Page 94 of Adored
As he stayed against Gamble, he knew they had a problem. Von had moved fast so they had to be one step ahead.
“What’s across the river, Poe?” Gamble asked. Oh, he’d gone there, but it all looked the same to him.
“Basically, it’s hunting lands. My father let people go there to hunt for game.”
Gamble was weighing his options, and Poe could tell.
“How important is it that you have that party tomorrow?” he finally asked.
Poe knew where this was heading. Someone was getting that twitchy feeling to get the hell out of there.
“The party is inconsequential. I can cancel it, but I have to have the wake. That’s nonnegotiable. It was my mother’s final wish, and I have to at least give her that since someone stole her life. She was only fifty-seven.”
He considered it.
“I need to make a call,” he said, keeping his voice down. “Let’s get up to the room, and stay in there while I do it. I want to be somewhere protected, and I don’t like being out in the open.”
Oh, well, say less. Poe was ready, so Gamble took his hand. Together, they went into the building, and he noticed it was quiet.
“Where is everyone?” Gamble asked.
Poe wasn’t sure if this was going to be good or bad news.
“Unlike my parents, I didn’t want people living here. I hired staff that had homes nearby. It seemed safer, considering what happened to the people who worked here previously.”
Okay, he had a point.
That might not be good for innocent people to linger considering.
“So we’re alone?”
He nodded.
“The only people still here are the grooms. I saw their cars in the driveway. They’ll be gone soon. They were likely waiting for Diablo to be in for the night.”
That worked for Gamble.
It was easier to keep them safe if they were the only ones there. Any sounds would get his attention, and he’d know it wasn’t staff moving around.
Now, he needed to make sure all of them were safe. The horses were in the stable, and there was one character not there.
Rufus.
To find his dog, he whistled.
As soon as he did, he heard barking, and the clippity clop of a cast on the floor as Rufus came toward them.
Now, his family was all together.
Taking Poe’s hand, he pulled him into the library, and pulled out his phone.
When he did, he sat on the couch with Poe beside him as he hit speed dial.
As the video call went through, it didn’t take long for Elizabeth’s face to come onto the screen.
“Oh, boy,” she said. “What happened?”
Well, never say she didn’t expect the worst like a Marine.
