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As Fred took his seat and people came up to him one after another to say their “I’m sorries,” I kept my eyes on Aiden and Fred’s lieutenants.
They were having a conversation, Oscar was gesticulating, and the four of them often regarded us.
“A bit unorthodox that his lieutenants wouldn’t come over to pay their respects to their boss immediately, isn’t it?” Zion spoke softly in my ear.
“Very.”
Fred sat in the middle seat in the front. While everyone else was in a circle around the setup, his seat and three others, which were taken by Christopher on one side and Poe on the other and Black beside Poe, were in a row all their own.
Finally, Finn, Rowan, and Oscar came over to pay their respects, and I wondered if they thought the seats beside Fred were supposed to be for them.
Snow and the others were behind them and I, along with the rest of my people, were scattered throughout the space.
I was as close to Fred as I could get and as I perused every inch and every guest, I noticed Aiden coming up beside me.
“I thought I was going to be sitting beside Fred.”
Yes, that had been the original plan, but I wasn’t about to step on toes and make the heads of Haven Hart move.
“You were instructed not to leave Fred’s side, yet there you were, talking with Fred’s lieutenants, who paid no mind to their boss until it was convenient for them. Did you think Christopher or any of them were going to leave him exposed?”
Aiden’s jaw clenched, and his eyes narrowed. “I was dealing with them so Fred didn’t have to. Unforeseen circumstances, Vincenzo.”
I turned my body so I gave Aiden my full attention, trusting Zion and my exercitus to watch Fred.
“It wasn’t unforeseen that they’d be here, Aiden.” I cocked my head. “Let’s make something very clear, and then I expect you to piss off and do your job. I don’t trust you. There are more holes in your theories than there are in a strainer. You’re trying to direct us in every direction that doesn’t lead us to the lieutenants. I’d ask you why that is, but I’d suspect you’d lie.”
Aiden’s nostrils flared and he was about to speak, but I barreled on. “I will figure it out and that, Aiden, should be what keeps you up at night. Now scurry off and pretend to give a shit about Fred.”
I turned my body, no longer giving him my attention, and saw Zion watching me. I subtly shook my head, and he went back to surveying the area.
Music began to play and if Aiden had been planning to retort, he’d lost his chance. He moved over to the chairs and took one that was beside Jones.
I watched from along the path leading to the decorated area. Sean’s and Aine’s caskets were being carried. I wasn’t sure who the pallbearers were but from what I gathered, Fred believed them to be the best for the job.
Sean’s casket was dark wood, and Aine’s was ivory—both radiant and yet showing the contrast in the types of people they were.
I glanced at Fred, who had placed sunglasses over his eyes. He’d forgone his black-rimmed glasses in favor of contacts and I had to admit, while I loved him in glasses, he gave the appearance of stone without them.
Once the caskets made it to their spots, the pallbearers stepped away and, one by one, shook Fred’s hand.
The pastor began, but I tuned out his words. I scanned the entire area, stopping every few seconds on Fred, who hadn’t even flinched. The only indication that he was struggling were his clenched fists on his thighs.
Aiden was staring at the grass at his feet, and part of me wondered if he couldn’t bear to look at the caskets. Was it because of the guilt he had contributing to their deaths, or was it grief?
Once the pastor concluded, Fred stood. He’d explained that he’d be expected to say a few words, so this wasn’t a surprise.
He stood beside the pastor, pulled his sunglasses from his face, and tucked them into his pocket before meeting every gaze head on.
“My father wasn’t a good man.”
Well, that’s one way to start. Judging by the subtle gasps, nobody had been expecting that.
“My uncle Sean was the one to show me what being a human being was. It was he who made sure my homework was done and upon my acceptance into college, he was the one to buy me a drink and congratulate me. He was more of a father to me than my biological one.”
A bird crowed in the distance but other than that, everyone was silent.
“Aine was a bright light in this shitty world. She laughed with me…and sometimes at me. She taught me not to take life so seriously, and she was a born leader. She was my best friend, and she never failed to make me smile when I had nothing to be happy about.”
