2026-03-18 23:53:43
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380. Trial by Fire
“What the hell is going on in there?” Connor Vanderbilt shouted from outside, banging on the barn door. “Rory, don’t do anything stupid! I already told dad about this. He’ll be here soon!”Hearing those words, Claire lost her nerve.“Rory! Open the door. I can’t stay here!” she urged with frantic urgency. “If your dad sees us together, we’ll be in deep trouble!”“Dad’s not coming out here. My brother is full of crap. Just ignore him!” Rory snapped back before marching off with his shotgun to hunt Alex.Claire staggered back toward the barn door, her nerves on edge and her heart thumping in her chest. She realized that she had taken a dangerous plunge by going after Alex. And one phone call could ruin everything.Rory’s men spread out as ordered and continued searching the barn. But it seemed like Alex had disappeared into thin air.“Come out, come out, wherever you are!” Rory taunted. “I swear if you don’t, I’ll burn the whole place down with you in it!”“Argh!”One of the thugs screa
379. Love, Death and Bullets
Claire had used her feminine charms to manipulate Rory into capturing Alex for her. But now that Alex was sitting tied up in a bundle right in front, she found herself in a trap.A sinking feeling washed over her being as she felt something dragging her into a pit of quicksand.She realized that Alex wasn’t the hostage here. Not anymore.“What do you want from me?”The words came out softer than she had expected. Her voice was already failing, and she no longer had the nerve to carry out the deed.“I want to talk to you, alone.”Claire raised her gloved hand and motioned to the ruffians, asking them to leave.“But Rory said we shouldn’t leave you alone. This man is danger—”“I said get out!” Claire yelled from, the voice rising from her belly as she lost her temper.The thugs had no choice but to step out of the barn and leave the two of them alone.“Grab a chair. This is going to be a long discussion,” Alex said, motioning to her.Claire begrudgingly dragged a wooden stool to the mid
378. A Willing Captive
Rory and his thugs took Alex to an abandoned cattle ranch on the westernmost fringes of the province. Save for the one dusty trail cutting through the empty corn fields, it was completely isolated from the rest of the countryside.This made it the perfect spot for all kinds of criminal endeavors.Alex was promptly dragged into a barn and pushed onto a wooden chair. His hands and feet were tied to the chair, and as soon as they took off the jute sack, a blindfold was placed around his eyes, and his mouth secured with cheap duct tape.Anyone else would have started struggling now, but Alex didn’t so much as flinch. He sat there completely upright without showing any signs of panic.Mistaking Alex’s composure for temerity, Rory scoffed at the pathetic display.“I thought you’d at least put up a fight. But I guess you’re just another city slicker—all bark and no bite.”Alex heard everything, but didn’t move a muscle. His face remained set in stone, and he neither tried to break free nor s
377. The Last Wrong Turn
Bound by the oath he had taken five years ago when he became a doctor, Alex couldn’t turn a deaf ear to a patient who was truly in need.In the end, his principles got the best of him, and he agreed to go with the Vanderbilts despite knowing about the bloody rivalry between them and the Warringtons.Coming out of the woods, Rory hopped into the driver’s seat of an open-top Wrangler while Connor joined Alex in the backseat.“What else did dad say? Is mom conscious?” Connor asked impatiently.“You’ll find out soon enough.” Rory twisted the car key and started the engine. “Just don’t call them right now. Dad’s already too worked up.”The car roared down the road, kicking up a dust storm behind it as its tires screeched on the hard asphalt.Rory took a left at the first intersection and then turned the steering wheel sharply, driving the vehicle off the road.They cut across an empty cornfield and drove down a dusty trail, passing abandoned ranches and old bike repair shops.“Why the hell
376. Two Peas In A Pod
Just as promised, Alex reached Lake Lenore as the sun climbed the highest point in the midday sky, dispersing the drifting fog.Connor Vanderbilt was already waiting there dressed in a gray fleece jacket with a black windcheater wrapped over it and a camo hunting cap on his head.Strapped to his back was a 110 Savage Ultralight Carbon-Fiber Hunting Rifle while a backup Colt Anaconda rested on his hip.Alex himself had come prepared with a Remington Model 700 and a Ruger Bisley sidearm.Sitting upright in his stirrups, Connor raised his hand and smiled at Alex.“I am glad you could make it. You are a man of your word, Mr. Verlaine.”Alex nodded politely, riding on his black stallion and replied, “I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”Connor grinned and nodded. “Something tells me this isn’t your first hunt. But the rules change during winter. Let’s start off easy.”Pulling out a dog whistle, Connor blew on it thrice.Seconds later, barking noises shattered the silence as two large Greyhoun
375. The Vanderbilt Connection
Meeting one of the Vanderbilts on a sudden winter morning was one of the last things Alex was expecting. He could sense that it wasn’t a mere coincidence.Just by looking at Connor, he could tell that he came from a distinguished family, and it was more than money that added to his noble demeanor.Even though Alex had heard quite a bit about the rivalry between the Vanderbilts and the Warringtons, he saw no reason to be rude without giving Connor a chance to explain himself.“The pleasure is all mine,” Alex replied, accepting the recognition with a warm handshake and a polite smile. But his eyes remained sharp and inquisitive. “I have been hearing plenty of talk about your family. And here you are. It really is a small world,” he added.“Not everything one hears is true. Most of it is fluff,” Connor retorted with a cheeky smirk. “Besides, I have heard strange things about you as well. They say you are a shark that swallows smaller fish alive.”“Maybe I am. You should find out for your
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