Dominic looked at lobby, who was still standing by the door, and said, “ortus another room.
Bobby nodded quick. “Of course, right away.”
Without another word, Dominic tumed and walked out.
As he did, becasually placed a hand on Vespera’s lower back, gently guiding her out with him.
Eden finished yelling into the phone, hung up, and stabbed out his cigarette. He walked over, his whole demeanor shifting from fiery to cheerful in an instant.
Had I known Vespera was coming, I wouldn’t have smoked. Let’s switch, we can’t have her breathing in secondhand smoke.
They changed rooms, and once the three of them sat down and entered, the conversation quickly veered into gossip–specifically, about Tiha
Dominic gave him abriel mundown. “So you came to Halewick just to hear gossip!?”
Eden grinned mysteriously, “Half right, I didn’t just come to hear gossip, I came to bring some.”
Dominic shook his head. “You’re about to qualify for Women of the Forces at this rate.”
to Aurallarp
Eden went silent. Then he reached over and slung an arm around Dominic’s shoulders. “Dom, I was supposed to fly to
“I rearranged half my schedule just to come to Halewick and see you. I love you that much, and you still have the heart to mome? Have you lost your conscience?” Vespera quickly lowered her head. She took a strategic sip of water but couldn’t help sneaking a glance at them.
|Dominic pushed his arm off. “What are you, hyperactive? If you’ve got something to say, then say it.”
“You cold–hearted bastard…” Eden chuckled.
He looked like he was about to crack another jole, but seeing Dominic’s serious expression, he let it go, “Alright, I’ll get to the point. Did you know my aunt got to Ashford yesterday around noon
Dominic nodded. “Yeah, I saw her outside the police station ”
Vespera felt a sudden tightness in her chest. So, the “help” the Sowle family brought yesterday was the aunt from the Locke family?
Eden picked up his glass and tookasip. “Ever heard of the Lumena Order?”
Dominic’s brow furrowed. “Of course. That trade group’s practically a cult.”
Eden explained, “Selena’s a member of that group. 1 only found out recently. Last time Mrs. Sole came begging the Locke family for help, her condition was that Austin accept Selena’s referral and join that cult. She even wanted him to convince Luke to join too.”
Dominic scoffed. “She’s got a bigger appetite than I thought.”
Eden let out a cold laugh. “But Austin’s not an idiot. He tumed her down right then and there, and that was the end of it. Well until this whole Tina mess happened.
“Now Selena’s suddenly all humble and eager. Don’t you think that maybe Austin gave in? Maybe he agreed to her terms just to save his mom and sister?
Dominic went quiet for a moment, thinking. He didn’t confirm anything. All he said was, “No one’s getting Tina out. Doesn’t matter who they send.”
Dom, you better malu sure of that. If that lunatic from the sole family gets out again, she’s coming straight for Ms. Gildan
“And from my side and the Locke family’s, the more people Selena pulls in, the harder it’ll be for me to deal with her,”
it he’s forced to play along
“Relax, Tina’s not slipping past the law this time. And I don’t believe Austin can be controlled by some woman. He’s got a brain. Even it i in the end, it’s still up in the air who’s using who,” Dominic said calmly.
“Let’s hope,” Eden muttered. He didn’t sound convinced.
He’d seen Selena’s bag of tricks with his own eyes. Every
very time he left the house, he made sure to have the car swept before getting in
Vespera had bentquietly listening the whole time, not saying a word. But for some reason, the more she listened, the mate unsettled she felt.
“I’m going to the restroom,” she said, standing up and walking out
In truth, she just needed some air.
Eden watched her go. “Think I scared her? Should I not have said all that in front of her?”
Dominic shot himacool glance. “Too late now. Besides, she’s not as fragile as you think!
Vespera stepped outside and wandered into the courtyard. As she passed a rock garden, she stopped, pulled out her phone, and called Rebecca
The fact that the Sowle family had brought in outside help to get Tina out–Rebecca needed to know.
She stood there quietly, phone to her car.
No far away, across a small arched bridge in the corridor on the other side, a well–dressed, handsome, middle–aged man with glasses was strolling toward het.
He turned his head casually, then tieze when he caught sight of Vespera’s profile at the rock garden.
He came to a slow stop.
Chapter 277
“Mitabelle…”
