His Precious Love

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It took Rayna several minutes to download the audio clip. After reducing the volume, she held the device beside her ear.

The audio clip began with only the sound of footsteps before various other noises joined the cacophony as if somebody was watching television.

Rayna sped the clip up.

After listening for a while, she put the playback speed back to normal when she detected the sound of somebody opening the door to enter the room.

“I bought you some strawberries and cherries, Kristie.” A low male voice sounded from the audio clip, followed by the sound of footsteps. “I’ll rinse them in the kitchen, then watch television with you. How does that sound?”

Kristie hummed her assent.

Having listened to the dialogue, Rayna assumed from Kristie’s state that it was during the interval when Curtis brought her back from Yartran.

Why did Ringo’s people plant a bug in Kristie’s place at that time?

She did not delve into it but instead pressed the phone against her ear and listened intently.

Curtis’ tone was gentle when he spoke to Kristie, but she merely responded with noncommittal grunts no matter what he said.

Rayna could sense how awful Curtis must have felt.

Feeling awful herself, she once again sped up the clip.

After a while, Rayna heard the sound of the doorbell, followed by Jeremy’s and Wyatt’s voices.

The group chatted a little while until Jeremy suddenly said, “Have James come over, Curtis. You saw how much Kristie wanted to see him when I showed her his photograph.”

“That’s unnecessary. I don’t need outsiders to be concerned about my sister.”

Silence befell the group.

“Ms. Garland called me, Curtis. She wants to help Jefferson, but she requires the signatures of the politicians who attended the party. It just so happens I’m on that list too.”

“We have long since severed ties,” Curtis said blandly. “There’s no need to consider my feelings.” A while later, Curtis asked Jeremy, “When is the party?”

“Two months from now.”

time and place,” the man

If you send James, we may not be able to rescue him

if there’s nothing

that point. Rayna’s eyes were

an accurate inkling of Arnaud’s movements and

out it was Curtis who told

phone vibrated at

felt her head splitting open when she saw the image Ringo

of an emerald pendant smeared with

the temple for

believe he

emerald pendant, Rayna

to Kristie. How could Curtis drag my brother into this and

he

of her hand supporting herself against the wall and fell limply onto the floor, startling the others

Rayna on the floor, he

he calmly ordered Kristie, who was passing by, “Aunt Kristie, hurry up

Rayna awoke, she saw the sun shining outside the window. It looked as if it

remembered fainting

prior night, Rayna scrambled to locate her phone but could not find it despite her prolonged search. When she pulled open the door to exit the room, she ran into Jessica, who was

with a

helped her back to the bedroom. “The doctor says

away to head outside. “I have many things to do, and I’m going over for a look. Ringo must be lying

James can’t be dead!

grab her. “Calm down, Nana. This isn’t

Baby?

and a horrible feeling rose from her chest. She blinked, and her tears began flowing down her

Jessica scrambled to wipe her

hugged her and cried

ask anymore. She only patted her

by the bed

a smile. “I just feel horrible at the thought

“Mr. York is there for them,