Chapter 1781:


    “What do you think?” Jaxen replied, giving nothing away.


    Violette’s patience snapped. She stood abruptly. “If you’re going to be evasive with me, then we’re done here. I’m not taking that kind of risk based on half-answers.”


    “Wait.” Jaxen caught her hand. “We made a deal. Each family takes on one target — remember? You can’t walk away from this now.” His voice hardened. “And if the Martels ever find out that you even considered betraying them, they won’t let it go. You know that. Violette — none of us are clean. We’re all in this together.”


    The threat made her jaw tighten, but she couldn’t deny the truth in it. She had already gone too far. The Hewitts had been behaving like dissidents for long enough, and the night Alban had found her with Jaxen had made certain there was no quiet way back.


    “Violette, don’t make a rash decision,” La said, her voice softening into something carefully measured and persuasive.


    Despite being positioned to marry into the Jones family, La felt no loyalty to them whatsoever. She liked Bain well enough, but not to the point of sacrificing what was within reach. Wealth and influence, once secured, could make a great many things possible.


    She moved closer and took Violette’s arm before she could step away. “We’re family. We’re not working against you — we never would. Go home and think it through. Talk to your family. But don’t take too long. Every day we dy is another day we risk being found out. We need to move.”


    Violette was quiet for a moment, then said, “Fine. I’ll discuss it with my family.”


    “Good,” Jaxen said, already moving. “Let me drive you home.”


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    La watched them go, and once they were out of sight, a slow, private smile settled across her face.


    An entire week had passed.


    Alban had been pacing outside the entrance to the inpatient building, wearing a path back and forth across the pavement. He looked like a man who hadn’t slept properly in days — which was, more or less, urate. He approached the doors more than once, only to lose his nerve at thest moment and turn back, the same indecision ying out on his face each time.


    Weeks had gone by, and Gillian still hadn’t responded to a single one of his attempts to reach her. For a man of his position, it was a particr kind of humiliation.


    He had just about resolved to give up and leave when someone walked into him hard, catching his shoulder and throwing him off bnce. He steadied himself and looked up.


    Of all the people.


    “What are you doing here?” Alban snapped, his irritation immediate.


    “I’m allowed to be here, aren’t I?” Bain said, looking him over with undisguised amusement. “You look terrible, by the way. What exactly are you lurking around out here for?”


    “You did that on purpose,” Alban said, his voice hardening. “Apologize.”


    “Apologize for what? You walked into me,” Bain said, and turned and walked away without another word.


    He had absolutely walked into Alban on purpose, and he had absolutely no intention of acknowledging it.


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