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

If you send James, we may not be able to

if there’s nothing

clip ended at that point. Rayna’s eyes were

of Arnaud’s movements and how he had managed to ambush the latter from his vantage point atop the

was Curtis who told

vibrated at that

message and felt her head splitting open when

photograph of an emerald pendant

it at the temple for James. She would recognize it even

can’t believe

emerald pendant, Rayna almost collapsed when her limbs gave

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

broke when he thought of the man’s

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

saw Rayna on the floor, he leaped off his chair and ran over. “Ms. Rayna,

had fainted over, he calmly ordered Kristie, who was passing by, “Aunt Kristie, hurry up and

the window.

remembered fainting the night

could not find it despite her prolonged search. When she pulled open the door to exit the room, she ran into Jessica, who was coming in and nearly knocking the latter

a look of panic.

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

flung her arm away to head outside. “I have many things to do, and I’m going over

James can’t be dead!

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

Baby?

returned to her senses, Rayna gazed down at her belly, and a horrible feeling rose from her chest. She blinked, and her

scrambled to wipe her tears.

and

ask anymore. She only

Jessica pulled her to sit by the bed

a smile. “I just feel horrible at the

anything to help.” Jessica sighed. “Mr. York is there for them, so