Page 196 of Depraved Boys

“Kash was traumatized by the entire ordeal.” Leopold ran his hand down his face. “Shit, those Kashaayah men scared the hell out of me, and I didn’t even touch her.”

I gave them a slow nod. “And that’s why you’re not getting in touch.”

“His father laid out what would happen if he got into that level of trouble again,” said Sebastian.

My brows rose, a sign for one of them to elaborate.

Sebastian raised his broad shoulders. “Neither of us knows Hindi, and Kash didn’t care to translate.”

Leopold shook his head. “From the way he walked around like a zombie for the next few weeks, I’m guessing it was the equivalent of getting his balls cut off.”

“We’ll deal with it ourselves.” Sebastian threaded his fingers through mine and pressed a kiss on my temple.

A door next to the reception desk opened, revealing a harried-looking Mrs. Benazir. Dark circles ringed her eyes, and they looked bloodshot from crying.

All three of us shot out of our seats. “What’s happened?” I asked. “Are they going to release him?”

Her face twisted into a what-are-you-doing-out-of-school-look, then her features slumped, as did her posture. “They’re holding Mr. Kashaayah for another day.”

“Why?”

“The evidence against him is overwhelming, he has no alibi, and the doctors are still trying to work out the extent of Miss Evergreen’s injuries.” She pressed her trembling lips together and walked past us. After opening the glass door, she turned her head a fraction in our direction. “Go back to the Academy.”

“Come on,” said Sebastian. “I know where we can go.”

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

Leopold handed Sebastian the keys to his jeep, and he drove us toward the town center, over the River Eden, and past the cricket club. I sat back in the leather seats and furrowed my brow. Memories of sitting in the front of the Audi with Prakash reformed in my mind as Sebastian pulled into the courtyard of a stone-fronted, Georgian mansion.

This was the private members club where we had sat and talked and drank. Where I’d first gotten close to Prakash and learned how deeply he had regretted his involvement with Corrine.

I followed the kings out of the jeep and over the courtyard, where the gravel crunched underfoot. My nerves were too frayed to appreciate the building’s grand entrance, brass door fittings, or the elegant butler in an old-fashioned, black tailcoat.

As Sebastian exchanged a few words with the man, Leopold leaned into my side. “Are you alright, Wills?”

My brows drew together. “If Mrs. Benazir is acting as his guardian, how far would she fight for his release?”

“Good question,” he muttered.

“She’s too concerned with money and grade averages to care about one student. Do you think she’ll expel Kash to get rid of the problem?”

“She’d better not,” he growled.

The butler stepped aside and let us into a black-and-white tiled hallway with a huge, marble fireplace. My gaze darted to the left, where I remembered Prakash and I had gone at the end of the first term, but the butler led us to the right, where an elegant, marble staircase curved up to the floor above.

“I’ll put you in the Duke’s room, which has a king-sized bed.” The butler led us up the stairs while continuing a hushed conversation with Sebastian.

I gulped and held onto the brass rail as I ascended. What kind of establishment let two boys take a girl to a room for the night and didn’t ask questions? An exclusive one, I supposed.

As we reached the top of the staircase, Leopold whispered, “Do you remember this place?”

“Only little bits,” I whispered back. “The butler, and a room with chandeliers and velvet seats.”

We continued along a marble-floored corridor that reminded me a little of Hessington Hall. The moon shone through a window, casting its silvery light on the butler’s gray hair. The man opened a door, releasing the warm, rich scent of leather. A millisecond later, the room lights brightened from dim to soft.

Stepping aside, he swept his arm through the open doorway. “The bar is fully stocked, Mr. Garraway. Please inform me if there is anything else you require.”

Leopold placed his hand on the small of my back and guided me into the room. As I stepped inside and took in the decor consisting of elegant, walnut and brown, leather furniture, I heard Sebastian say, “Actually, there is.”