Page 128 of Love & Heart Braking

“The NBC very coincidentally paid a visit at the same time. She’s been different since.” He stood. “You’ll see for yourself. I’ll make sure you can talk in safety when you’re in with her.”

He led me down a hall. Soleil was waiting in an interrogation room.

I burst inside and threw myself at her. “Sol.”

She hugged me tightly, shaking.

Shaking.

Eyes wide, I caught Devereaux’s pointed look over her shoulder. Whatever they’d said to her last night had terrified her. I nodded, and he pulled the door closed.

“I’ve missed you so much.” I rubbed her back. “Sorry I couldn’t visit last night. I had to go to the Cinereses. You’ll never guess my luck. I got one of the packets. I’m going to send it to your guy.”

“That’s good,” she said dully.

I pushed her out to arm’s length. “Devereaux said your family visited. What’s going on? What did they say?”

She closed her eyes and tears trekked over her cheeks. “I’ll tell you. I just don’t want to talk about it yet. Bain?”

My heart thudded. “He’s safe.”

The first hint of my friend entered her gaze again as she narrowed both eyes. “What?”

“He… got all strange when I warned him about you being taken. He said he’d been a coward and that hiding wasn’t the way. Stuff like that. He had to prove his worthiness as your true love.”

“He knows that’s what we are?” she blurted.

I smiled. “He does. Bain said he had to go back to the herd.”

She blanched. “But he hates his herd.”

“His herd?”

Soleil grunted. “Yeah. He severed his connection to them when they refused to come here.” She inhaled. “It’s good he left Nepos. He’ll be safer there. One less person to worry about.”

“Is that what they threatened you with, Sol? Hurting your people?”

“Let’s not talk about that yet.” She patted my hand, smiling tremulously. “How are our businesses?”

“Tickets are sold out for Singles Plus One.” I wouldn’t mention the article about her in the paper. “Everything is ready. Annya and Enzo will help out. Rolli too. He says two of the three Pick Up cupids are showing an immediate flair for the job at Harmony. He isn’t holding his breath about the third, so I’ll watch her numbers and make a decision on that soon.”

She hugged me close. “You’re going to do a great job.”

My forced cheer dropped. “Until you’re back. I can’t fill your heels, Sol.”

“You’re Cerys Concordia, and you can fill all of my heels. Never forget it. The file on my computer, you peeked?”

“Yeah, I’ll send the next one. I’m not sure if I have what’s needed to finish off the partially completed columns though.”

“Gug,” she said without hesitation. “Give her the info. Tell her to let it rain.”

I watched her closely. This was increasingly feeling like Soleil was getting her affairs in order. “You need to tell me what your family said. I can’t stay long.” I’d come back after work, but I had to know now.

Soleil searched my expression, then seemed to decide she wasn’t wiggling her way out of this any longer. “They visited. They have me, Cerys. On the murder allegations and everything that goes with it.”

“Which is?”

“The legal fees that will bankrupt me. They’ll bankrupt Yearning Hearts, Yearning Harmony, and you.”

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