bChapter /bb326 /b

    With a sigh, Alessia gave Cole a quick rundown of what had just happened.

    He listened intently, waiting until she finished before reaching over to ruffle her bhair/bb. /b“You really know how to y your cards, don’t you? Good work, Lessie. Dealing with those old pros isn’t easy.”

    The gentle tone, the fond smile–it reminded her so much of Jade June. For a split second, she was back in those afternoons after school, always greeted by a warm hug.

    She pushed those memories away andced her fingers through Cole’s.

    His hand was big, always warm even in the dead of winter. It was just like him to absentmindedly y with her fingers; she found herself doing the same.

    “Come on, let’s go. I’m starving.”

    “Sure. How about The Veranda House?”

    She nodded, and Cole, taking the cue, shifted the car into gear and pulled out.

    “Oh, by the way,” he said as they drove, “I heard Fortune went to see lleana before she was admitted to the hospital. I’m guessing he had something to do with it. He came looking for me a while ago–seems like he’s getting desperate now that he’s lost his grip on things. Just be careful, okay? Don’t let him trip you upi./i”

    “Funny you mention him,” Alessia replied. “I actually found out something interesting.”

    “Yeah? What’s that?“.

    “He’s been making money on the side through some shady deals. Ileana wasn’t his first victim.” Cole kept it vague, but Alessia understood.

    “He’s been careful, though–destroyed all the evidence before he came back to the country. There’s nothing we can pin on him right now.”

    Leaning back in her seat, Alessia let her hand drum absently on the car door.

    “Let’s not dwell on it. Let’s eat, get some rest. Leave the rest to me.”

    Somehow, almost without noticing, they’d arrived at the restaurant’s parking lot.

    As luck would have it, they ran into Max and Bhus at the front desk–apparently, both hade for dinner too.

    b08:27 /b1

    “Well, hello, little sis!b” /bBhus grinned.

    “Knock it off,” Max said, cuffing Bhus on the back of the head bwithout /bbmissing /bba /bbeat.

    “Ow!” Bhus scowled at him, rubbing his head and shooting Max ba /bdirty look.

    Max lowered his eyes, spotting the way Alessia and Cole’s hands were intertwined.

    “Well, look at that. You finally got her to hold your hand.”

    Cole smirked, deliberately lifting their joined hands and giving them a little shake.

    Max turned his attention to Alessia. “Just make sure you’re not counting his money while he cons you.”

    Alessia bit back an eye–roll. “Are you two just getting here, or did you already eat?”

    “We just got here. Didn’t make a reservation, so they told us there’d be a wait,” Bhus exined, not bothered about the minor inconvenience.

    Alessia nced at Cole, her silent question clear as day.

    Max caught the look and snorted. “Wow, can’t make a decision without asking your boyfriend now?”

    His tone was unexpectedly prickly, leaving Alessia a little at a loss. She was about to respond, but Cole beat her to it, slipping an arm around her shoulders.

    “I actually reserved a private room. Want to join us?b” /b

    The tension between Cole and Max was almost palpable, like the air itself was

    crackling.

    Bhus looked from one to the other, positively delighted by the drama.

    Alessia sighed, then nodded to the manager nearby, signaling her agreement to dine together.

    Once they were finally seated, Cole ended up right across from Max.

    Both poured Alessia a ss of water at the same time. She sighed, took both sses, and set them aside without drinking from either.

    “What do you want to eat?” Cole asked.

    Before Alessia could answer, both he and Max reached for the menu. Bhus’s hand hovered awkwardly in midairpletely ignored.

    Cole and Max stared each other down, the tension between them bso /bbthick /bbthat /bbeven /b

    b2/3 /b

    b08/bb:/b271

    Chapter b326 /b

    a passing mosquito might have gotten zapped.