Chapter 263
“True enough. With all the awful things he did, there’s no telling how many people he crossed. He had it coming.” Dominic suddenly thought of something else. “Nocturne can reopen in a couple of days. It’s been shut down for cleanup long enough, and the staff are already making noise p>
“Handle it however you want.” Chris set down his cup.
Gavin’s phone rang. He stepped aside to answer it, then came back after a few brief words.
“Mr. Xander, the Zellers sent people to Westbury p>
There wasn’t the slightest surprise on Chris’s face, as if he had expected it all along.
Seeing how calm he looked, Dominic started feeling anxious for him. “Everyone knows William was raised by Sean. Sean’s been out of the country for years, and nobody knows how much power he’s built up overseas by now. If you insist on protecting Skyla, you’re making an enemy of him p>
Of course, Dominic also knew that even aside from Skyla’s bone marrow, Chris still wouldn’t hand her over.
After all, Skyla had lost the use of her legs saving Chris years ago.
Chris owed her.
A debt like that was never easy to repay.
Chris barely reacted. Dominic knew he wasn’t afraid of making Sean an enemy. In all the years he had known him, he had never seen Chris fear anyone.
What worried him was the state Chris was in now. Lately, he had become too extreme, too rigid. Dominic was afraid he might do something he could never undo.
Especially when it came to Winter.
“ You really are going to keep Winter locked up here?” Dominic finally asked.
Chris’s eyes darkened. “I’m not locking her up. I’m having her stay here for two weeks p>
Dominic pressed a hand to his forehead and said helplessly, “What’s the difference p>
“ There’s a difference.” There was a stubborn, almost obsessive edge to Chris’s voice.
Dominic had barely started to say, “Even a cornered dog…” when Chris shot him a cold look, and he quickly corrected himself. “Even a rabbit will bite when it’s pushed too far. And Winter’s no rabbit. She’s a little fox. Push her too hard, and she’s capable of anything p>
Chris said coolly, “What can she do with me keeping an eye on her p>
Just then, Mr. White stepped forward. “Mr. Xander, Mr. Lynch, lunch is ready p>
Dominic checked the time and stood up. “I won’t stay for lunch p>
Chris gave a quiet hum, picked up the test report from the coffee table, and headed for the stairs.
Dominic put on an aggrieved look. “You’re not even going to pretend to ask me to stay p>
“Eat or don’t.” Chris didn’t look back.
1/2
+25 Bonus
When Chris pushed open the master bedroom door, the first thing he saw was the lump in the middle of the bed, still in the same position as when he had gone downstairs. At the sound of the door opening, the figure under the blanket shifted slightly.
“Get up and eat p>
The person on the bed moved a little, but said nothing and didn’t turn around.
So she was planning to go on a hunger strike?
Chris walked into the room, set the test report on the table, and went into the walk–in closet. By the time he came back out after changing, Winter was still lying there without moving.
His lips pressed into a line. “Get up and eat p>
The figure on the bed shifted again, the blanket pulled almost over its head.
Chris frowned and strode over, grabbing the edge of the blanket and slowly pulling it back.
Underneath was a black German shepherd with its tongue hanging out, staring up at him with wide, innocent eyes.
His hand tightened around the blanket.
Chris turned and walked out of the room, then pushed open Winter’s bedroom door. Sure enough, a long rope twisted from bedsheets was hanging from the windowsill.
He looked out over the wide–open yard beyond the window.
There was no one there.
Florence
A passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.