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Chapter 75
Zora’s POV
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Leaning against Darius in the luxurious limousine, I sought solace in his strong embrace. Eloise found comfort in Raphael’s arms as well, and together, we embarked on a silent journey. The questions swirled in my mind, wondering why Vino would allow Larry to bring their exes to such an intimate gathering. Did he have ulterior motives? Perhaps he aimed to sabotage our relationship. However, I also considered the possibility that the council members, who had a history of bullying Vino, had forced his hand. It was clear that Vino needed to assert himself and stand up against those who walked all over him.
Our journey led us to the Hand estate, a place that promised tranquility and seclusion. Darius and I headed straight to our bedroom, seeking refuge from the tumultuous events that had unfolded. Despite having recently showered at Vino’s mansion, I felt an overwhelming urge to cleanse myself of the lingering tensions and negative energies that clung to my skin. Determined to wash away the weight of the evening, I stepped into the shower and turned on the soothing water.
At that moment, Darius joined me, his bare form standing beside mine. As the droplets cascaded over our bodies, a silent understanding filled the air. Breaking the silence, Darius finally voiced his concern, asking how I was truly feeling. I nodded, appreciating his genuine care and the effort he made
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“I’m sorry for my actions earlier,” he began, his voice tinged with regret. In response, I pulled him closer, seeking reassurance in his warm embrace. Our eyes met, and in that intimate exchange, I could see the sincerity behind his words.
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” I reassured him, finding comfort in resting my head against his chest. “I am genuinely impressed by your incredible self–control. It’s remarkable, you know. Being the lord, you possess the power to arrest them without question.”
As his arms enveloped me, he expressed his pride, but I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. The fact that his own brother would conspire against him weighed heavily on my
heart.
Leaving the refreshing embrace of the shower, we swiftly dressed ourselves. It was evident that he had an urgent need to head to his office, undoubtedly driven by the importance of his seal and signature.
“Darius,” I called out to him as he made his way towards the door, seeking his permission to share a suggestion. He nodded in agreement, allowing me to proceed.
“I can’t say for certain who is behind all of this, but I strongly believe that the individual responsible either resides within this estate or has connections within it,” I proposed. Realizing the gravity of the situation, I continued, “To safeguard your
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signature, I suggest that you consider having a custom–made ink specifically designed for you.”
His face broke into a smile as he acknowledged my suggestion, but I sensed there was more I needed to convey. Determined, I stepped closer to him, placing my hand gently on his chest, my voice tinged with concern.
“I understand that I haven’t become Luna yet, and I’m not familiar with the laws of the north, but I really want you to consider letting me assist you in investigating this matter discreetly. There’s a chance that I might uncover valuable information,” I earnestly requested, hoping he would be open to the idea.
As I reflected on my past experiences helping Casey with various investigations in the East, I realized that although they were never as serious as this, I did have some knowledge about how these things were done. I was no stranger to the
process.
“Absolutely, Luna,” he responded warmly, leaning in to give me a kiss on the lips. He then folded his hands and raised an eyebrow, clearly interested in hearing my plan.
“Let’s assume you were to proceed with this investigation, where would you begin?” he inquired, prompting a mischievous giggle to escape from me.
“Well,” I began, “I would start by following the trail of the so-
called tax increment document. We need to track down the
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individuals involved in its delivery and trace it back to its origin. If we can unravel its journey and find its true source, we might just uncover the culprit or at least their accomplice. It’s possible that we may even have to venture undercover in the West to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the situation. Furthermore, I can’t help but feel that it was rather deceitful of Alpha Brighton not to inform you about the attack himself. That’s something we should definitely look. into,” I suggested, accompanied by a weary sigh.
“I’ve got quite a lengthy list,” I informed him, causing his eyes to widen in amazement.
“Wow, Zora,” he exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine
admiration.
“Would you be open to collaborating with me, Marcel, and Raphael on this?” he inquired, and I couldn’t help but smile back at him.
“I’ll consider it,” I replied, and his face lit up as he tenderly caressed my cheek with his hands.
“Try to get some rest,” he advised before walking away.
Rest was the last thing on my mind. My sole focus was ensuring that he encountered no opposition during the council hall hearing scheduled for the following day. As soon as he departed, I began my search for Nellie.
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I positioned myself outside her door and gently tapped on it.
“Come on in,” her voice beckoned, and I entered her domain.
She was reclining on the couch, holding a glass of wine in her hand. When she caught sight of me, a warm smile graced her features.
“I’ve been waiting for you to pay me a visit, Zora,” she said, gesturing for me to join her on the couch. She attempted to pour me a glass of wine, but I politely declined. It was a bit too early in the day to start drinking.
“How did the party go?” she inquired, and I nodded in response.
“Everything was going fine until Abelardo decided to embarrass Darius this morning,” I replied, causing a frown to form on her face.
I gazed at her with a serious expression.
“Who exactly is Larry to Abelardo?” I asked curiously, which only deepened the frown on her face.
“Why are you asking me about this?” she questioned, and I let out a sigh.
“Because I can’t comprehend why Abelardo always seems to
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be working with Larry against Darius. Today, he accused Darius of doing something dishonorable in the eyes of the elites,” I explained, leaving her astonished.
“He accused Darius of raising taxes for the less fortunate and sending soldiers to attack those who couldn’t pay. How could he do such a thing to his own family? Doesn’t he realize that the entire Hand family will lose their position if Darius falls?” I inquired, leaving her still in a state of shock.
“Abelardo, your own flesh and blood, supposedly owes his presence here to your influence, according to Darius. While I can let many things slide, I draw the line when it comes to tarnishing my mate’s reputation. I have no desire to engage in underhanded tactics, but you must rein in your son. If I discover he is orchestrating a scheme against Darius, I will not take it lightly,” I expressed, my voice tinged with determination.
In response to my words, Nellie’s eyes revealed a flicker of fear. She was a woman just like me, fully aware of the depths women were capable of sinking to. I didn’t need to hold the title of Luna to cause significant harm. Tears streamed down her face, and she wrapped her arms around me, seeking solace.
Grateful for my love and concern for Darius, she mustered her courage to speak. “Zora, I truly appreciate your affection for Darius. I promise to have a serious conversation with Abelardo, but please, don’t completely give up on him. I understand that you will soon become the Luna, and I don’t
want Abelardo to be on your bad side,” she pleaded,
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reluctantly releasing me from our embrace.
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She went on to provide some context, attempting to shed light on Abelardo’s behavior. “Abelardo was always his father’s favorite, and Larry was a close friend of Collier’s. They’re all simply enraged that Darius didn’t receive justice. for Collier’s sake. Even I am furious about it,” Nellie explained, her voice tinged with frustration. Shaking my head, I expressed my disagreement with her reasoning.
“It’s absolutely unjustifiable for him to have done what he did this morning. Under no circumstances should he take the side of an outsider over his own brother. The council has summoned Darius for questioning tomorrow. I need you to prevent Abelardo from attending and further complicating matters for Darius. Do you think you can manage that?” I inquired, and she nodded, wiping away her tears.
“Thank you,” I replied with a serious expression.
“Now, would you like to have that glass of wine?” she asked, and I smiled at her, shaking my head.
I didn’t feel like drinking, and I explained my reasons to her. In return, she shared some details about her life with her husband, and I was appalled to hear about the abuse she endured. What perplexed me even more was that she didn’t perceive it as such, so I chose to keep my thoughts to myself.
Later in the evening, I returned to the bedroom to find Darius sitting on the bed, gazing up at the ceiling. He sat up and
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smiled, but I could see through his facade. I knew he was troubled.
Approaching him, he drew me close for a kiss.
“I can sense your anxiety, Darius. You need to confide in me about the true consequences of tomorrow’s questioning,” I urged him, and he let out a sigh.
He placed his hands in mine and smiled warmly at me.
