Chapter 968:


    Drake found her caution mildly entertaining; the corner of his mouth twitched. “Smart move, Ms. Russell. Don’t worry—no sleeping pills today.” He wasn’t one to repeat the same tactic twice.


    He pushed a slim folder across the table. His voice was smooth, steady. “These are the terms. We’ll give you a first-rateb, assistants, and generous funding.”


    Ste flipped it open and froze at the numbers. It was a fortune—more money than she could possibly earn in a lifetime.


    “And about your mother,” Drake said, pausing like he enjoyed the weight of the sentence, “as I told you before, she betrayed the organization. She tried to steal and destroy the research. I had no choice but to order her elimination. I’m sure you can understand.”


    He said it without heat; the calm made Ste’s skin crawl.


    She kept her face even. She couldn’t afford to lose it. “I need some time to review these terms,” she said.


    Drake smiled, polite. “Of course. Three days. That’s all I’ll give you. I expect you’ll join us—you can finish what your mother started.”


    He nodded once, as if sealing the deal, then watched the restaurant entrance more than he watched her.


    rm shed through Ste. She made an excuse about the restroom—meant to give a signal to William.


    At the restroom door, two hulking men blocked her path. One of them said, “Ms. Russell, Mr. Wells thinks it’d be safer if you left through the back. There’s… trouble up front.”


    Her stomach dropped. Drake had found William again. Panic rose, hot and sharp. “What trouble?” she asked.


    Drake’s voice cut in behind her, deeper now. “Your friend has a lot of people around here. I’m disappointed, Ms. Russell.”


    More chapters just for you gα?ησv????s


    She turned, trying to defuse it. “I didn’t know they’de. They’re worried about my safety. It doesn’t change anything about our talk, right?”


    Drakeughed—cold, unamused. “I understand. But it seems we’ll continue our conversation somewhere more private.”


    Before she could react, a handkerchief pressed over her mouth and nose. The smell hit—chemical and bitter. Her limbs went heavy. With thest of her strength, she thumbed the tiny bump at the back of her earring—exactly as William had taught her—the hidden button that would send out her location.


    When she came to, she was in the European-style room again. Soft leather, heavy curtains. Her wrists were cuffed to the headboard with velvety restraints. Drake lounged in an armchair, idly spinning a ring carved with a snake and sword.


    “Now then, Ms. Russell, about William—is he your boyfriend or your husband?”


    Ste blinked. He still didn’t know? Hadn’t Amon told him?


    “Boyfriend. Like I said. He did it because he was worried about me.” She kept her tone t.


    Drake made a casual, indifferent “Oh,” then fixed her with those shadowed eyes. “William’s famous in Choria. I never expected our paths to cross. Because of you, though, I get a connection I didn’t have. Maybe I should thank you.”


    He stood and walked to the foot of the bed, looking down at her. “You were supposed toe alone. You broke our agreement by bringing others. How do you think I should deal with you?”


    She knew the answer: his standard solution for traitors had been final and brutal—the same fate her mother had met.


    A sudden uproar erupted beyond the door. Drake’s brow shot up. He moved toward the sound.


    Seizing the moment, Ste strained against the cuffs. But they held fast.


    Then the window behind them exploded inward with a crack of ss, and someone dropped in, light as a shadow.


    “Ms. Russell, get down!” a voice hissed.


    Luca?


    He hurled something at the guards at the entrance.


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    Message from Noah: Sorry for the dy, dear ones. I wanted to bring as many chapters as I could—there were 18 novels, so it was a lot to go through. Still, I hope you enjoyed the chapters. God loves you, and Noah wishes you all the best. (?O?=)? ?


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