Page 77 of The Royal in Room 3

“He did.” Richard held out a folded piece of paper. “He wrote something for you.”

I took it quickly and read the two words written in Soren’s beautiful handwriting.

I’m sorry.

I read them again and a third time, trying to figure out what he was sorry for. For being arrested? That was hardly his fault.

“There are some things my client has to share with you, but he wants to share them in person when you see each other,” Richard said.

“What does that mean?”

“I can’t say, Jude,” he said gently. “You know that.”

“But I don’t understand.”

I’d gotten him a lawyer, paid the consultation fee from my own bank account, and they were keeping things from me?

“They haven’t formally charged him yet,” Richard said. “Which means that there’s doubt. We must get our hands on the club’s surveillance footage to see who else had access to that locker room after Soren took his break. He said the drugs weren’t there when he did.”

I folded the note and slipped it into my wallet. “Phoenix is working on it. What about bail?”

“We’re trying to get a hearing⁠—”

A commotion near the entrance drew the attention of several officers as well as Richard’s. Voices overlapped as someone approached the front desk, but I barely looked up.

“What’s that about the hearing?” I asked.

“I understand.” Vale’s voice came across loud and clear from where the newcomers had arrived. “Both men traveled a long way, and the chief has already given permission for them to see Soren Kline.”

I frowned at Vale, my gaze drifting to the two men with him. Neither looked like locals nor as if they belonged in a small California police station. The older man wore a dark three-piece suit beneath a long coat despite the mild weather. His silver hair was neatly combed, and he carried himself with the stiff confidence of someone accustomed to being obeyed.

The man beside him was younger, perhaps in his forties. He wore a tailored navy suit and carried a leather briefcase.

Vale noticed me, and a strange look crossed his face. That he glanced away only fueled my curiosity.

What the hell was going on? Who were these men, and what was so special about them that the chief of police himself had permitted them to see my boy?

I walked toward them.

“Jude,” Richard called, but I ignored him.

“Vale, what the hell’s going on?” I asked.

“Jude, now’s not the time,” Vale said quietly. “There are things that are best for Soren to explain to you. Just know that we have the evidence that we need to prove Soren knew nothing about the drugs, and we’ll get him out.”

As elated as I was at the news, I couldn’t ignore what was happening around me. “Who are these men, and why am I not allowed to see Soren but they are?”

Vale’s expression tightened. “Jude⁠—”

“No. I’ve been sitting here for almost an hour, and they told me only his lawyer could go back there. Now two strangers show up, and suddenly there are exceptions?”

My voice had risen slightly, and the older of the two men with Vale took notice and turned to face me.

His gaze moved over me slowly. “I beg your pardon?”

“Who the hell are you?” I asked again, my temper flaring because we were just going around in circles.

The man straightened. “My name is Bastian de Vries, private secretary to His Majesty, the King of Belvaria.”