Chapter 328
Chapter 329
The other family member agreed. “Healers and family only. No Tony and no Olivia. No unknowns at all p>
Hearing their passion gave me some relief and I nodded, pleased with their easy acceptance of the change here. They could have stubbornly chosen to ignore the evidence in front of them and continue backing Tony…
Yet I think seeing Gloria in this position helped shift something inside of them. Tony wasn’t so infallible anymore, as he had been the only one with the means and opportunity to hurt their other beloved family
member.
“They’ll do the right thing,” Julian told me later, when we had gone to my makeshift office for a minute, to have a breather and be alone. “Family has always been most important to them. For Tony to betray that… He must have known he would lose them.” He shook his head. “He’s desperate p>
I looked down at the foot and a half of space between us. “It’s that desperation, along with Olivia’s involvement that makes me worry p>
“Hey,” he said gently. He closed the distance between us at once, then cupping my cheeks with his palms, softly coaxed my face upwards, my gaze meeting his once more.
“I beat Roman, remember?” he asked. “He was a fighter. There’s nothing I can’t do. At least, not with you there cheering me on.” He leaned in and kissed me softly. Some of my worries went away with the kiss. “You will be there for me, won’t you p>
“Yes,” I told him and leaned up for another kiss. After a few more, I stopped him to say, “But I don’t want Alice to be there. She’s too young for all this p>
“We’ll keep her from it,” Julian said. “We can have Aunt Kathy come over to watch her, and make sure they only watch cartoons or a nature documentary or something p>
I nodded, somewhat satisfied with this.
“I’m still a little nervous,” I admitted. I didn’t like the idea of Julian fighting anyone, chancing getting hurt. I wanted him to be in my life safe and sound.
Though I suppose even everyday life had its own dangers. Yet, to go into an arena felt like it was egging danger
“I suppose I’ll just have to keep helping you relax, then,” he said. “A few more kisses should do p>
“It might take more than a few,” I said.
“As many as you need,” he replied and kissed me again.
Olivia’s POV
That night, I waited outside of Julian’s estate in a rental car parked on the street. I was down a ways, and wearing dark clothing, keeping out of sight. So far, I’d remained unseen.
My vigil finally paid off when Julian, Amber, and Alice finally arrived home. They parked their car, and went to the door, Alice leading the charge.
1/2
I stayed watchful as the family entered the house and went their separate ways. I carefully watched which lights came on in which windows, mapping the house out in my mind. I had been in there before, but it had been some time now. I needed to be sure my recollection matched with reality.
Alice must have run upstairs, as I watched a light click on and her shadow appear in the window. Was that her bedroom? It was a bit high up, but I could make the situation work.
I might have tracked down some performance enhancing potions for Tony, but I still didn’t trust him to win. Even if he did, he would be feral.
I needed my own insurance, especially as Amber consistently kept getting in the way.
The best way I could do that, was with a Plan B.
Watching Alice in the window, I already had that Plan B forming.
A kidnapping would keep Amber in line this time.
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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.