Fallen Heirs (Windsor Academy 3)

He closes his eyes for a moment. “That’s the last thing I wanted you to see, but it had to be done. And nothing else happened.”

“Right.” I fold my arms over my chest. “Why should I believe you? Because you’ve been so honest up until this point?”

He growls. “I’m fucking dead serious, Jazz.”

“Fine. Then why don’t you t

ell me what really happened? And why you had to kiss some naked rando?”

“Because my dad was testing my loyalty. He was questioning me about you... about my feelings for you. When I assured him he imagined things, he asked me how far I was willing to go to prove myself.” Kingston rubs the side of his jaw. “I told him I’d do whatever it took to ease his concerns.”

“And his answer to that was bringing you to an orgy?”

“It wasn’t an orgy. I mean, technically, I guess the fucking occurred all in the same room, but those women weren’t there for the fun of it.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“They were working. My dad and Madeline run a prostitution ring. The real reason behind Ivanov’s party was to invite guests to their newest fetish room. Apparently, they have regular clientele who need excuses to get away from their significant others. Or, some of them just get off on the knowledge that their spouses are nearby while someone else is sucking their dicks, I don’t know. So... Alex, or one of their other hosts, as he called them, throws a party.

“Enough people are invited where it wouldn’t be noticeable if a few disappeared for a while. And it’s not uncommon for men to branch off at these parties to discuss business, which is likely the excuse they use. My dad said it was only one of many things he had his hands on. I got the impression they were going behind your dad’s back on this one; hence, why he wasn’t invited.”

I scrub a hand down my face. Sadly, everything Kingston’s said to this point is believable, considering the players and what I saw. It still doesn’t excuse his actions.

“Kingston, that still doesn’t explain the girl you were with.”

“Yeah, it does, Jazz. I already told you my dad was testing my loyalty to him. His way of doing that was to get me to screw someone else to prove my thing with you is purely physical. Honestly, I think he was also looking for something to hold over me. I don’t know if you noticed, but there were cameras in every corner. My dad said they were there if any of his guests wanted a memento, but I think he uses the footage for blackmail. I wouldn’t be surprised if he planned on sending a video of me with that woman to you to further whatever his agenda is.

“When my dad called her over to us, and she dropped to her knees right there, I knew I couldn’t say no, but I also wasn’t going to actually let her touch me. That’s when I asked if we could go somewhere more private. I think my dad was going to argue until he saw Madeline practically drooling over my open fly. I don’t know what his deal is with her, but I do know my dad doesn’t like competition.”

I clench my jaw. “Kissing is touching, Kingston. And you still followed a naked woman into what I assume was a bedroom.”

He sighs. “You’re right; I did follow her to the bedroom. Where there weren’t any cameras. My dad assured me that room wasn’t being filmed, but since his word means shit, I checked with my detection device to confirm.”

I scoff. “And what about the prostitute?”

“The second we got in that room and I knew it was clear, I threw a blanket to her and told her to cover herself up. That nothing was going to happen.”

“And she was perfectly okay with that? What about when your dad asked what happened?”

“At first, I was just planning to pay her off, but then she asked me if I was gay, and I went with it. Told her that I was afraid to come out of the closet; that my dad would never understand and disown me. I played on her sympathies. Asked her to pretend we fucked, and she agreed. We stayed in there for a while and made appropriate noises so it’d be believable. Then I took off.”

“How can you be so sure it worked? That she went along with it?”

“Because she told me her little brother was gay and he was in the same boat with their parents. Wound up committing suicide at fourteen. She said she’d do it for him.”

“Kingston, why should I believe anything you say?”

“Because I’m telling the truth.”

I shake my head. “I saw how you looked at her. How you kissed her. You sure as hell looked like you were into it.”

“Because I had to look like I was into it!”

I’m glad the windows are closed to muffle the volume because our voices are becoming increasingly louder.

Tears prick at my eyes. “I’m not going to be the stupid girl who’d rather feign ignorance than accept that her boyfriend is a cheater.”

“I’m not a fucking cheater!” His eyes are manic. “I’ve never been a cheater. Jesus-fucking-Christ, Jazz. You think I liked kissing that woman? I was trying not to fucking vomit! The thought of kissing someone else, being with someone who’s not you, makes me physically ill! It was all part of the act!”