The call with Theresa had been weird, but Ss shook it off as he tucked his phone into his back pocket.
He nced around the empty parking lot, wondering how long it would take David Spence to arrive.
Standing out here with no guards nearby felt reckless, but with everything going on, it almost made sense.
"Ss Stone."
He turned at the sound of David''s voice. "Detective Spence, what the hell are you wearing?"
David was dressed in a ck top and jeans, looking younger than usual. He nced down at himself and tilted his head. "What? You told me to be
discreet."
"Yes, but not to dress like a thief and have me waiting around in this dead ce," Ss retorted.
David frowned. "You asked for a secret ce, where else but an empty parking lot?" He gestured around. "I''m doing you a favor, Ss Stone."
"And I don''t feel safe," Ss replied quietly, not wanting to keep arguing.
"You came alone?"
"No. They''re scattered around, not far away," he replied.
David stepped closer, folding his arms. "So, what''s so urgent that you couldn''t say over the phone?"
"Family issues." Ss''s thoughts drifted to Ivy and her message about Rosie. His chest tightened.
He hade here to talk about Thomas, but now it felt like that wouldn''t be the only thing he''d need help with.
"Okay," David said.
"Thanks for the Geo part, by the way. My wife was grateful."
His wife. Ivy hadn''t spoken to him since yesterday, and his call with Theresa hadn''t helped anything.
"A lot has been happeningtely," Ss said, then he filled David in on everything he knew, including his conversation with Bailey. "I need to get to the bottom of this before the FBI does. I can''t afford another scandal. And Thomas... is not being honest."
Neither had he called back to apologize about missing dinner.
David nodded slowly, taking it all in. "Let me get this straight. You want me to dig into your mother, Thomas, and Rosie? You think there''s a connection?"
"I know there is," Ss said firmly. "I... just don''t know how... or why."
David nodded again. "I''ll look into it. But I''ll need more information to make this easier."
Relief washed over Ss, softening his voice. "Thank you so much, Detective." "You''re wee." David offered a fajnt smile. "I''ll get back to you soon."
"I''m noting back here or another godforsaken area," Ss said, his mouth twisting.
David chuckled. "Got it, boss."
They shook hands, and without another word, David left.
10:52 Mon, 16 Jun G
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Ss exhaled, allowing the ease flood through him. At least he was getting secretly involved with everything. Maybe he would finally get answers, before Bailey did.
Answers Thomas wasn''t giving him.
Frustration bubbled beneath the relief, and he reached for his phone and dialed Wade.
"Hey, Ss," Wade answered.
"Hey, Wade. How is it?" he asked, his heart thudding slightly.
"Your brother is back at his hotel room."
"Oh, thank goodness!" Ss eximed. "Where was he?"
"That''s the problem," Wade sighed. "He won''t say. His head bodyguard called to
let me know, but when I tried to reach him about it, he just red up.”
A mix of relief, annoyance, and curiosity rose in Ss''s chest. Thomas was back, and safe, but he hadn''t called to exin or apologize. And that stung.
"Give me the hotel address. I''m going to see him.”
Wade told him. "Just be careful. He''s... on edge."
"He''s my brother. I know him better than anyone," Ss said confidently. "But thanks for the heads-up."
"You''re wee. Bye," Wade said, ending the call.
Ss tucked his phone away, his mind already racing for the next move. As he lifted his head, he saw the figure in front of him and froze.
"Rosie..."
"Hey, Si,” Rosie said, stepping closer. She was dressed in all ck too, but unlike David, she didn''t look like a thief.
She looked like a goddess-cold, dangerous, and beautiful with her short blonde hair.
Fear surged inside him. Should he yell? Would his guards hear? What if she had
a gun? He would be gone before he could even open his mouth.
He decided against it. "How... did you find me here?"
"Do you really know him?" Rosie asked, ignoring his question.
Ss blinked. "Who?"
"Your brother. Thomas," she replied softly, walking gracefully toward him. "Do you?"
He didn''t know if it was rhetorical, but he answered anyway. "Of course I do."
She chuckled. "I see. Since you know him, where was hest night?"
His stomach churned. What was she getting at?
"Oh,e on, Ss. Say something." She smiled, When he stayed silent, she sighed. "Fine. I''ll tell you. He was fucking me harder than ever."
Anger spiked, though his stomach dropped. "Hell no. Thomas wouldn''t do that." "Why not?" she frowned. "I''m still legally his wife, and he finds me desirable. Ss shook his head, refusing to believe it. Thomas would never go back to Rosie, not with everything at stake
10:52 Mon, 16 Jun? G
"I know about the dinner yesterday," she added, crossing her arms. "I gave him conditions, and he still came."
"No."
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"Your brother is so cheap. All I had to do was call him, seduce him. I even booked the hotel under my maiden name to put him at ease and he fell for it?
She stepped closer, her voice dripping with venom. "I fucked him and handcuffed him to the bed. That''s why he missed your precious dinner. He''s probably too ashamed and will definitely lie when you ask."
No, he couldn''t believe her. She was unstable, maniptive. But the look in her eyes, the triumph there, it broke him.
"I might even give him the child he has always wanted," she added with a smirk. "He spilled inside me."
"Enough!" he spat. "I''ve heard enough. What do you want?"
She began pacing, her eyes glowing with intent. "I want to ruin him. Just like he ruined me."
Confusion surged inside him. "What are you talking about?"
"Oh, Ss," she said gently, turning to face him. "You''re so... dumb. And I mean that in the sweetest way. You''re the only sensible person in your family, which is why I''m sparing you. What you don''t know can''t kill you."
"You sound insane."
"Am I?" she snapped, anger shing in her eyes. "When Thomas lied to me? When he painted me as the viin? Was I insane then?"
"You are the viin," he shot back, anger overtaking the confusion.
She threw her head back inughter. "Oh, baby... you don''t know what a real
viin looks like. Maybe you should ask your brother."
"You''re a liar, Rosie. A liar and a thief. Why would I ever-"
"The money was for revenge," she interrupted coldly. "I needed it. That doesn''t make me a thief."
He stepped forward, letting the fury drive him. "And how the fuck am I supposed to believe anything you say? You''ve done nothing but wreck our lives. I don''t believe you, Rosie."
Sheughed again. "At least I admitted to taking the money. And no, I haven''t done anything crazy to all of you. Ivy is still okay, right?"
His blood ran colld. Shock rippled inside him at the madness in her eyes.
"Stay... away from my wife," he choked, his throat closing up.
"Oh, I will," Rosie replied, her eyes widened with a devilish glint. "I''m just going to
break her mentally, bit by bit, until she is useless to you."
His heart sank. "What... why?"
"I hate her," she said casually. "I never really liked her energy from the beginning. Let''s see how much shests since she desperately wanted to be a Stone. Anyways, it was lovely talking to you." She turned to leave.
He knew he should let her go, but the storm burning inside him refused to settle.
"How did you know I''d be here?" he demanded. Nobody knew he was meeting David here.
She waved dismissively. "Don''t worry about it. Just be d I like you, Ss." She took a step forward, then turned back. "And tell Thomas I''ve spoken to Mateo Castro. And if you still think I''m lying, ask him about Ind Nova."
Panic surged through him. "How do you know about Mateo Castro?" he shouted
1052 Mon, 16 Jun
But Rosie had already left, disappearing into the dark.
AD
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