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.”

of the time and place,” the man said

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

if there’s nothing else

ended at that point. Rayna’s

did she understand how James could have gotten such an accurate inkling of Arnaud’s movements

was Curtis who told him all

vibrated at that

and felt her head splitting

of an emerald pendant smeared with

at the temple for James. She would recognize

believe he

emerald pendant, Rayna almost

brother into this and send him to exact vengeance

heart broke when he thought of

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

When he saw Rayna on the floor, he leaped off

had fainted over, he calmly ordered Kristie, who

saw the sun shining outside the window. It looked

remembered fainting the night

Rayna scrambled to locate her phone but could not find it despite her prolonged search. When she pulled open the door

with a look of panic. “Where’s my

it for repairs.” Jessica helped her back to the bedroom. “The doctor

many things to do, and I’m going over for a look. Ringo

James can’t be dead!

her. “Calm down, Nana.

Baby?

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

scrambled to wipe her tears. “What

and cried even

did not ask anymore. She only patted her back

sit by the bed and

just feel horrible at the thought of what happened

can’t do anything to help.” Jessica sighed. “Mr. York is there for