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.”

and place,” the man said

you send James, we may not be

if there’s nothing else to

at that point. Rayna’s eyes were

how James could have gotten such an accurate inkling of Arnaud’s movements and how he had managed to

it was Curtis who told him all of

vibrated

her head splitting open when she saw

an emerald pendant

temple for James. She would recognize it even

believe

pendant,

to Kristie. How could Curtis drag my brother into this and send him to exact vengeance on Arnaud by himself? How could he

he thought of the

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

saw Rayna on the floor, he leaped off his chair and

who was passing by, “Aunt Kristie, hurry up

sun shining outside the window.

fainting

When she pulled open the door to exit the room, she ran into Jessica, who was coming in and nearly knocking the latter to her

grabbed her arm with a look

Carl took it for repairs.” Jessica helped her back to the bedroom. “The doctor says you’ve been working too hard lately, Nana. You need

many

James can’t be dead!

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

Baby?

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

Nana?” Jessica scrambled to wipe her tears.

her and cried even

She only patted her back in

the bed and poured her a

feel horrible at the thought of

sighed. “Mr. York is there for them, so don’t worry.