Femme Fatale: The King's Deadly Temptress

Damien was only a teenager when his father died in a car crash. He grieved and mourned for him, but he didn't question the incident because he didn't have any reason to. It wasn't until Amelia told him her doubts that he started questioning what he knew.

The fact that the police officer disappeared soon after was very suspicious. It was long overdue that he got to the bottom of the truth. Whether it really was an accident or not.

Detective Donovan gave him an address that was quite a distance from Harbor City. Damien wanted to handle it personally and it wasn't the detective's job to do his bidding, so he thanked him and kept their conversation brief, making a mental note to send him a gift later.

The doctors checked on Grandpa Theo and did some tests for an hour. Then they told Katherine that his condition had minor improvements and there was some brain activity but his eyes remained closed. This gave her hope that her grandfather would wake up soon. She just had to keep talking to him.

When Damien and Katherine arrived at the hospital earlier, he called William and told him about what happened last night. His cousin arrived just as the doctors left. Now he and Damien were by the floor-to-ceiling window, sipping coffee and watching the city below them.

"Detective Donovan called me an hour ago. I have Bennet's address," said Damien.

William cocked a brow. "Who's Bennet?"

"The police officer who responded to Dad's accident that night."

"No. Shit?" William straightened his spine, his eyes widening at the information. "Then what are you waiting for?"

"It's in a small town three hours by car."

"So? Take your helicopter."

Damien sighed. He knew that. It was his first choice the moment he found out about the location. It didn't matter if Bennet was in Asia or Europe, he'd go there by plane. "Still. I can't leave Katherine. She's been through a lot last night. She needs me here."

William's shoulders slumped. He only stared at Damien and didn't say anything. Damien always put Katherine first.

"You should go."

The men turned as Katherine approached, her brows drawn together in worry but her lips were curled into a small smile. She'd heard their conversation from where she sat beside her grandfather.

"Katherine." Damien studied her face. She looked exhausted and slightly worried, but there was something different in her expression. She seemed less tense. "I'm not going."

"There's nothing to do here, Damien. Grandpa's not awake yet—or he may be," she glances over her shoulder for a brief second, "even so, you don't have to stay here with me. I'll be fine."

He shook his head. "It can wait."

She shrugged. "Why would you wait? You've waited long enough. It's time you get some answers."

Damien clenched his jaw and then sighed as he reached for her and she stepped into his space. Her warmth penetrated against his side. It felt good to have her there. He cupped her cheek and told her, "I don't want to leave you here by yourself."

Katherine drew her brows together, but a tiny smile formed on her face. "I'll be fine. I don't have anywhere to go today, so I'll just stay here while you go out and deal with it." When he didn't respond, she added, "You've been here for me while I'm dealing with mine. And I'm here for you too. If you want, I'll even go with you—"

"No. You're staying here."

"But…you're going today, right?"

"Yes. I guess so." He let out a sigh. "I'll text Ali and Emma to stay here with you while I'm out."

"Okay." She smiled, the cloud in her eyes disappearing when she kissed his cheek and went back to the armchair. Ever since she saw her grandfather move his finger earlier, she had been in high spirits. His worries lessened. 

"You coming with me?" Damien asked William.

"Of course. I would have offered anyway even if you hadn't asked."

"Then let's go."

Damien and William left the hospital and drove to Crown Resort Group's office where the helicopter was waiting at the rooftop. They took off just as Damien received a text from Katherine.

[ My Queen: Ali is here and Emma's on her way. Be safe, Damien. Good luck. Xo]

[ Damien: I'll be back soon. ]

Where it would have taken them three hours on the road, the flight only lasted for less than an hour. They landed on a vast green grass near an old warehouse that looked like it hadn't been in use for years in the countryside. A car arranged by Markus was parked near the building.

They were far up North in Esmea where the landscape was greener and the air was cleaner.

According to Detective Donovan, Joseph Bennet had changed his name to Joseph Hill and he'd been residing in Redwick Falls for more than a decade now.

Damien drove to the center of the town and pulled to a curb outside a bar. There were a couple of hours of sun left and the townsfolk were still enjoying the remainder of their Sunday. Heads turn in their direction, most of them curious to see who they were and what they were doing in their hometown. That was the thing about small towns. Everyone knew everyone and visitors would get curious stares.

"I hate small towns," William remarked as he scanned their surroundings. They were still inside the car, trying to make sense of where they should go from there. Although they got the address, it didn't show up on the GPS. The man they looked for worked in a garage as per the detective's address. It was the only one in town, so it shouldn't be too hard to find.

"I'm not too happy to be here either." Damien tried to search the map on his phone, hoping something would come up, but even the signal there was crappy. He sighed. "We should ask someone."

"The bar?" William tipped his chin at the bar across the street. 

"Nah. They tend to be protective of their own people there. Let's try the mart." He pointed at the small store outside William's window.

The two got out of the car and headed to the store. A few women passing by turned their heads in the Parks' direction. Two tall and handsome men visiting their town surely made their afternoon exciting. However, Damien and William paid them no mind.

The chime above the door rang as Damien pushed the door open. A teenage boy playing on his mobile phone sat behind the counter, blowing bubble gum in his mouth as his thumbs flew on the screen. They stood at the counter but the teenager didn't look up. 

Damien exchanged looks with his cousin before he knocked on the counter. "Excuse me."

The teenage boy slid his stare up, looking bored as hell. "Yes?"

"I have some questions."

"Are you a cop?"

"No."

"Buy first and then I'll answer." He popped the bubble gum.

Damien scoffed, fighting the urge to smack the boy upside the head. He reached for the nearest candy—a bar of Snickers that was $1.50—and slid it towards the boy and gave him a twenty. "Now can I ask?"

The teenager grumbled but otherwise stood and rang the candy bar. "What do you want?"

"I'm looking for a garage. Need someone to check my car. Can you point me to it?"

The teenager peeked at the car through the window, contemplating for a moment before saying, "There's one a few blocks away with a sign that says Jerry's Garage. You can't miss it. It's the one with a pirate flag."

"Got it. Do you happen to know a Joseph Hill?"

Suspicion grazed the young one's face. "He works there. Why are you looking for Jo?"

"He's an old friend. Thanks, kid." Damien grabbed the Snickers and slapped it on William's chest as he turned and walked out of the mart, his cousin following behind.

"Hey! You forgot your change!" shouted the teenager behind them.

"Keep it."

They were already out of the door when they heard the teenager mutter a "sweet".

Sure enough, once they got back on the road and drove a few blocks, they found Jerry's Garage with a pirate flag fluttering in the wind. Damien pulled over and parked it on an empty spot inside the shop, a faint rock music coming out of the speakers from the top of the wall to their right.

It looked like a typical garage. There were tool boxes near a truck with its hood up, grease on the floor, two cars with protective covers and a motorcycle in the corner. Damien climbed out of the car and William followed. "Hello?"

The music volume lowered and a few seconds later, a man from the back of the garage came out, wiping his hands with a rug. "Can I help you?"

Damien stepped forward, assessing the man as he got closer. The man could be in his early forties. His hair was dark at the top and the sides were peppered with gray and white. Average built and had a kind face. He wore gray coveralls with grease stains all over them. Detective Donovan gave Damien Joseph Bennet's information from when he worked at the force, but it was an old picture. So he couldn't be too sure this was him. "Are you Joseph?"

"Yeah. What can I do for you?"

Finally. "My name is Damien. This is my cousin William. I was wondering if you can answer some questions."

"About what?" The man furrowed his brows, his hands on his waist.

"Seventeen years ago, there was an accident. You responded to it when you were still a cop. Do you remember that?"

Joseph faltered. He neither denied nor confirmed about the cop thing, but the look on his face was suspicious. He swallowed. "What accident?"

"A car accident. The victim's name is Lawrence Park."

Joseph's eyes widened. He took a step back. And another. And then he ran out of the shop through the back door.