CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: SURPRISE AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE

“What were you and Ricky to each other?”

Chad’s arms came up to cover his eyes as tears began streaming out.

Cassandra’s eyes widened with sudden realization. She hated she was just figuring out now what should have easily guessed. “Lovers. You and Ricky were lovers, weren’t you?”

Garu and Bava's mood chilled out as the truth became clear with the tall man's stiff head nod; things were starting to make sense. The messy surroundings became somewhat still before Chad spoke.

“That bastard! That fucking arrogant bastard! He should have known better than to interfere with Etanai and those Zeal-leachers fight. For all we knew, that could have been a test of its own making. But no! He had to get himself killed.” He slowly rose into a sitting position and he steadily calmed down from his sobbing. “I couldn’t allow his corpse to be forever tainted with the disgrace.”

“So you lied and framed an already unfortunate man?” Bava’s usually gentle face held fury. “That man was an ordinary civilian. P