Epilogue II
BIANCA
What a fun reception! My feet and legs are aching from dancing so much.
Of course, everyone noticed my ring. It’s a pretty big rock, and it’s not exactly subtle. But Alissa was overjoyed when she saw it as we were sitting enjoying dinner at the long table at the front of the ballroom.
I’ve had quite a few Maddox and Alissa cocktails, and I’m a little tipsy. Harrison and I knew we’d be drinking a decent amount tonight, so we arranged a ride to take us back to Oak Park at the end of the night.
Most of the guests have gone home, but as best man, Harrison is in charge of making sure everyone else has a safe ride home for the evening. We’ll catch an Uber back to pick our car up in the morning.
Right now, the only place I want to be is in my bed, lying in my fiancé’s arms.
Almost everyone has gone home, and Maddox has dismissed Harrison for the night.
He and his new bride are staying in a honeymoon suite in a nearby hotel they can walk to.
Harrison asked me if I wanted to get a room there, but it seemed silly for us to get a hotel when we live only a half hour away.
I’m beginning to rethink that right now.
An Uber to Oak Park and back might be more expensive than simply getting a room for the night.
Maybe I’ll check my phone to see if there’s a room available.
As I take it out of the small clutch I brought to the wedding, it starts ringing.
Aus Waverly. The owner of the Jade Sanctum.
That’s odd. I haven’t heard much from Aus since I turned the reins back over to him after Rouge’s death. Why would he be calling me, especially so late on a Saturday night?
Probably a butt dial.
But just in case it isn’t…
I accept the call and bring the phone to my ear. “Hello?”
“Bianca, thank God you answered.” His voice is breathy, like he’s just run a marathon.
“Aus, is everything okay?”
A pause. “Not really.”
My heart starts thrumming. Even a year after her death, I can’t help but wonder if this is another mess of my sister’s I have to clean up. Her shadow looms large even from the grave.
I’m not nearly sober enough for this.
“What’s going on?”
“I’ve…stumbled upon something. Something I think is left over from your sister’s time running Jade.”
Fuck. I knew it. Her long-nailed hands still have a firm grip on my throat.
I swallow. “What is it?”
Another long pause. “Suffice it to say that organ harvesting wasn’t the only thing your sister was into. I need you to come over right now.”
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Follow the road of yellow brick to the Jade Sanctum, coming soon!
* * *
Thank you for reading Hearts!