Chapter 39:
A step closer brought the man within arm’s reach. He leaned in just enough to flash a warm grin. “You beat me to it, Rylie. It’s a pleasure meeting you. Deandre Owen, your brother.”
No words sprang to Rylie’s lips; she just stared, momentarily stunned.
Glancing at the impressive lineup of luxury vehicles, she eventually said, “The Kirks always told me my parents lived somewhere remote and unremarkable.” That story didn’t match up with the immense wealth on display. Rylie couldn’t reconcile the image of the Owens with the idea of a family tucked away in obscurity.
Taking a beat to gather his thoughts, Deandre offered an explanation. “In a sense, you’re not entirely wrong. Our great-grandfather’s estate sits tucked away in the mountains, far from the city. The old Owen homestead has actually been turned into a museum these days.”
Rylie needed a moment to process that, letting the silence stretch between them.
Sensing her hesitation, Deandre smiled again and explained, “Grandpa insisted I make your first homecoming something special. The whole convoy and helicopter crew? That’s just a small welcome party, nothing too extravagant.”
She let her gaze travel along the endless procession of vehicles and gave a measured nod. “It’s impressive.”
While most would have been speechless at such a show of power, Deandre found himself surprised by how unfazed his sister seemed.
His attention shifted to the motorcycle beside her. “We’ll head home now. I’ll have someone take care of your bike and see it safely delivered.”
“Alright, let’s go,” Rylie answered, without missing a beat.
Just as she climbed into the helicopter, another passenger caught her eye.
Spotting a familiar figure, she blinked in disbelief. “You’re here too?”
Brad lounged comfortably in the seat, one leg crossed over the other. The sharp lines of his designer suit only emphasized his striking build. Shadows danced across his face, but as he tilted forward, the chiseled set of his jaw came into view.
Brad leaned back with a hint of a smile. “Deandre used my convoy for the day, so I decided to come along.”
Find your imagination at galn ovels ; con
Curiosity sparked in Deandre’s eyes. “So, you two already know each other?”
Rylie found her place in the seat and answered, “You could say that.”
Deandre continued, offering some context. “The Owen family doesn’t have many resources here in Crolens. Most of the time, we stay away. Only the Morgan family keeps such a large helicopter fleet, so Brad was generous enough to let us borrow it.”
With his high rank in the navy, Brad was always surrounded by security. Admirals like him, constantly targeted by enemies, needed this level of protection on every trip.
A silent nod from Rylie showed that she understood. She kept her relationship with Brad to herself in the presence of the Owens.
Once the helicopters began to ascend and the convoy snaked its way out of the neighborhood, guards at the villa community swung every last gate closed. Normally, only the front entrance would be in use, but today, the Owens’ procession required every gate to be thrown open just to clear the path.
A small group of security staff clustered near the fence, murmuring among themselves. “If my eyes didn’t deceive me, that was the Kirk girl who just got ousted — she’s the one leaving by helicopter.”
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