Page 51 of Colton

I’m not surprised he’s using that route though because as of right now, he has no leverage over them or the situation. Clyde and Dahlia don’t care who he is, his status, or how much power he has. Unlike other people, who might’ve asked for money in exchange for his release, these two have more than they’ll ever need.

“Precisely,” Dahlia smacks her hands together in front of her face, a small smile appearing. “We know that, Mr. Maxwell. We just have a couple of questions for you. After you’ve given us answers that are satisfying, we’ll release you. As long as you cooperate, we promise you’ll remain unharmed.

God, she’s a terrible liar.

I should’ve known that this was a torture waiting to happen.

◆◆◆

The cigar is resting between my fingers, a cloud of nicotine leaving my lips. It’s late, just after two in the morning, and the afterparty has ended a while ago. Of course, Clyde is still in that damned room with Maxwell.

“That was incredibly stupid, and you know it.”

Dahlia sighs from behind me. I don’t have to look behind to know it’s her — I can recognize her footsteps. When she comes to stand next to me, she isn’t looking at me. She’s looking up at the sky, her expression passive. However, as the wind blows, she shivers.

I shrug off my blazer, draping it over her shoulders. She relaxes into the fabric, giving me a grateful smile.

“I know it wasn’t the smartest, but… I don’t regret it, not really. We did get something.”

“Was it worth it?” I ask, turning my body entirely to look at her. “You’re lucky Clyde was there, and leading most of this little interrogation. We aren’t like them, Dahlia.”

She frowns. “What do you mean?”

I bite the inside of my cheek, contemplating how much to reveal. Dahlia did grow up in the same place, same house, same environment as I and the rest of these people did, but it’s no secret that I shielded her from as much as possible.

Now, she’s an adult, a grown woman capable of making her own decisions. She’s already started involving herself in the business, and there’s no going back from that.

“The Elshers kill people.”

Dahlia blinks, stumbling backward a little. She’s searching for any hint of deception or lies in my expression, her silence breaking something inside of me. When all she finds is unfiltered truth, she flinches.

“They kill people,” she repeats, disbelief on her tongue. “I’ve heard of the De Santis family,” she stammers. “The assassins? Are they like them?”

I snort. “God, no. They have no courage, nor talent for that. However, they have resources to make the dead bodies disappear. That’s why I didn’t want you involved with them.”

She sucks in a sharp intake of breath. “Anyone else?”

“Well, the Silvesters have made people disappear before. Whether it was banishment, bribery, or murder, I do not know. Artemis isn’t clean, either. There have been rumors, but nothing has been proven, so I can’t claim anything.”

Dahlia’s face falls. There’s something in her eyes I can’t quite name, something akin to deeply rooted hurt. My brows crease, and from what I know, she’s never been too close with the Hill family, so her reaction seems unwarranted.

Before I can pry, she forces the emotions away, nodding softly.

“I still have many things to learn about our world, don’t I?” She chuckles. “Thank you for telling me.”

“You’re welcome,” I lean in, kissing her cheek. “I’m not going to tell you how to live your life, but be careful, please.”

“I will,” she mutters. “I won’t be as reckless.”

“For what it's worth, I do not think any of them would dare hurt you. They’re not that stupid, they know I’d burn the world down for you. But I wouldn’t trust them too much, either.”

“Oh, trust me, I think I’ve learned my lesson,” she forces a smile on her face. “I’m sorry if I’ve disappointed you.”

There’s genuine remorse on her face. Not because she did this, but because I found out, and I’m not certain whether to be amused, or irritated. With a chuckle, I ruffle her hair, watching her scowl.

“Hey, you beat teen pregnancy, so nothing you do now is going to disappoint me.”

Dahlia laughs, her shoulders relaxing a fraction — and that’s all I need. I don’t want to bring up how she seemed to become a whole different person, back in that room. She had this aura of indifference that scared me, because regardless of what she chooses to do, I’d want her to keep her kindness.