“But . . .”
“Yes, but he’s like a dressed up bag of snakes. He’s rude to servants even in the home of guests and I hear from the ones in his own home that it’s like working for a human timebomb. He has angry outbursts and has been known to become physically violent.”
“Really? You think that is true?”
“Yes. I know one of my cousins went to work for him and only lasted two weeks. He got fresh with her and she turned him down, so he forced himself on her.”
“Forced?”
“Yes.”
“Did she press charges?”
Ruby gave her a pained smile and shook her head from side to side.
“She’s an Omega. An Omega’s word doesn’t carry much worth against a man of his stature.”
“Of course. I’m sorry to hear that. Is she okay now?”
“No. She found out she was pregnant and well, she couldn’t live with it,” Ruby said sadly.
“She killed herself?”
“That’s what they say. I’m not so sure.”
“Why not?”
“My cousin, her name was Annabelle. She was squeamish. She had been all her life. Show her a drop of blood and she was in a dead faint. As if being an Omega wasn’t bad enough, being one with a weak stomach was much worse,” she sighed. “Anyway, it’s hard to believe that a woman who hated blood so much would slash her own wrists badly enough to bleed out before they could heal back up.”
“My God. Those would have had to have been some seriously deep gouges.”
“Not to be morose, but her hands were cut so badly as to be almost completely shorn off.”
Aileen looked at her in utter horror. It did sound more than a little suspicious.
“And Kevin, he was the father?”
“We don’t know, but we believe so. Annabelle had never been seen with a man in any romantic setting. She was beautiful, but painfully shy. To think that a man abused her and then drove her to her death or lent her a hand in it, is unthinkable, but those are the rumors.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, but surely you aren’t the only one that knows. The people that vote here, that elect the new leader, surely the know too?”
“No. It was all very hush hush. You don’t go making accusations against an Alpha of Kevin’s prominence. Without proof, there was nothing to be done. Poor Annabelle will never have justice.”
“So, you believe that she was murdered?”
“I don’t know, but I do think it is a likely possibility.”
“I’m sorry, Ruby. That must have been very hard on your family.”
“It was, but what can you do? You live your life. You move on. We do our best to remember her, to not let her fade into the darkness as long as those of us who loved her walk the Earth. No one knows that Kevin had a hand in it, but there’s the old saying, you know.”
“What saying is that?”
“Where there is smoke there is fire.”
“Do you think the people will elect him then?”
“I hope not. Many people here know that Yakov may not be Mr. Personality, he is a good man. He is smart and he has the best interests of the clan at heart. Obviously, he’s a family man or he wouldn’t have taken a bride. Honestly, we were all a bit shocked by it.”
“Shocked? Why?”
“He’s always been alone. Before you, I’ve never known him to have a girlfriend. He works very hard, everyone knows that. It was like he never gave himself time to meet someone. So, I guess it is good that he met you at a work function and got to know you. Otherwise, he might have remained a bachelor forever and the people never elect a single leader. It’s a bad omen to them in many ways.”
“Well, he’s not alone anymore. I’m glad the people can see that. Hopefully, he’ll do well in the election and no one will have to worry about what sort of man Kevin is beneath the surface.”
“I hope you’re right. More ice cream?”
“No. I think I’m good. Thank you, Ruby. Thank you for the ice cream and the conversation.”
“Sure. See you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow.”CHAPTER EIGHTEENThe following morning, Aileen got up early and headed out to her place. The carpenter would be there at eight to begin her shelves. She was beyond excited, but still felt a bit nauseous, despite it having seemed to pass the night before. She tried to stave it off as she drove to her house and let herself in, but it got the best of her.
Running to the bathroom, she threw open the door and dropped to her knees in front of the toilet. Her body heaved in protest against whatever had invaded it and made her feel so ill, purging itself of everything that might have been an offense. She was still hugging the bowl and deciding whether she was done when she was interrupted.