Page 56 of Ruthless
“I’ll go. There is no reason for you to go.”
“Of course I’m going. You’re not doing this alone.”
He strode into the living room and grabbed the clothes from where he’d dropped them on the floor yesterday. Eve’s uncle had likely gotten a good idea of what had happened last night. He was adult enough to not be embarrassed, but he didn’t like putting Eve in an embarrassing situation with her family.
Tugging on his pants, he sent her a hard look. “You’re supposed to be hidden here. You go to the station with me, hundreds of people will know about it before lunchtime.”
“I don’t care.”
“Well, I do. You’ve stayed out of sight for over a month. Being seen is only going to cause you problems.” Sliding on his shoes, he went to her and held her shoulders. “I didn’t kill the guy. I’ll answer their questions and be back by lunchtime.”
Unable to help himself, he kissed her with all the longing he’d held back for so long. Savoring how she melted into his arms, Gideon sent up a prayer of thanks. He hadn’t believed this would ever happen. And now that it had, he would fight with everything within him to make sure nothing went wrong for them.
But first, he had to figure out why he was a murder suspect.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“What do you mean they’re holding him?”
Her father had arrived a few moments ago with that astounding news. The instant she’d seen him, she’d been sure he had come to reassure her that Gideon was fine and on his way back to her apartment.
“Just that,” he said. “I’ve talked to the police chief, and he feels, based on the evidence, he has no choice.”
“What evidence?”
“Apparently, a neighbor heard Gideon threaten Clement’s life. When questioned, Gideon admitted that he did, in a manner of speaking, threaten to kill him.”
That didn’t sound like Gideon. Even when furious, he didn’t lose control. Between the two of them, he was the even-tempered one. She had a tendency to be volatile and lose herself to anger. Gideon had pulled her back from the edge multiple times.
“Is the witness reliable?”
“Now that I don’t know.”
“You need to get him out, Papa. Gideon didn’t do this.”
“I’ve already arranged for his release. I’ve agreed to allow him to stay at the castle, under guard.”
Eve turned away before her emotions got the best of her. The bubbling panic inside her had been close to explosion. Not being able to leave the castle and demand Gideon’s release herself had been infuriating. Anyone who knew Gideon would have no doubt that he was innocent. She might not be an active royal, but she still had influence. She could make them see there was no way he could have murdered anyone—even someone as repulsive as Jeremy Clement.
“Lina,” her father said hesitantly, “are you and Gideon in a romantic relationship? Jacques said something…”
Feeling ridiculous that she was fighting a blush, she faced her father. She was almost thirty-four years old, had done things that would not only shock her entire family, but would also horrify them. She was a highly trained covert operative with skills that would rival the deadliest assassin. So the fact that she was blushing like a teenager who been caught sneaking out to see her boyfriend should be laughable. But this was her father, and she knew he still saw her as his innocent little girl.
However, she was no shrinking violet, so despite her high color, she said, “Yes.”
The disapproving expression on his face surprised her. He might be the king, but he wasn’t usually a snob.
“For how long?”
Temper rising, she said, “Just recently.”
“Since you found out the truth of my agreement with him?”
“Yes.”
The furrow on his brow eased. “That’s better.”
“What? Why does the timing matter?”