After hanging up, she trudged over to the big bed, feeling drained.
Charles lingered in the doorway, looking uneasy. "My brother just called again. I was supposed to stay another month, but he wants me back in North America tomorrow. Sis, I''m sorry-I have to go. Dn should be heading there in a month, so we''ll probably meet up then."
ra looked up, not ready to let him leave, but she knew Charles had his own path to follow.
She wasn''t a fan of the Chester brothers, but she understood that Charles still cared about them in his own way.
"Take care of yourself, okay?" she said quietly.
Charles nodded, then remembered something. "I''m leaving MiloBuddy with you. I''m good in a fight, and those guys back in North America don''t like them anyway. With them on your side, you''ll be able to track down anyone you need."
ra didn''t argue-she honestly had no idea what she was about to face.
"Thank you, Charles."
He didn''t want to leave either, but when it came to his big brother''s orders, he didn''t have a choice. "Just promise me, don''t go head-to-head with Loue unless you have to. If you do, make sure it''s somewhere no one''s watching. MiloBuddy will warn you first. If you get caught by those people, nobody can save you."
He stopped himself from saying more, knowing if he kept going he might not be able to walk away.
He''d never felt this kind of heavy, bittersweet feeling before. It was almost too much.
"I should go. I need to get back to my ce and pack. I''ll text you the address. The helicopter will be waiting there for you. If you ever have nowhere else to go, my estate is yours. It''s your safe haven."
ra nodded again, eyes stinging with tears.
But Charles had already turned, gave ast little wave, and disappeared.
After he left, ra couldn''t sleep. She ended up taking a long bath, changed into fresh clothes, and stood on the balcony, just waiting for morning toe.
Dn still hadn''te home, and worry gnawed at her.
The next morning, she called Aiden, but he didn''t pick up.
Her unease only grew. Now that Ms. Loue had arrived in the Capital, she was sure the old man would start pushing things even further.
She waited until noon, tried Dn and Aiden''s numbers over and over, but no one answered.
With no other choice, she called Richard.
He was sitting in his office when he picked up, voice cool and t. "What''s up?" "Dn''s missing."
Richard''s brow creased. He set his pen down slowly. "He didn''te homest night?"
"No."
He leaned back in his chair. "I heard
Rai from the overseas Ferguson family has been at the old housetely. Who knows what he''s nning. ra, North America4s dangerous. Dn''s strong, but those family ties run deep. You''re better
off here in the Capital with him."
ra lowered her eyes. Of course she wanted to stay here-she knew nothing about North America.
"Richard, can you check the old house for me? See if he''s there?"
He spun his pen between his fingers. "You''re getting pretty demanding, you know that?"
ra just pressed her lips together. "Didn''t you say you wanted things to work out between me and Dn?"
He didn''t answer right away, just stared at the file in his hands for a long moment before finally grunting, "Mm."
Richard didn''t waste time. With his status, getting into the Ferguson family''s old house was easy.
Inside, the tension was thick. Rai and Walter were deep in conversation.
Rai looked satisfied. "This time, the dosage should be just right. That kid''s something else—-he even fought off thest batch."
Walter picked up his tea, using the
lid to
away the leaves. "Dn''s me down. Rai, let''s hope your medicine doesn''t either."
Rai sighed. “Last time was an ident didn''t expect him to handleit so well, but I''ve
recalcted everything now. When he wakes up, he''ll only remember that one ce."
A slow, cold smile crept across Walter''s face, but there was something dark in his
eyes.
"What about him? Did he say anything to you when you got here?"