"What did your brother do wrong?" Edgar asked, testing Quinn.
"Why must I answer when you already know why you’re here? Did you not come for my brother because of what he did? If you stormed my land for no reason, then we shall have a big problem," said Quinn.
"Duke Collins, you are not one to like others on your land. Or, so I have heard. I have personally witnessed how you have stepped onto someone’s land without permission. Bit of a hypocrite, are you?" Quinn questioned, purposely pushing Edgar’s buttons.
"Why did you kill your brother? Your king speaks to you," Tobias interjected, stopping the growing tension between Edgar and Quinn. "This is a serious matter."
"Indeed, it is rather serious," Quinn agreed with Tobias. "I had to shoot my brother for what he did, and I don’t have time to grieve my loss. You stand on the land which I rightfully claim. You must speak of what you came for."
"My daughter and her company were attacked by a group of men. Your brother’s name was said, and I doubt you knew nothing of it," Rafael spoke up.
Cassius’s death didn’t satisfy Rafael. He knew for certain that the grinning man before him knew something of it.
"I assure you that I knew nothing of what he did. I was surprised by your arrival and confronted my brother about what he could have done. He denied committing any acts at first, but once he saw your numbers, he confessed," said Quinn. Googlᴇ search Nove1Fire.net
"Rather than fight to protect him, you killed him. You did not know if he would only be imprisoned," Edgar said, not believing a word of what Quinn spoke.
Quinn killed his brother, yet there wasn’t a single tear. No look of regret.
This would be understandable if Quinn didn’t speak of wanting to mourn.
"Well, it wasn’t hard to guess that with so many of you here, you are out for blood. I will admit that hearing what he confessed angered me, and along with wanting to give him a peaceful death, I shot him," Quinn confessed.
"You silenced him," Edgar corrected Quinn.
"That does happen when you kill someone. Our mother endured a life of hardships until she died. For my brother to go after Miss Rue all for fun angered me. He forgot what our mother faced with men who played games, so I killed him," Quinn confessed once more.
Quinn dropped his gun to show he was no longer a threat.
"I am the head of this family, so I am well within my rights to deal with these matters as I see fit. I will hand his body over to you, and if needed, you may search his chamber," Quinn said, slowly stepping to the right so the men could pass.
"We will search the entire grounds," Rafael said, being the first one to go forward. "Tell your men to move or I will make them fall."
"Of course. Drop your weapons!" Quinn yelled, puzzling his guards.
Edgar remained on his horse. He didn’t move simply because he wasn’t going to find anything inside.
Quinn was too compliant, letting them stand on his land.
"Rafael!" Edgar called before Rafael got off his horse. "Send someone else to lead the search."
Quinn chuckled. "Duke Collins, I am not as foolish as my brother to try hurting Rafael Callahan. I don’t know why he would go after Rue Callahan. I’ve been trying to understand my brother, but he has become like a stranger."
"He was heartbroken by your daughter," Quinn said, looking up at Edgar. "He wanted to court her, but the prince already had her hand before my brother started. I honestly cannot say why he went after Rue."
"We would have known had you not silenced him," said Tobias.
"Forgive me. Had my anger not gotten the best of me, he would still be alive. I have spoiled your plans to properly punish him. I am more than willing to go anywhere so you may question me," Quinn said, his gaze flickering to Tobias.
"Oh, there is a slight problem. As I said, I am the head of this family. I didn’t abuse anyone, but rather, I killed a man who went after an innocent woman. If you bear issues with it, change your laws, Your Majesty," Quinn said, challenging Tobias.
"That is not the way it works. We were right there, yet you took it upon yourself to kill him. I question what your real intentions were for killing your brother," said Tobias.
"I have already said what they were. Take me to the court or dungeon if you wish, but I will soon be released. If I am kept there, then you will need to take the duke along with me. How is Warren, Duke Collins?" Quinn asked, entertained.
"You watch me and I watch you, Duke Collins. It is fair. I am not the only one who knows of such secrets. I am a planner, you see," Quinn said, not worried.
Aside from killing Cassius, no one had anything to use on Quinn.
"I believe I should be thanked. Not only did I kill the man who went after Rafael’s daughter, but I stopped him from going toward you. My brother wanted to take the men under my command and fight all of your men. Now is where you say thank you," Quinn said, waiting patiently.
"Take him. Send him off to the palace dungeon while his home is searched-"
"And when will your home be searched, Duke Collins? Like everyone else, I hear you don’t allow others to come onto your land. You speak quite often about being able to kill those who stand on your land. Is this the benefit of having the king for a friend?" Quinn asked, liking the privileges Edgar had.
Quinn considered getting close to the next king so he might have the same privileges Edgar had.
"You are going to be taken to the dungeon while your home is searched, and all your servants will be spoken to. You will face the court for killing your brother. It is your land, but there is a way for these matters to be carried out," said Tobias.
It was too dangerous to let Quinn be out of the palace guards’ hold. He could slip away and vanish forever since they knew nothing of him.
"I will not object to it. Duke Collins, I only have one thing to ask. How much longer will it take you to figure out who I am? Should I give you another clue? Your wife was more interesting when she wore that mask. She was truly a work of art," Quinn said as he walked by Edgar’s horse.