Page 108 of Wicked Promises (Fallen Royals 3)

Surprise ripples around the room. Through me. I had never got that impression from our fathers’ interactions.

“Norah said it was the three of them, and mine left… came back with Mom, engaged or whatever. And they had a falling out.”

“That isn’t what we should be focusing on,” Theo interjects. “Unless Tobias is the one she was having an affair with…”

I snort. “Seriously?”

“How else would you get someone to risk their entire career?”

“Money,” Liam says. “So much fucking money. Enough money to swim in. Not that you gits would understand, since you already have that. But for someone like Tobias? Who started at the bottom? Yeah.”

“So, Caleb’s dad suspected his death because Lydia was having an affair? That doesn’t make sense.” Eli scowls. “Jesus. This is making my head spin.”

“Who would’ve known? Besides the parties involved who might lie?” Margo asks.

“Well, there was your parents and mine,” I list, “and whoever Mom was sleeping with. I guess your dad would be the most impartial.”

“Besides the whole murder thing,” Eli says.

“He didn’t do it.” Margo glares at him. “And you know what? For the first time in this crazy mess—I actually believe it. Your mom had more motive than he did. Did the police even look into her?”

“I don’t know.”

She groans, but she leans into me. I hold her close. My chest fills with something light, because we’re actually doing this together. A place I didn’t think either of us would get to.

“You should talk to him,” Eli suggests.

She straightens. “The last time I talked to him, I—”

“We’ll go with you. In two cars.”

Her attention flips to my face. “What do you think?”

“I…” Fuck, I don’t know. Am I ready to see her dad again? To get answers? To judge for myself if he’s lying or not? “Yeah, we should.”

Liam pulls out his phone. “Visiting hours tomorrow are in the afternoon.”

I run my hand over my face. “I’ve skipped so much damn school. What’s another day?”

“I’ll be at the school in the morning,” Margo says quietly. “To determine when I’m coming back.”

“We only have two weeks left until Christmas break,” Liam points out. “They should just let you work from home.”

“That’s a rich kid treatment,” she mumbles.

“If that’s the sorry excuse they give you, they’ll have to deal with Lenora. And then me.” I crack a smile. “She’s fierce when she needs to be.”

Margo laughs.

It brings the whole mood up a few degrees.

“Food’s here!” Mrs. Black calls from the top of the stairs. “How much did you guys order? My god.”

“We’re growing boys, Mom,” Eli hollers back. We all stand. To us, he says, “At least we figured some things out, yeah? A game plan.”

“Visit Margo’s dad,” I repeat. “That’s… not much of a plan.”

“Worst comes to worst, you know where to find your mom.” Liam shrugs. “And apparently, she’s with Margo’s mom. Isn’t that a bit fishy? Shouldn’t those two hate each other?”