Chapter 43

The car pulled up in front of the old apartment building. Emilia and Sloane climbed out, both flushed and unsteady from the drinks they'd shared.

"Honestly, Emilia, you never let anything slip through the cracks. It's like you've got everything figured out all the time." Sloane's gaze lingered on Emilia, admiration lighting up her face.

Emilia's tone dropped, gentle but serious."There's something on my mind I want to share."

"You know you can say anything to me. We're practically joined at the hip." With a quick grin,Sloane hooked her arm through Emilia's and leaned closer.

With Emilia by her side, she felt an overwhelming sense of security.

Emilia's voice dropped to a whisper. "Once I join the Dixon family, I'll need some help behind the scenes. Your family might have to play a part if I'm going to pull this off." "Whatever you have to do, don't let me hold you back." Sloane's cheerful expression faded,replaced by a look of quiet resolve.

Memories flashed through her mind-a father who drowned his regrets in booze and cards,who'd driven her mother past the breaking point, and a younger brother who had become his father's mirror image.

Letting Emilia use them felt almost like giving that mess of a family some purpose.

"It could drag you into something messy..."Before Emilia could finish, Sloane cut her off.

"Nothing you ask for could ever be too much.I owe everything to you, Emilia. If you hadn't pulled me out, I probably wouldn't even be here,"Sloane said,her voice steady.

Had Emilia not stepped in, Sloane would have been swallowed whole by that wreck of a family,left with nothing but pain until it broke her completely.

Instead,she'd found her strength-and now she was ready to settle the score for her mother. Meanwhile, across the street, a sleek black car sat quietly in the shadows,hidden from view,watching and waiting.

"Not planning to say hi?" Wilbur asked, casting a sidelong look at Elias through the rearview mirror.

Rodger had already gotten what was coming to him-his right hand was out of commission,which meant he'd be fumbling with his left for a long while.

"Let's get out of here," Elias replied, his voice sharp and ice-cold.

A laugh bubbled out of Wilbur. "This is new for you. Never seen you act this way over anyone.Is she really that special, or is this just love at first sight?"

Elias cut him off with a look so cold; Wilbur fell silent at once, though he couldn't wipe the grin from his face.

"Okay, okay, I'll zip it," WVilbur said, firing up the engine,his amusement plain as they rolled away.

There was no doubt in his mind-Elias was worried about Emilia.Why else would he have dropped everything and raced to the club the second he heard there was trouble, all because Emilia was there?

Watching her walk out unharmed didn't put his mind at ease. He followed her all the way home,making sure nothing else happened on the way.

They drove in silence for a stretch until Elias finally broke it. "All for the treatment opportunity from Asclepius."

Realization dawned on Wilbur. "So that's what's eating at you. You're not worried about her-you're worried about missing out on Asclepius.For a second there, I thought you were finally catching feelings.I should've known better. The infamous iceman isn't about to melt for anyone.I can't help but wonder what kind of woman would actually manage to break through that armor of yours."

Wilbur's chatter kept going, until Elias pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly running out of patience.

"That's enough," Elias said, shutting his eyes and leaning back against the seat.

Wilbur kept quiet after that, and a calm hush settled over the car. They'd made it halfway home when a phone rang sharply, shattering the peace.

Wilbur answered, voice low as he listened through the earpiece. His expression darkened,a storm brewing behind his eyes.

Catching the shift, Elias snapped to attention,icy stare fixed forward.

Before he could get a word out, Wilbur's voice cut through the tension, sharp and cold. "We've got a lead on Inferno's boss."