
“However, a lot more happened that night, so let’s start from the top,” I say, taking a drag on my cigarette as I stand up and walk towards the table where the blond princesa is sitting. Her dark eyes widen, her cheeks darkening as I stop before her table. “Tell me, Señorita Rossi, what exactly happened that night?”
She opens her mouth before she pales, a sexy little gasp leaving her as she stares up at me, realising what I had just addressed her as.
Well, what? Did she really think I didn’t know who she was?
I smirk coldly, ignoring the murmur that spreads through those around me. Everyone knows the name Rossi, but my eyes are only focused on her, as our gazes remain locked.
I’m no fucking fool. Did she really think I wouldn’t know who she was?
“Y-you know who…”
I rest my hand on the table, cocking a brow as I lean closer, her soft, enticing scent hitting my nose. “Of course. And you will learn you made the biggest mistake you possibly could by coming here.” I
murmur before glancing at my watch. “Time’s running out, start speaking or you will lose the chance forever.”
I step back, her heart thumping along to the seconds that are wasting away.
I hear her take a soft breath, “I take an oath in the name of the Goddess Selene and upon the honour of my pack that I will speak nothing but the truth.” She begins, surprising me at the clarity in her voice.
I’m not expecting her to take an oath and I turn back to see she’s standing up, ready to tell her version of the events of that night with confidence and determination painted on her gorgeous face.