Chapter 1123:
She wiped her cheeks. “You already know how that turned out. Deandre snapped after that. He started digging into Alban Barnes—the guy who’d been around me. When Alban confronted him directly, everything spiraled.”
Melany’s emotions surged, her words sharp and charged, as if she were finally voicing an accusation held too long. “He’s been tracking my every move. Everything between Alban and me gets reported back to him, word for word. He’s completely unhinged!”
Rylie reached over and gently patted her shoulder, offering silent comfort.
By the time Melany finally settled, night had fallen. Rylie stayed with her through the night. It wasn’t until morning that Melany felt calm enough to think clearly.
After they got up, Rylie glanced at their rumpled clothes. “I’ll take you out later,” she said casually. “You need some proper things to wear.”
Melany nodded and followed her out. Taking in the luxurious yet heavily guarded surroundings, she asked quietly, “What kind of place is this? Why are there guards even inside the halls? And… was that an assault rifle I just saw?”
Rylie led her through a lush indoor garden on the way to the dining room.
Breakfast was already laid out. Lochlan sat in a wheelchair at the table with Deandre. Both looked up as the women approached.
Lochlan’s eyes lingered on Melany, his scrutiny making her instinctively step behind Rylie.
𝗥e𝗮𝘥 𝘵h𝗲 𝗹a𝗍е𝘀t 𝘁𝗋𝘦ոds 𝗈𝘯 𝗴𝘢𝘭n𝗈𝗏e𝗹𝗌.с𝘰m
He offered Rylie a courteous smile. “Healing Hand. I never imagined fate would bring us together like this.”
Deandre had already explained their connection, and Lochlan was clearly pleased—it meant another layer of protection for his organization.
Rylie gave a brief nod and took a seat beside Melany. Lochlan glanced at Deandre and asked casually, “So this is the woman you were willing to risk an Ostium police hunt for?”
“Yes,” Deandre answered.
Lochlan chuckled softly before speaking in Marinth’s language. “This place may shelter you for now, but remember love can be your greatest strength and your greatest weakness. Choose carefully.”
Deandre acknowledged him with a silent nod.
Melany couldn’t understand a word. She lowered her gaze, fixing it on her plate as if it were the safest place to look.
Rylie spoke up calmly. “After breakfast, I’ll take her out for a short walk. No security needed—having people watch her only makes her uneasy.”
Deandre’s brows knit instantly. “Absolutely not.”
“No one here knows I’m related to the Costa Syndicate’s godfather,” Rylie said evenly. “And she’s under his protection. Let her have a moment of peace.”
Lochlan set his utensils aside, dabbed his mouth, and spoke measuredly. “Healing Hand is right. You’d do well to listen.”
With Lochlan backing her, Deandre had no room to argue. “If anything goes wrong,” he said sternly, “contact me at once.”
Rylie stood. “Understood. We’ll stay close—just a quick trip to the nearby shops for clothes. Nightingale will come with us.”
The moment they stepped out of the dining hall, Melany released a held breath. “That place felt suffocating. I thought I might choke. What kind of place is this, really?”
Rylie answered without hesitation. “The Costa Syndicate is a mafia family—the most powerful criminal organization in this region.”
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