Ruin Me (Savage Bosses)

Chapter 29

CHAPTER 29

K ent

I checked my reflection for the tenth time in twenty seconds, despite the curious hostess waiting to seat me. I’d refused her offer, preferring to wait for Ife’s arrival before going to our table. As I waited at my daughter’s favorite restaurant, I hoped this meeting would give me the opening I needed to begin reconciling with her.

Not a day went by that I hadn’t lamented the closeness we had. She still hadn’t shared what had brought her back to Douglas. In other visits, I would have spoiled her with shopping trips, dinners, and other bribes to tempt her to move home and seriously consider her future at my company. Although I never pressured her to take over, I would be overjoyed for her to continue a tradition I started.

“You came.” Ife’s voice held a note of surprise that hurt.

“Of course. I told you, I’ll always show up for you.” I reached out to her but she stepped away, and I allowed my hand to fall.

Ife caught the hostess’ eye. Without a word, the woman led us to a private dining room. Ife arched her brow at me but said nothing.

I explained the choice anyway. “For privacy.”

She hummed her understanding. If things became contentious, we wouldn’t become fodder for Douglas’ society gossip magazines.

After the hostess sat us, we stared at each other in silence. Ife wore an invisible armor I hoped to breach while I hid nothing from her penetrating gaze.

“Have you changed your mind about Mads?”

I snapped my napkin open and laid it on my lap. “Starting off strong, I see.” I reached for the menu. “I wonder what tonight’s specials are.”

“Why don’t you stop deflecting and answ?—”

She stopped mid sentence as our server arrived. We quickly gave him our order while Ife watched him leave until the door closed behind him.

“Dad, I deserve an answer.”

I slammed the menu closed, irked by her demand. “And what do I deserve, Ife?”

She paused while reaching for her water goblet. “What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I asked.”

She changed her selection, and instead of sipping from her water, she drained her wine. “I still don’t understand your purpose.”

“Your mother died eight years ag?—”

“Don’t you bring her into this.” Ife slammed her hand against the table. “I know more than anyone else how long she’s been gone, all the things she missed out on.” She inhaled a shaky breath. “I still talk to her, you know.”

“As you should. It took me years to get to where I could say her name without breaking apart. Now, I have conversations with her. Mostly about you. How proud I am of everything you’ve accomplished, as well as my concerns as your father.”

“But you moved on. You found companionship with other women.”

“No, Ife. Those women allowed me to hide from myself. They never touched me in any meaningful way. And companionship? They were never close to offering me that.”

“But Mads does? She’s young enough to be your daughter.”

“You think I don’t know that? I’m very aware of our age difference.”

“Then why, Dad? Why her?”

“Because she showed me how to live again. For the first time in a long time, I had more than you and my company as my reasons to live.”

“And so where does that leave Mom?”

I rose and kneeled by Ife’s side. I took her hands in mine as I peered into her hurt eyes. “Your mother will always be a part of me. I don’t shy away from my memories with her now, and part of the reason is Madison. She loved Lola almost as much as you.”

“I can’t listen to this. Please, stop.” Ife hugged herself while rocking in her chair.

I sighed and retook my seat. “One day, I hope you’ll change your mind.”

“But there are so many women out there who could do what Mads does for you and more.”

“Sweetheart, I wasn’t looking for love when she came walking through my door and read me for filth.”

“She did what?”

“Yeah, the woman you sent to save me didn’t hold back from challenging everything I did and exposing me as an asshole. But I realized pretty soon, she made me unreasonably angry because I was fighting a losing battle with myself. I’m not blind to her faults. In fact, I’ve been very critical of her, and I need you to understand because when I say I’m in love with her, I’m not confusing what I feel with lust.”

The server returned with our food, his smile dropping as he took in Ife’s sad expression.

“Sorry, but can you pack this in a to-go container? I won’t be staying.”

“Ife—”

“Dad, I’ve heard you out. And as much as I want to be in your corner and cheering you on because you deserve to have love again, I can’t get over the person you chose is Mads. It feels like the deepest betrayal, one I need more than a few days to get over. And if I’m honest, I’m not sure I’ll ever get over losing what I shared with either of you.” Ife stood to leave.

“You can at least wait until your food comes.” I tried again to keep her.

“Take it with you. I don’t have the stomach for it anymore.”

She made it to the door before two men I had nothing but disdain for came barreling into the private dining room.

“Detectives, I’m trying to have a meal with my daughter. Can you harass me with your conspiracy theories another day?”

Salinas smirked. His aura oozed malicious intent. “Kent Luxe, you’re under arrest for the murder of Carol Prosper. That’s right, you asshole. We’ve got you on the hook for her, and soon we’ll get you for the other murders.”

“That’s impossible. My father couldn’t kill anyone.” Ife blocked Salinas from putting handcuffs on me.

“Ma’am, I understand this may come as a shock, but we’re only trying to do our jobs.” Glass took my daughter by the shoulders. “If you continue to obstruct us, we’ll have to arrest you, too.”

“Get your hands off my daughter.” I sidled around Ife’s body to show Glass why touching my girl was a terrible choice.

Because I took my eyes off Salinas, I was unprepared when he snuck up behind me and put me in cuffs. As he read me my rights, I stared stonily at Glass until he removed his hands.

“Ife, call Quarren and tell him to meet me at the station.” Salinas began dragging me from the room, but I had one more thing to say. “If you see Madison, reassure her and let her know I’ll be out soon.”

“Don’t count on it.” Salinas dragged me out of the room and through the restaurant, preening like a peacock.

Quarren met us at the precinct’s entrance and followed us into an interrogation room.

“Detective Glass, you better have a good reason for arresting my client after the months of harassment perpetuated against him by your department.”

“Counselor, I understand you’re paid big money to defend and deflect, but there’s no doubt your client is guilty.”

“How? You haven’t even asked if I have an alibi.” I glared at the two men who’ve caused me endless irritation.

“Because you’ll use Madison Montgomery, and she’s no longer credible. She might even be in the cell beside Mr. Luxe if we prove they conspired together.”

I shared a confused glance with Quarren before returning my gaze to the detectives.

“Please explain. Ms. Prosper abducted Ms. Montgomery and left her to die on railroad tracks. Are you forgetting?”

“Ahh, yes. The abduction that cleared Mr. Luxe of the serial murders and gave him the perfect alibi.” Salinas grinned, his joy at my demise spilling into his sarcasm. “See, we found Carol murdered like the other women, and all the clues we gathered painted a pretty clear picture. She was Mr. Luxe’s patsy. He was the man behind?—”

“Officers, I don’t mean to interrupt, but the attack on Elsie destroys your argument. The witness who found her never identified my client as the man standing over her.”

“You mean the man employed by Mr. Luxe? Funny you should mention him. We found a large deposit into Mr. Evans’ account shortly after that attack. A payoff from an employer with something to hide.”

“This is ridiculous. I didn’t bribe my assistant, never attacked Elsie, and never found Carol, though I wish I had. She had a lot to answer for.”

“We agree on that point, Mr. Luxe.” Detective Glass opened a folder. “And hopefully we can come to another agreement with your confession about how you killed her and the other women who fit your sick profile.”

For hours, they interrogated me, trying to catch me in a lie while feeding me bits of evidence to confuse me. However, Quarren was on their asses, clocking their shady questions. Despite my lawyer’s presence and his attempts to name drop the police chief and mayor, they refused to release me until my arraignment.

“Sorry, Mr. Luxe. But since it’s late on a Friday night, you won’t see a judge until Monday morning the earliest. I hope you don’t mind the humble accommodations.” Salinas led me to an austere cell where four other men of various backgrounds waited. Each person glared at me and the cops before turning their attention inward.

Whatever their problems were, they found it more important than investigating the newcomer, a blessing I hoped would last me through the weekend.

“Kent, I’ll do what I can to get you out of here before Monday,” Quarren said before leaving.

I stared at the walls, seething. Until I recalled my last words to Ife. Madison wouldn’t take me not coming home until Monday well. Hell, I wasn’t taking my situation with any equanimity. My place at night was beside my little bunny, nowhere else. But now I faced charges that seemed made to frame me and no way to fight them.