Breakfast got fucked up real fast.
The crystal on the table started glowing red. Someone yelling through it. The scared woman advisor.
"—BRENNAN'S DEAD—SUICIDE—FOUND HIM THIS MORNING—"
Duke Valerius grabbed it. "Slow down. What the hell happened?"
"Lord Brennan. He's dead. Hung himself last night. In his study." She was talking so fast. Out of breath. "Servants found him. He left a note. Said he did everything. The fraud. The bribes. All of it."
Nobody said anything.
Draven just stopped eating. *Clink.* Fork hit the plate. "He killed himself?"
"Couldn't deal with it I guess," the advisor said. "Going bankrupt. Criminal charges coming. His family left him yesterday. Wife took the kids. He was alone."
"Fuck," Seraphina said.
Elise's hand grabbed Draven's thigh under the table. *Squeeze.* Not sexy. Just... holding on. Keeping him there.
"The note," Valerius said. "What'd it say?"
