The End of Me (The Downfall of Us #1)(9)
Author: Claudia Burgoa

 

 

 

 

 

April 16th

 

I spend two days at my parents’ house working with the lawyer and compiling all the paperwork Archer left in case anything happened to him. Even though he’s missing and not proclaimed unalive, I have everything to claim his assets.

 

After that, I go to Kingston’s office with the letter Archer left for him.

 

“This is a surprise,” he says, and it’s so painful to see him.

 

He looks so much like Archer. Well, an older version of him. King has dark brown eyes instead of silvery-green like his younger brother.

 

“Hi.” I wave at him.

 

“It’s good to finally see you. I went by your parents’ house several times to check on you, but they said you weren’t receiving visitors.” He touches his chest. “I won’t lie. It hurt a little. I thought I was family.”

 

“You are. I only saw my parents and the occasional nosy cousin who broke into my room.” I smile.

 

“You can’t keep Seth away, can you?”

 

“Obviously not.”

 

“How are you?” He tilts his head toward the leather couch in his office.

 

“I should be asking you that. Your brother is missing.”

 

“He died.”

 

I shake my head. “You’re wrong.”

 

He crosses his arms, tilting his head. It’s like he’s about to cross-examine me. “I heard a rumor that you don’t want to accept it. Why is that?”

 

I put my hand on my chest, close my eyes, and tap it at the rhythm of his heartbeat, not mine. “I feel it. His heart still beats.”

 

“Piper.” The way he says my name is almost painful.

 

“I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true,” I claim, opening my eyes.

 

“Is that why they’re still searching? Because you have the feeling that he’s still around?”

 

“He is alive,” I insist.

 

He nods. “I hope you’re right.”

 

“But in the meantime, I’m following his crazy plan.”

 

King cocks a brow. “He has a plan?”

 

I nod. “He left me a box with videos and letters and… it’s like a memoir with instructions, so I don’t die of sadness while I wait for him.”

 

He smiles as if he totally expects something like that from Archer. “If you need anything, I’m here for you, Piper. You’re our sister.”

 

I hand him the letter. “He left you this.”

 

He sighs. “If he makes me cry, I’m going to go to kill him when they find him.”

 

I chuckle. “Oh, he’ll probably make you shed a tear or two.”

 

Just as he’s about to open the envelope, he asks, “Do you have letters for the others?”

 

I shake my head. “As far as I know, there’s nothing for them. If I do, they’re in the box waiting for their turn. I have to follow the steps. It’s almost like a scavenger hunt.”

 

“Only Archer would create something like that during his free time.”

 

King opens the letter, and as his eyes scan the paper, I see the moisture gathering in his eyes. Archer has an innate skill at telling a story or writing a letter that only a few have. Maybe that’s why he studied philosophy and English. He plans on writing books and being a teacher.

 

He was halfway through his Ph.D. before Uncle Mason assigned him a new mission. He took a sabbatical and will resume his education once he’s back from wherever he’s hiding.

 

King wipes the tear that escapes with the back of his hand before saying, “So, you’re Mrs. St. James, huh?”

 

I nod.

 

“You should’ve told us.”

 

I shrug. “We didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. More so when your mom wanted us to have a big wedding, and she and Mom were ready to organize it.”

 

“You’re a good daughter-in-law.”

 

“I haven’t been that great lately. How’re your parents doing?”

 

“They’re devastated. Everyone is grieving. You should visit the family often. We all miss you.”

 

“I’ll try soon, promise.”

 

He shows me the letter. “What do you want me to do? Neither one of them would try to take what’s yours. They see you as part of the family.”

 

“Honestly, I’d rather not tell anyone our marital status, but I also don’t want to get into a feud because he’s not home.”

 

He nods. “As I said, I doubt my parents will try anything.” He waves the paper. “The deeds to the properties are under your name too. Everything is covered. If you need money or anything, please come to me.”

 

“All is good. I’m just doing this because he requested it.”

 

He nods. “I can see why he sent you to me. Our parents are batshit crazy, and we don’t know how they’ll react to… well, anything. After their divorce, we stopped trusting them. However, you’re a St. James. Even if you weren’t married to him, we wouldn’t take anything away.”

 

“More times than not, your parents are good people,” I argue.

 

He narrows his gaze. “The jury is still deliberating on that.”

 

“Thank you for helping.”

 

“Don’t thank me, just keep calling, texting, and being the same Piper you’ve been with us, okay? I’ve missed our chats.”

 

I look at my shoes, ashamed of my behavior. “Sorry for not responding.”

 

“I get it. I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around his—”

 

“Disappearance,” I say before he uses the other d-word.

 

“Sure, let’s go with that.”

 

There’s a knock on the door. Whoever is behind it doesn’t wait for King to respond.

 

I’m surprised to see Donovan St. James. His gray eyes illuminate when they see me. “I heard Piper was here.”

 

I lift my hand and wiggle my fingers. “Hi, Mr. St. James.”