Chapter 1568
[ 555 words ]
“Here he is. My fiancé, Dane Green.”
Claire introduced him to her older cousin.
Dane didn’t miss a beat, smoothly adapting to Claire’s dynamic. “Stephen.”
Stephen gave Dane a slow, calculating look from head to toe. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Mr. Green.”
“But Claire is still young, and whether this engagement actually pans out is yet to be seen. Isn’t calling me by my first name a bit premature?”
Dane effortlessly pivoted. “Captain James.”
Even though Dane had instantly complied with his demand, the sheer smoothness of the pivot actually annoyed Stephen even more.
“Right. I appreciate you protecting Claire out there.”
Truthfully, Claire only came to The Aila Highlands because Silas Carl’s men were poisoned, and she was the only one who could cure them.
Plus, she was the only one who could identify the Dreamweed.
But Dane was different; he had absolutely no obligation to walk into a warzone.
Walking away from a massive corporate empire just to play bodyguard proved his dedication.
It showed exactly how highly Dane valued Claire.
As the older cousin, Stephen technically owed Dane a massive dinner as a show of gratitude.
Unfortunately, he didn’t have the time.
Instead, he ended up mooching off the takeout Dane had just bought.
The group relocated to the hospital cafeteria, eating and discussing the case.
“You were right about Quinton Graves. The man is lethal, and his evasion tactics are flawless.”
“Even a joint sweep with the military turned up absolutely nothing.”
“Which means there is a very real chance he tries to hit you again on the way to the airport.”
Stephen’s expression was grim.
Quinton knew the Solenia terrain intimately, and his operatives were highly trained.
Thank God his orders were only to capture Claire, not execute her.
If he had wanted her dead, he would have succeeded by now.
Stephen thought about the two bodyguards the matriarch had assigned to Claire, wondering just how capable Rory and Jace really were.
He had spent time in a brutal training camp before his uncle adopted him.
As a result, Stephen’s combat skills were terrifyingly sharp.
He wouldn’t have made Captain in a rugged region like Montara otherwise.
He chose to work here because it was where his parents had died.
His father had left The James Village and married a local Montara woman.
They both stayed in Montara to serve as police officers.
Both were killed in the line of duty during a major raid.
Stephen had inherited their badge and their crusade.
Claire focused entirely on devouring her food. The local dishes Dane had bought were incredible.
By the time she looked up, the silent standoff between Dane and Stephen had already concluded.
“Claire, there you are!”
A frantic nurse rushed over to their table.
Claire nodded and looked up. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s the shepherd you brought in!
He’s suddenly vomiting massive
amounts of blood! Dr. Hale is stuck
in another surgery and t
find you!” content
us to
Vomiting blood?
Claire’s brow furrowed in deep confusion.
The shepherd had only sustained gunshot wounds to the leg, nowhere near his
internal organs.
Why on earth would he be vomiting blood?
Sergeant Wu offered a theory.
“Could
have accidentally
rupturene
something when we threw
him into the vehicle?”
Claire’s Trown deepened. “When I
took his puse earlier there were net
Stano
Sof internal hemorrhaging.”
11
She exchanged a sharp, meaningful look with Dane and Stephen.
“We’re coming with you.”
The nurse looked at the men nervously. “Claire, please, we need to hurry!”
“His vitals are crashing fast!”
Claire stood up, not bothering to stop Dane and Stephen from shadowing her. Seeing Dane move, River instantly stood up and flanked him.
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