“So, the infamous Lord of Liberty Ind. Thanks for taking care of my sister."


    Warren''s lips formed a helpless line. It seemed he had truly managed to piss off his sister-inw. And she could certainly hold a grudge. She wouldn''t even bring herself to call him brother-inw.


    “Of course,” Warren said with a slight nod. He gently brushed a stray strand of hair from Celine''s forehead, his voice heavy. "Celine is my wife. I would do anything for her."


    "I''m leaving." Juniper gave him onest, deep look before turning to go.


    "Mr. Schwartz-"


    Warren''s voice stopped Shanley.


    He paused and looked back at Warren, his tone polite enough. "Is there something else?"


    "What does Juniper like?" A faint, weary smile touched Warren''s lips. "My sister-in-w is pretty worked up. I want to buy her something to smooth things over."


    She was the baby of the family, after all-doted on by everyone. If she went home andined to her other siblings, his life was going to get a lot harder.


    Shanley thought for a moment before a single word slipped through his teeth. "Money."


    "Money?" Warren was dumbfounded for a few seconds, almost thinking he''d misheard.


    Thebined wealth of Subterra


    Vanguard could probably circle the globe a few times over; Liberty Ind couldn''tpare. And now


    het


    She had the leader of the SHOW


    Network wrapped around her finger. The money from those two factionsbined could probably loop around the sr system.


    Right. This was a dead end.


    "Juniper''s calling for me. I have to go," Shanley said, not waiting to exin further as he strode after her.


    "Don''t worry too much, Warren. Ms.


    Payne isn''t one to hold a grudge, Flint chimed in lingering for a moment to offer some friendly advice. "I mean, she only put a hole in my boss."


    "She did what?" Warren''s eyes widened in shock, the question tumbling out instinctively.


    "My boss used to be Ms. Payne''s mortal enemy. When his identity was exposed, the people from Subterra Vanguard put a hole right through his chest. And just like that, the matter was settled."


    "So, you see..." Flint offered a reassuring smile. “It''s fine. Really, it''s fine."


    Warren''s mouth twitched into a stiff smile. “Thank you,” he said, enunciating every word. “You''re a ''real''fort."


    Celine''s little sister was that ferocious? She wouldn''t even spare her own boyfriend. Should he be grateful she hadn''t put a hole in him?!


    Or maybe... the time just hadn''te yet!