Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
She slid away from him. He caught her hand, looking from her ring finger to Victor. “Is there something you both wanted to tell us?”
“Yes,” Victor replied, taking hold of her other hand and tugging her over until she was pressed to his side, his arm around her shoulders. “We’re engaged. She’s mine. So, you all need to stop touching her.”
That announcement just meant another round of hugs. That included Victor this time. He grumbled through them, but she could tell he was happy by the glint in his eyes.
“This calls for a toast.” Maxim clapped his hands
“It’s not even noon,” she pointed out.
“Special occasion.” He reached into a wine fridge and drew out a bottle of what was likely insanely expensive champagne, pouring out glasses and handing them around.
Regent held his up. “To Victor and Gracen, may they live happily ever after.”
Somehow, she knew that would come true.
25
“I think I’ve cracked it. Try a piece of this.”
She walked into Regent’s office with a plate of blueberry and lemon muffins. Not too sweet. Not too sour. Hopefully just right.
Victor walked in behind her.
“These are actually really good,” Maxim said as he entered, eating a muffin.
“How are you so slim?” she complained. “Honestly, it’s not fair to the rest of us.”
She set the muffins down on Regent’s desk then turned back to look at Maxim in disgust.
Victor moved in behind her, wrapping his arm around her waist. “That better not be a putdown.”
“What? No! No negative comments here.” She’d been about to say something else but had stopped herself. Just as well. Her bottom still felt a bit tender after he’d spanked her last night for getting out of bed without permission.
The man had been on a total power trip ever since she’d said yes to his proposal. Although, to be fair, he’d been on a power trip before then.
“Better not be.” He patted her ass gently, then held out a chair for her. He sat next to her while Maxim sat on a corner of Regent’s desk.
“Maxim,” Regent said in a low voice.
“Yes?”
“Get your buttocks off my desk.”
“But they’re so comfy on your desk. They’re on their own power trip. They’re sucking up your mojo.”
“They’re about to feel something else of mine if you don’t get off my desk.”
“Okay, okay, no need to get nasty.” Maxim sat and put his feet up on the desk instead.
Regent shook his head. “Right, I’ve been investigating who this mystery woman is and I’ve got a name and some details.”
“Wow, you work quickly,” she told him.
“I have to. Jardin and his family came home last night. The boys need to get back to school. I’ve got guards on them, but it can’t go on indefinitely.”
“Bet Ace and Keir are loving that,” Maxim said dryly.
“They are. The school, not so much,” Regent said dryly.
“With what you donate to that school, I doubt they’re complaining,” Victor added.
She knew that Ace and Keir were Thea’s brothers and that they lived with her.
“Who is she then?” Victor asked.
“Her name is Lilia Montague. So, she told you the truth about her first name. And she’s not Santiago’s girlfriend, she’s his stepsister. Her mother married Santiago’s father when Lilia was just thirteen and Santiago was nineteen. There’s not a lot of information about her. It looks like she moved back here about three months ago. But I can’t find any concrete information about where she’s been or what she’s been doing.”
“If she’s his stepsister, she might not be interested in going against him,” Maxim said.
“This is where it gets interesting. My informant seems to think that Santiago is obsessed with her. And that she didn’t want to return to him. Although it seems she has some freedom to move around the city. But she could be in an ideal place to help us. If she wishes to.”
“I have her number,” Gracen said. “Do you want me to contact her?”
“I think it would be a good idea,” Regent said slowly.
“I don’t like it.” Victor shook his head. “What if she’s loyal to Santiago?”
“I could just sound her out first,” she offered. “Ask her if she needs help. See if she offers any information.”
Regent looked to Victor.
“She might know that Gracen is with me,” Victor said.
“If it’s in a public place, though, it would be safe, right? Or I could text her a place at the last moment.”
“That could work,” Maxim agreed with her.
Victor made a low noise.
“She tried to help me, Victor. And I believe she was sincere. I want to see if she needs help. Please.”
“Fine,” he said after consideration. “But if there’s any sign of danger, I’m getting you right out.”
“I know you’ll take care of me,” she reassured him.
“Now, onto Ice,” Regent said. “So far, we haven’t located him. It seems he’s gone into hiding.”
She frowned. “Anita will know where he is. I suppose I could ask her.”