“I don’t remember. Gabe says something happened between David and me five years back and that’s why I decided to leave everything behind and move away from London. Gabe doesn’t know what it was, but I’m pretty certain it must have been something drastic because I was never afraid of David.”

“Then why did you return?”

“Apparently, I returned to London for my their funeral and because the title and everything else it entails fell on me. And then I met with an accident and lost my memory. However, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that my father, brother and I met with similar accidents. Something is going on.”

She ponders on that for a moment, chewing her lower lip. “Do you have any clue?”

I shrug. “My father and brother were terrible humans, they were involved in the illegal trade of diamonds.” I tell Aaliya all about my predecessors’ nefarious activities and her eyes grow rounder and rounder as she listens.

Aaliya clasps my hand tightly when I’m done. “Oh my God! And now it’s all fallen on you, isn’t it? You have to sort it all out. Shit! Do you think it’s one of these people who could be after you?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. Mike is investigating. Besides, I’m just touching the tip of the iceberg. First thing I’m doing is putting a stop to all the illegal trade they were into. I’m almost afraid to delve deeper into their lives. I fear what else I’ll uncover.”

“You have no clues, no leads? Anything to help you find who did this?”

“Two weeks ago, I received a threat. It came in a bouquet of flowers. And then the shooting took place. That man who died...I can’t forget his face, Aaliya!”

Visuals of that horrific incident clog my mind and I shake my head to clear those gruesome images.

“I attended his funeral you know,” I murmur.

Aaliya’s arms envelope my chest and without thinking I hold her close.

“His name was Timothy Rivers. He was so happy that day. He was buying a ring for his wife. It was going to be their fiftieth anniversary and it was devastating and so heart wrenching to see that family’s grief. I...I met...” My voice breaks and I clear my throat.

“I met his wife and daughters,” I tell her. “I gave her the gift he’d bought for her. She broke down on seeing it. I promised them that if they ever needed anything, I’d be there for them. I’m going to discreetly keep an eye on them just to ensure they’re all right. That’s all I can do, in any case.” I huff out a breath. “That man, he died because of me. He was at the wrong place at the wrong time. If it wasn’t for me then...”