Chapter 327
Julian and I stayed with Gloria for a while before a few of Julian’s family members came through the door to join us. They looked between us and Gloria before saying, “We just want to sit with her a while p>
“Of course,” I said and offered one of them my seat.
Once they did, we all sat quietly for a long moment. The two that were sitting with us had always leaned more toward supporting Tony than supporting Julian, but they seemed pensive right now, looking at Gloria and her injuries.
“The only person who has been able to come in here, other than the healers and the guards, has been Tony himself,” one said. “How can he continue to expect us to believe he had nothing to do with this? He can’t think we would suspect the healers p>
“ I wish I could tell you that he didn’t do this to his own family,” Julian said. “But after our debate, I suspect that he’ll now do anything to win, even if that means hurting people that love him p>
“He said you didn’t care about Gloria,” the other family member said. “Tony told us that you abandoned her in her hour of need. And we believed him. You simply weren’t here anymore p>
“I had my reasons,” Julian said.
“Yes, we know. We saw the debate.” One sighed. “We’re sorry it took us this long to see how Tony has changed p>
Julian waved them off. “That you can see now is the only thing I need p>
They nodded.
“He’s truly gone too far,” one said. “Poor Gloria p>
“She will make it through this,” I said. I didn’t know the woman well, but I had studied her physiology in my efforts to save her. Though I couldn’t do more than I already had to help, I was confident that the tools we had provided her wolf would help her survive on her own. “She has a lot to live for p>
I looked at Julian and gave him a soft smile.
He returned it briefly, and I knew that my offer of support had been accepted and appreciated.
“I hope you kick Tony’s ass,” said one of the family members, startling all of us, even herself. After a second’s pause, she continued, “I’m serious! He needs to get kicked into next Tuesday p>
“I don’t think you will have any trouble with him,” said the other family member, to Julian. “He’s never been a fighter. He’s only ever been a performer. I wish he would have stayed with the theater instead of taking up politics p>
“Don’t we all,” said the first.
While I was also sure that physically Julian could take Tony in fair one on one combat, I was just as sure that with Olivia’s involvement, Tony was going to cheat.
1/2
“You still need to be careful,” I said, hoping I wasn’t bringing down the mood too much by expressing caution.” Likely, he is still depending on Olivia, and if she is helping him, I don’t think she will want to play fair p>
“She definitely won’t,” Julian said, and I was relieved that we were on the same page here. “I promise I’ll be cautious, but I won’t back down. There is no way I’m going to turn the pack over to Tony and Olivia p>
Of that, it seemed, we could all agree.
“My only other concern,” I said, “is that they might come back here to try to hurt Gloria again. Though you may have been able to convince the council to allow us entrance this time, there’s no saying if that can change p>
“You don’t have to worry about that,” said one of the family members. “We might have failed before, but seeing what happened because of it… Never again. We will watch this room like hawks. No one is going to get in or out without our say so, I don’t care what the guards say p>
Florence
Florence is a passionate reader who finds joy in long drives on rainy days. She’s also a fan of Italian makeup tutorials, blending beauty and elegance into her everyday life.