Chapter 905:
Britton responded grimly. “It makes sense. Buying a full-grown lion costs a fortune. But rescuing one? Practically free.”
“Pure profit,” Storm added. “They get the animals for nothing and make money off their lives.”
“Wait for my news,” Rylie said, ending the discussion.
She closed the chat window and leaned back in her chair, lost in thought. After a while, she got up to wash, slipped into loose pajamas, and settled onto the sofa.
Out of sheer boredom, she dialed Brad’s number, but he didn’t pick up.
Assuming he was busy, she set the phone aside—until it buzzed again. This time, it was a video call. Their first.
When she answered, the screen filled with steam and white foam. A broad chest gleamed under the soft bathroom light.
As Brad leaned back, his scarred torso dipping into the water, his face came into view—wet, relaxed, and faintly amused.
“Didn’t mean to hit video,” he said in a low voice. “What’s going on?”
Rylie blinked, taken aback. Her gaze lingered for a moment on the smooth lines of his shoulders before meeting his eyes, where mischief glimmered.
Realizing what she was doing, she leaned back and held the phone at arm’s length—just as her nightgown strap slipped down, baring a hint of skin beneath the soft light.
“Nothing much,” she said with a small smile. “Didn’t want to bother my team tonight. Figured I’d relax alone.”
Her voice carried a casual warmth. “Deandre followed me here. He’s worried something might happen.”
Brad shifted closer, the water rippling around him. His face filled the screen, his gaze steady and unreadable.
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“He followed you all the way to South Verdania because he thinks you’re in danger? Where exactly are you now?” Even with the faint distraction of her exposed shoulder, his tone remained calm, his concern genuine.
Rylie shook her head. “No. I think he’s here for Melany, not me.” Her expression tightened, shadows flickering across her face. “I think she’s pregnant—with Deandre’s child.”
Brad raised an eyebrow. “Melany’s a good woman. Deandre, though… he’s not exactly the dependable kind.”
Normally, Rylie would have rushed to defend her brother. This time, she stayed quiet, her brow furrowing with worry. “I don’t think I can step in. They’re both hiding it from me. If I expose the truth too soon, it might make everything worse.”
It wasn’t often that Rylie spoke so openly, and Brad, lounging in the warm water, listened with a faint smile tugging at his lips.
On his screen, she looked young and vulnerable—the way someone does when they finally trust another with their thoughts.
When Rylie caught sight of his amused expression, her eyes narrowed. “Why are you smiling? Do you think this is funny?”
He didn’t answer right away, which made her flustered. She wasn’t used to showing this side of herself, and suddenly she regretted it.
.
.
.