Chapter 220
Russell flicked the ash from his cigarette, extinguished it, and tossed it into the trash slot, the lid opened automatically, swallowed the stub, Ben snapped shut with a metallic click.
“Bring the Cole Group under control,” he said faily,
Orlando pressed a button, clearing the air of smoke, and sighed. “That’s quite an assignment you’ve handed me?”
Russell looked at him coolly, “You saying you can’t handle it?”
That icy aura nearly knocked Orlando back. He grilled his teeth, stubbornness flashing in his eyes. “I can handle it.”
The car fell silent for a moment, until the bodygused in the front seat announced,” ‘ve secured the house at Mayen Garden, Are we moving everyone
ther now?”
Russell nodded. “Yes”
Overhearing, Orlando shot him a sidelong glance. “Moving to Mayen Garden…that for her?”
Russellifted his game, a chill settling over his features, his eyes suddenly sharp and dangerous.
Orlando looked away, took a sip of whiskey, and continued, “I wouldn’t trust everything the Solemnity Guild says. I know White Fox–he holds her in very high regard. Maybe they’re just using us to get rid of her.”
“I know,” Russell replied, a thin, cold smile twisting his lips. “But don’t kid yourself. She’s far from innocent.”
Orlando nodded in understanding “I get it. Better to kill a thousand by mistake than let one slip through. If the Solemnity Guild needs to be destroyed, she goes down with them.”
The car window was still cracked, letting in a rush of cold wind that slapped across their laces. Orlando closed the window, glanced at his buzzing phone, and began teating. “Owen’s agreed to take the case, He’s set a meeting for four o’clock.”
Russell reached into a drawer, retrieved a battered old watch, and ran his thumb gently across the scratched glass.
Let Starmon Films know, he said quietly
Aureus Club sat in the city center, a social hub for the wealthy and powerful
Even in the middle of the afternoon, it was packed.
Music pounded like mortar shells, neon lights flashed, darling and disorienting.
Down one corridor, Dawson led Vanessa toward a private suite.
Watching her tense expression, he tried persuasion. Look, I know you’re friends with Aria, but even she can’t afford to cross these people.
Vanessa frowned. “That serious?”
Dawson said, “He’s a big shot in Masmubia–conected to both the underworld and the upper crust. if you work with his people, the resources never
stop coming”
Someone at his level could never normally cross paths with that kind of powerhouse, it was only pure luck that he’d bumped into the man on a light back to Huthaila. He’d just started a conversation about the local culture, and that was enough to earn a tiny connection.
That was all Dawson explained, but the look on his face told Vanessa everything she needed to know–whoever was coming, he wasn’t someone to take
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Chapter 220
lightly. “Why me, though?” she pressed, reading his mood.
Dawson lowered his voice. “I asked around. Apparently, he likes women with your kind of fire. Don’t worry, it’s just drinks, nothing else Idne get dragged into anything more–I’d never dare cross Ms, Saxon
And he meant it. Aria was the sort who acted on instinct and never cared about the consequences. If he let anything happen to her friend tonight,
tear him apart.
He gave Vanessa a warning. “Oh, and the Cole family’s long lost son, Orlando, will be there too. Don’t take out your feelings about Aria on him.”
Vanessa blinked in surprise. “Liam’s brother?”
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