Page 195 of Depraved Boys

The female police officer glanced at her notebook. “Ashley,” she said in a gentle tone. “My name is WPC Stanley, and I’m here to take your statement. Do you remember what happened?”

Ashley gave a slight nod. “I passed out halfway when he punched me so hard, my head hit the wall.”

“That’s alright,” Constable Stanley said in a soft voice. “Just tell us what you can.”

Ashley’s hazel eyes darted across the room to where I stood. “She can’t be here.”

The policewoman turned around. “Your sister?”

“Tell her to get out.”

I clenched my teeth. What the fuck was Ashley doing?

“Miss Evergreen,” said the policewoman. “Could you please wait outside while we take your sister’s statement?”

“But—”

“Come on.” The short male advanced toward me.

I tried to keep the venom out of my gaze. “Are you sure about this? I can tell Mrs. Benazir and get the attacker expelled.”

Her swollen face twisted with anguish, and dry sobs heaved from her chest, reminding me of how she used to fake tears when we were little. “G-get out!”

Shoulders sagging, I turned and walked to the door. Something about this situation didn’t seem right. The worst part about it was that her refusal to have me in the room made it look like I scared her.

The policeman followed me out of the room and stood at the door, guarding the entrance as if he thought I was responsible for Ashley’s wounds. As if I would hulk out and rush through those doors to finish the job I had started.

I blew out a frustrated breath. There was no point in sticking around. That time the knights had tormented her in the snow, she had implied to the police that I was making up the complaint to get attention.

Turning on my heel, I pulled the smartphone out of my pocket and made my way to the exit. Leopold would tell me where to find Prakash.

By the time the taxi pulled into the police station opposite Heysham Park, the sun had set, making me wonder where the day had gone. The police station was a vast, victorian building extended around the front with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, making it easy for me to spot Leopold sitting in a corner with his head in his hands.

I rushed into the building, my heart in my throat. Someone placed a hand on my shoulder, and I whirled around to meet Sebastian’s green eyes.

“Where were you?” I asked.

He ran a hand through his dark hair. “Sorry. One of the cleaners told me about a storeroom that’s as big as the Room of Requirement. She said it would make a good hiding place.”

“Didn’t you notice us calling you?”

He shook his head. “There’s no signal in the basement. How is your sister?”

My shoulders sagged. “Awake. She kicked me out of her hospital room to give a statement to the police. Any news?”

Hatred flashed in Sebastian’s eyes. It happened so quickly, I thought I might have imagined it. His expression smoothed out, then he placed an arm around my waist and guided me to the bench where Leopold sat.

Lowering myself in the space next to Leopold, I asked, “Have you contacted his parents yet?”

Sebastian and Leopold exchanged glances but didn’t reply.

“What?” I turned to Sebastian, who lowered his gaze, a muscle flexing in his jaw. “Why haven’t you told them?”

Leopold’s face twisted into a grimace. “Last year, Corrine accused all three of us of raping her,” he said it so quietly, I had to strain to listen. “Kash’s father flew down with an entourage of uncles, cousins, and fuck-knows who else. They were ready to burn him alive.”

“What?” I whispered. “Even though he was innocent?”

Sebastian shook his head. “The Kashaayah clan don’t mess around. They blamed him for taking Corrine’s virginity and said he might as well have raped her because he didn’t offer her marriage.”