like her very much. I picked up that much from the short time I was there.”
Fucking great. Information we already knew. “Why were you at the meeting, anyway?”
“I don’t know exactly, but my father wants to bring me into the business. Not that I’d have anything to do with it if I had any choice in the matter.” His words were bitter, but he stared at me defiantly, his lip curled. “I’m sure you can appreciate being groomed for the family business, being the son of the almighty Arlo Cavendish.”
“Fuck you.” I moved Winter off me, standing up and glancing at Z. “Tape?”
Zayde handed me the roll, and I had the immense satisfaction of slapping it over his mouth, silencing him.
“You’ve said enough tonight.” Together, Z and I lifted him, chair and all, and carried him the short distance to the side of the room, where we arranged his chair facing the wall. I smirked, watching his eyes bulging and his cheeks puffing as he tried to speak. “Something you wanna say, Hyde?”
He glared up at me, defiant to the end. I could almost admire him for that, if I didn’t loathe him so much.
“You ready to do this?” Zayde brought my attention to the next task at hand. I swallowed hard, staring over at the familiar figure slumped in the chair against the far wall. Clenching and unclenching my fists, I made my way towards his chair. This was going to be fucking tough.
“Let me try. Please?”
TWENTY-SEVEN
After making my request, I held my breath as Caiden stared down at me, his gaze conflicted. I hadn’t planned to get involved when I’d come here, but when I saw the look in his eyes…it could end up breaking him, if he had to do anything to hurt Allan. Despite everything, he’d pretty much grown up with him, and I could see that he still cared for him. Allan’s betrayal had cut him deeply, and if I had to push past my own discomfort and misgivings to save him beating himself up over this, then I would.
“I want to try it my way, first,” I said firmly. “If it doesn’t work, Zayde can help me. Right, Z?” I glanced over at him, and he nodded silently.
“Okay,” Caiden finally said. “For the record, I’m not fucking happy about this, but we’re running out of time here, and I don’t wanna waste time arguing about it.”
I nodded. “Good. Come on, then. Bring him into the light.” I waited, seated on Caiden’s chair as the boys manoeuvred him into position. Caiden had been behind him, and when he came around to the front of Allan’s chair and Allan took in both of us in front of him, his face drained of all colour, panic clear in his watery blue eyes.
“This will hurt,” Zayde warned, but I don’t think Allan was listening, too busy staring at me and Caiden in dismay. He flinched as Zayde ripped the tape from his mouth in one swift movement, his jaw working.
“Be right back,” I murmured, hopping up from the chair and jogging over to the room where Cassius and Weston waited.
“Water,” I explained, pulling the drawer open and grabbing a bottle.
“Hey, Winter.” Weston’s voice stopped me in the doorway. “Thanks for doing this.”
I gave him a small smile, before I rushed back over to Allan. Both him and Caiden were frozen in position, the air between them thick with tension.
“Allan? I have some water for you. I’ll have to tip it into your mouth.” His pale, teary eyes swung to mine, and he gave a slight nod.
I pulled the cap off the bottle and carefully tipped it up, letting it trickle into his mouth. He swallowed and gave me a grateful look. Placing the bottle back on the floor, I took my seat once again.
Then I got up. “Zayde? Can I borrow your knife, please?”
He raised a brow but handed it to me. I walked around behind Allan and carefully cut through the restraints binding his hands. He sighed with relief, flexing his hands and rubbing at his wrists. As much as I should feel anger at him for what he’d done, and I did feel anger, I also felt an overwhelming sense of sadness.
“Would it be okay if I asked you a few questions?” I returned to my seat in front of him.
“What questions? What is going on here?”
“I was wondering what you were doing at the castle tonight. With my mother, of all people.”
“I’m afraid I’m unable