Moonlight Scandals by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Dev turned to Stefan, his gaze dropping to his wrist. Rosie was right. The watch was on the wrong wrist, but that alone couldn’t mean . . .

Dev lifted his gaze to Stefan’s face. Everything in him rebelled at the idea that this man in front of him was Lawrence.

He arched a brow at Devlin from his lazy, arrogant sprawl on the sofa.

“What?” Lucian laughed. “This is most definitely Stefan, the bumbling senator.”

Gabe smirked as he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms.

“Devlin,” Rosie whispered, rooted to where she stood by the window.

There was no way. His heart lurched in his chest as he stared at the man. This couldn’t be Lawrence, because if this was, then that meant . . .

He suddenly thought about what Rosie had said to him about the spirit that supposedly came through to her. That it had claimed to have been murdered, but not only that, she’d said the spirit had said it wasn’t supposed to be him.

Holy shit, was it possible Stefan’s spirit had come through? And was he really starting to believe a psychic medium?

“You look like a ghost walked over your grave,” Stefan noted, tilting his head. “Do you need to sit down, Devlin?”

His heart rate kicked up as a sense of dread filled him. His thoughts raced, and they ended up on the day Nikki brought them tea. What had Stefan said to her?

“I see some things never change.”Stefan had said that and more. “You’re still incapable of not making noise.”

Sharp tingles danced along the nape of his neck. Stefan had never paid attention to Nikki when she was child. Lawrence, on the other hand, couldn’t stand how much noise she made even when the girl was barely making a sound. And Lawrence . . . he’d always been watching Nikki, paying too much attention to the young girl.

“I want to see your watch,” Dev demanded. “Now.”

Stefan laughed as he leaned forward, placing his bourbon on the table. “Why would you want to see that?”

Gabe twisted in his seat toward Dev. “You’re not . . . ?”

“Let me see your watch,” Dev repeated. “Now.”

The laugh and smile faded from his face as he leaned back. “You already know what you’re going to find.”

Shock splashed through Dev, freezing him for a moment.

“What are you going to find?” Gabe demanded, turning toward the couch. He started to rise.

“The initials.” Stefan unhooked the clasps on his watch, catching it as it slid off. He tossed the watch to Lucian, who caught it with ease. “He wants to know what the initials are.”

Brows snapping together, Lucian turned the Rolex over in his hand. The smirk faded from his face.

“Rosie,” Dev said softly. “You need to leave.”

“No, I think she needs to stay.” The bastard on the couch lifted his brows.

“Lucian?” Gabe had turned to his brother. “What do the initials say?”

Lucian slowly pulled his legs off the desk and dropped his feet to the floor. “LDV. . . .”

A chill coursed down Dev’s spine as he turned back to Rosie. “Please. You need—”

“She’s going nowhere.”

Rosie’s voice came out as a whisper. “Devlin. . . .”

“What the fuck?” Gabe exploded, and Dev whirled.

Fury poured into him as he saw that the man they thought was Stefan held a gun.

“Lawrence de Vincent.” Lucian dropped the watch like it scalded his skin and looked up. Horror filled his expression.

“Silly of me, right? But it was a custom-made Rolex. I just couldn’t part with it.” The slow smile that spread over his face was a hundred percent Lawrence.

Dear God, how did this happen? How did none of them see this? How had he not noticed the watch when Ross had?

Gabe stumbled back a step, bumping into the table. He paled. “Jesus. . . .”

“Yeah, I don’t think he’s going to help you now.” Lawrence smirked. “I raised all of you. Whether you like it or not, the three of you are my sons, and you had no idea that it was me this entire time? I don’t know if I should be impressed by my ability to assume Stefan’s place or by the stupidity of you three. Then again, this isn’t the first time Stefan and I switched places. That was a favorite pastime of ours, after all.”

Dev got tunnel vision, not taking his eyes off Lawrence. He hoped that Lucian remembered the gun he kept in his desk. If he could just keep Lawrence’s attention on him, Lucian could get it.

“But none of you knew it was me this whole time? Really? She figures it out?” Lawrence laughed out loud. “A fucking Creole girl with a sweet ass and what, a few hundred bucks to her name?”

Rosie jerked her head back. “Fuck you.”

Lawrence smirked. “I would be down for that, but I don’t think we’re going to have the time.”

Fury exploded into rage as Dev’s hands curled into fists. “I’m going to kill you.”

“But didn’t you already try that?” Lawrence replied smoothly. “In the very room underneath this one? One late spring night?”

Dev’s jaw locked down as he could feel his brothers’ and Rosie’s eyes land on him.

“Didn’t you already do that, Devlin?” Lawrence insisted as he rose, still holding the gun. “Oh that’s right. You murdered Stefan, instead.”

“God,” whispered Gabe.

“Oh yes.” Lawrence chuckled. “He killed Stefan, because he thought he was killing me.”

“Is it true?” Gabe demanded.

“Oh yes, it is true.” Lawrence laughed once more. “He killed Stefan thinking it was me and staged it as a suicide.”

Devlin could feel Rosie staring at him, but he couldn’t bear to see the condemnation he knew had to be in her gaze.

“I didn’t ask you,” Gabe snapped back at the man who’d raised them. “Dev, did you do it?”

“He doesn’t want to say it, but I’ll tell you. Devlin thought he had it all figured out. And I’ll give you credit.” Lawrence winked at Dev. “You discovered what I was doing, but did that matter in the end?”

“How?” Dev demanded, voice hoarse. “How did it end up being Stefan? He was wearing your suit. He was—”

“When you confronted me about my . . . business entanglements—”

“Business entanglements,” gasped Rosie, drawing Lawrence’s attention. “You were trafficking human beings. That’s not a business, you sick creep!”

Lawrence tsked. “Honey, that’s the oldest business in the world, and the most profitable.”

“Why?” Rosie demanded, surprising Dev and his brothers. She showed no fear as she glared at Lawrence. “Why would you do that? You have all the money in the world.”

“It was never about the money. It was about the power,” he said, tone condescending, as if he couldn’t believe he had to explain this. “When you hold someone’s life in your hands, you are their god.”

“That’s repulsive,” she replied, shaking.

Lawrence lifted a shoulder in a half-hearted shrug. “Don’t you think murder is repulsive?” he asked.

Rosie didn’t respond, but Dev thought he already knew the answer to that.

“But back to the biggest plot point of them all. Devlin confronted me, and from that moment on, I knew.” Lawrence stepped around the table, gun in a hand. “I saw it in your eyes, boy. Just as I saw it in your eyes the day you came back. You were only five then, but yeah, I saw it. I saw your hatred. You wanted me dead then and you wanted me dead the night you confronted me.”

“Came back from what?” Gabe demanded.

Lawrence smirked. “Punishment got a little rough when Devlin was younger. The boy needed a firm hand.”

“Hitting me so I fell and cracked my head open is a firm hand?” Dev spat back. He heard his brothers curse. “If Besson hadn’t found me, I would’ve died.”

“No, Devlin, you would’ve stayed dead.”

“How did we not know about that?” Gabe demanded. “How in the hell did we—”

“Because Devlin is a liar, too. Why don’t you tell the truth now?” prompted Lawrence. “Tell them what you did.”

Dev lifted his chin. “I did what was necessary. What you were doing had to be stopped, and I knew the police weren’t going to be able to do it. You’d get away with it, like you’ve gotten away with everything else.”

“I wouldn’t have stopped unless you killed me? You’re right. I wouldn’t have. But you didn’t kill me. I switched places with Stefan. He owed me. Told him I had a meeting that night. We did that often, by the way, so often. And you didn’t succeed in killing me, but you did succeed in killing your real father.”

Rosie’s gasp was lost in the explosion of Gabe, but it was like Dev lost his hearing for several minutes, and when it came back up, Lawrence was talking. His lips were moving and Dev was hearing him, but the world was tilting all around him.

“Your mother didn’t know. Not until Lucian and Madeline were born.” Lawrence smiled in Lucian’s direction. “I told her then—that you and your sister were my actual kids. The look on her face . . .” One side of his lips kicked up. “Just between us, I think she always knew.”

“God,” Dev murmured.

“Oh don’t let it tear you up too much,” Lawrence said. “Stefan was an utter fool.”

“Why did you come here tonight?” Gabe asked.

“Why? Heard through the grapevine that someone had been snooping around,” Lawrence said, and Dev immediately thought of Archie. “I knew that meant Devlin got his hands on something. I came here to find it. Figured it had to do with Stefan. He was in on everything. You know that fucking reporter? Ross? If Stefan had kept his dick in his pants and his mouth shut, we’d never have to worry about him. But no. The dumb son of a bitch fell in love with the intern, fucking spilled his damn guts in regret or something.”

“Andrea,” whispered Rosie.

“She came to me, thinking I’d help her expose him. And wasn’t that awkward?” The evil fuck chuckled. “Because he started feeling bad, he brought it all down. Now he’s dead—by your hands—and that poor little intern is . . . well, she’s at the bottom of the ocean floor.”

Rosie covered her mouth.

“And let me guess, you had Sabrina killed, didn’t you? She was a risk, because she knew. She knew it was you all along, didn’t she?” Dev demanded.

“Sabrina was a lovely woman who should’ve married one of you, but she . . . well, we know she had issues and she could no longer be trusted. Both Stefan and Sabrina did this.”

“It wasn’t Stefan or Sabrina, you dumb fuck.” Dev stepped toward Lawrence. “Your greed gave you away. It was all on you. You brought this down on yourself.”

“Was it just my greed? Tell me one thing, Devlin. Nebraska? You weren’t looking for property there, were you?”

His spine stiffened. “No.”

“How long did you know about it?” Lawrence asked.

“Long enough,” Dev replied.

“Hmm.” Lawrence glanced at the brothers. “So, the past came a-knocking and the pieces all started to fall into place for you?”

Dev smirked. “Like I said, you’re a dumb fucker.”

The man sneered. “Do they know? I’m guessing not.”

“I want to know what in the hell you two are talking about.” Gabe looked close to losing it.

“It was bad enough having to deal with one of Stefan’s bastards but two of them? You’d be amazed by what people will do for money. Paid off the hospital staff. Told that bitch one of them died. Fucking pointless, wasn’t it? This other one came along.” He gestured at Gabe with his hand. “I did it because I wanted to know what it was like to sell a child.”

“Jesus,” gasped Gabe.

“He wasn’t my kid.” Lawrence shrugged.

“You’re a sick fuck,” Dev said, shaking his head.

“Wait a minute. We have . . . we have another brother?” Lucian’s tone echoed the riot of emotions swirling through the room. “You knew we had another brother?

“What in the hell?” Lucian gasped, and out of the corners of Dev’s eyes, he saw Lucian had the top drawer open.

“Dev had a twin,” Lawrence explained. “Well, apparently he still does.”

“Is that . . . dear God, is that true?” Gabe questioned, his face pale.

Dev nodded. “I didn’t know until—”

“He knew long enough,” Lawrence cut in. “Just like he knew that Sabrina had something to do with the death of the mother of your child.”

“I did not know that for sure,” Dev argued, taking his gaze off Lawrence. “I had my suspicions, but I did not know that for sure.”

Gabe gaped at him.

Refocusing on Lawrence, he could taste the rage building inside him. “What do you think is going to happen now? Did you plan on masquerading as Stefan for the rest of your life?”

“Why not? It was working out quite well and it’s going to continue to,” Lawrence said. “You see, you’re going to let me walk out of here. And I’ll go away. I have the money and the means, and none of you will have to worry about seeing my face again.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Lucian said, and Dev’s gaze shot to him. He held the gun as he stepped out from behind the desk.

“You’re not leaving,” Dev agreed.

Lawrence’s laugh was devoid of humor. “How are you going to do it, Devlin? You going to strangle me like you did your father?”

Dev flinched.

“Shut up,” growled Lucian. “Shut the fuck up.”

“What? You going to do it? Shoot me? Your father?”

“Don’t tempt me.”

Lawrence smirked as he carelessly flicked the wrist of the hand holding the gun. “Like you’ve ever followed through on anything in your life, Lucian. I’m not worried.”

That insult struck home and Lucian’s arm trembled. Gabe, ever the mediator, stepped forward, lifting his hands. “This doesn’t have to go down this way.”

“Yes, it does,” Dev cut in. “He knows that, because the only other option is prison time for him.”

“And for you,” Lawrence shot back. “You think if I go down, I won’t bring you down with me? You killed Stefan. You think I won’t throw you under the bus and drive right over you? You’re out of your mind if you think that.”

Dev’s shoulders tensed as he glanced briefly at Rosie. God, he’d give up everything for her to not be here for this. His reputation. His money. His life. Everything for her to not witness what was about to go down.

“No,” Gabe said. “No one is going to believe you, Lawrence. Not with everything you’ve done. You’re going to prison, you sick fuck.”

“People will believe me. Especially when they dig up Stefan’s body and have another coroner, one not paid off, examine the body.” Lawrence’s cold gaze shifted to Rosie. “How does it feel to fuck a murderer?”

Rosie jolted.

“Don’t look at her,” Dev warned, stepping toward Lawrence. “I swear to God, if you even look in her direction one more time.”

“Or what?” Lawrence laughed once more. “You’re going to kill me?”

“That’s what he wants,” Gabe reasoned. “We’re not going to give that to him.”

“How does it feel?” Lawrence asked again. “To know you’ve been fucking a man who killed his father in cold blood?”

Dev charged, but Gabe threw his arm out, stopping him. “Don’t,” his brother ordered in a low voice. “Don’t give him what he wants.”

“You set him up,” Rosie cried out, and Dev’s head swung in her direction. She was . . . she was defending him? “You knew he was going to come after you and you set up your own brother. How does it feel to be a sociopath?”

“Feels amazing, actually. You should try it.” Lawrence winked. “I may not have been his biological father, but I raised him. I made him who he is today and I can assure you that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

Rosie’s hands clenched. “He is nothing like you.”

“Is that so?” Lawrence’s wide eyes came back to Devlin. “Did you fuck brain cells out of her?”

“Shut the fuck up,” Dev growled, pushing at Gabe. He made it another foot. “You son—”

“You are a sick, twisted excuse for a human being,” Rosie gritted out. “For what you’ve done—for what you’ve been a part of—you deserve being cut up in tiny pieces and fed to hogs.”

Lawrence’s gaze sharpened. “And did the police chief—”

“He was covering up for you!” Dev shouted. “He was covering up for you and you were providing him with girls . Little girls, you sick son of a bitch. He was just as sick and depraved as you.”

The man ignored him. “Tell me, Rosie, do you think two wrongs make a right?”

“I swear to fucking God, if you speak to her one more time, I will kill you where you stand!” Dev exploded, straining against his brother.

Lawrence stared back at him, his head cocking slightly to the side. “Goddamn, you’re . . . you’re in love with her.”

Dev’s heart stopped in his chest.

“You don’t even have to say it. I see it.” A look of wonder crossed Lawrence’s face. “You love her and you’re going to . . . you’re going to throw it all away for her.”

Slowly, Dev’s focus shifted to Rosie. She wasn’t staring at Lawrence. No. She was staring at Dev, her chest rising and falling heavily.

“Yeah,” he whispered, and it was like an earthquake. He did love her. He didn’t know when it happened. If it was when he first saw those god-awful beaded curtains as bizarre as that sounded or the first time she called him a dickhead. It could’ve been the first kiss or the first time she put him in his place. It could’ve been the first time she sat there and listened to him. It could’ve been right then, when she defended him even knowing the truth. Devlin was in love with Rosie.

Their gazes connected and held and then he said louder, “Yes.”

Tears filled her eyes, and that was all that he allowed himself to see. He refocused on Lawrence and he knew what he had to do.

This was it, Dev realized.

Everything was over.

Gabe was right. Even though he wanted to take Lawrence down and watch the life seep out of the bastard’s eyes, he wasn’t going to do that. Not in front of his brothers. Not in front of Rosie. She’d already been pulled into this too far.

Of all people, she didn’t deserve this.

“Call Troy,” Dev said.

“What?” Lucian demanded, still pointing the gun at Lawrence. “Are you for real?”

“Devlin,” Rosie whispered, stepping toward him, surprising him yet again, like she always did. “Think about this. . . .”

“I have.” He focused on her. “It’s going to be okay.”

“You’re going to go to prison right along with me,” Lawrence said.

“No, he won’t,” Gabe growled out.

Lawrence chuckled darkly. “Oh I’ll make damn sure of it.”

“Shut up,” Devlin yelled. “Just shut the hell up.” Turning to Lucian, he said, “Call Troy. Get him here.”

“You really want to do this, Devlin?” Lawrence asked, lifting his brows.

Dev drew in a deep breath. “It is what it is.”

A broken sound came from Rosie, a gasp that ended in a sob. He couldn’t look at her now as he stared back at the man who’d raised him.

Who’d made him who he was today.

“No,” he said out loud, stepping back from Gabe’s grasp.

Lawrence frowned as Gabe looked back at him.

No, it wasn’t true, Dev realized, and hell if that wasn’t another earthquake. If he was the man Lawrence raised, he would’ve killed the bastard the moment he learned it was him and not Stefan. He wouldn’t be giving it up.

He wouldn’t be in love.

Devlin smiled as the muscles in his back and neck loosened. And that smile felt real and right, and dear God, it was freeing. It spread across his face as he met Lawrence’s stare. “I’m nothing like you.”

His words slammed into Lawrence like a well-placed punch. Blood drained from his face as he held Dev’s gaze. The grandfather clocked ticked away.

“You’re right.” Lawrence’s voice was hoarse. “You’re not.”

Lawrence lifted the gun, and it was like the entire world slowed down to an infinite crawl. Gabe cursed, and Dev knew what he was going to do. Lawrence was going to end it—end it right in front of them—and all Dev could think of was Rosie. She didn’t need to see this of all the things. He turned to her, her name on his tongue as he heard Gabe shout out a warning.

Dev whipped back around, and saw with rising terror he was wrong, so damn wrong.

Lawrence wasn’t going to kill himself.

He was pointing the gun. Not at them. Dear God, not at them. Lawrence was aiming the gun at Rosie.

Lawrence smiled. “And you’re going to have to live with that.”

There were screams. Rosie’s. His brothers’. His. And the crack of gunshot was like thunder.