Chapter 59
"Turner, is this everything?" Owen asked, his voice low and dangerous as he flipped through the reports.
"Yes, my lord," Turner replied grimly.
The duke's jaw tightened with every page he read.
His eyes darkened.
His hands clenched into fists.
"I never knew we had an illegal gambling den..." he said slowly.
The room fell silent.
Then he slammed the report onto the desk.
"And kidnapping women into sex slavery?" His voice thundered through the study. "This... this is outrageous!"
The teacup on Philip's tray rattled.
No one had seen the duke this furious since Aurora's attack.
"Sir," Alistair said carefully, "our investigation also uncovered evidence that women were shipped overseas and sold."
The room went deathly quiet.
Even Turner looked disturbed.
The duke slowly lifted his head.
"Does Duke Alaric Alexander know about this?"
"From everything we've gathered, no, my lord," Turner replied. "The operation was hidden well. Most of the victims disappeared without a trace."
Owen's expression hardened, "Alistair, get my horse. We're going to see Alaric Alexander immediately."
"But, my lord," Philip interrupted nervously, "it's already late."
Owen turned toward him.
"Philip, women are being sold like livestock. Families have lost daughters, wives, sisters. If I want to keep my family safe and bring Bracken down, I cannot wait until morning."
His voice carried a cold fury that sent chills through everyone present.
"Turner, you stay behind. Protect the Duchess and Aurora."
"Yes, my lord."
"Philip, tell the Duchess I had urgent business."
He paused..."And do not tell her the details. She'll only worry."
"Understood, my lord."
Just then, a familiar voice came from the doorway.
"Father, this is dangerous."
Everyone turned.
Aurora stood there, pale and worried.
She had heard enough of the conversation to understand the seriousness of the situation.
Owen's expression immediately softened.
The terrifying Duke vanished, replaced by a concerned father.
"Aurora."
He walked over and gently guided her into the study before closing the door behind them.
The moment they were alone, Aurora grabbed his sleeve.
"Father, you don't know what Bracken is capable of."
"I know exactly what he's capable of."
"No, you don't," she whispered, anxiety creeping into her voice. "If he's behind all of this, then he's desperate. Desperate people are dangerous."
Owen placed both hands on her shoulders.
"Aurora, listen to me."
His voice was calm but firm, "I have to do this."
"But—"
"No buts.", His tone left no room for argument. "For years, he has stolen from this Duchy."
His eyes darkened, "He tried to destroy our people."
His voice dropped lower, "He tried to kill you."
Aurora swallowed hard. The memory of the attack flashed through her mind. The blood. The pain.
Turner's terrified face.
Lucian's desperate expression.
For a brief, moment, fear gripped her chest.
Owen noticed.
His expression softened once more, "I'll be taking knights with me."
He squeezed her shoulder reassuringly, "I need Alaric's help to set a trap."
Aurora took a deep breath, "Then ask Duke Michael Vale as well."
Owen raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"He has experienced knights and loyal men. More eyes. More swords."
A small smile touched Owen's lips.
His daughter was already thinking like a ruler.
"I will.", He nodded, "But first, let's see what Alaric and I can uncover."
Aurora hesitated before finally nodding, "Okay."
Then she threw her arms around him, "But please be careful."
The duke hugged her tightly.
For just a moment, he held her a little longer than usual.
"I will, darling."
He kissed her forehead, "Turner will be here."
His gaze flickered briefly toward the knight, "I trust him."
Aurora smiled faintly.
"So can you."
What Owen didn't say was that he trusted Turner with something even more precious than his life.
He trusted him with Aurora.
But that was a realization they would have to discover for themselves.
Elsewhere in the Kingdom, Lord Bracken sat alone in his study.The fire crackled softly.
Yet sweat dripped down the side of his face.
Fear was slowly settling into his bones.
The reports arriving from his informants grew worse by the hour.
Owen Ambrose was investigating.
Not casually.
Not politically.
Personally.
And that terrified him. The gambling den had been discovered. Witnesses had been found.
Families of missing women were speaking. Former victims were coming forward.
Every secret he had spent years burying was clawing its way back to the surface.
Bracken poured himself another drink.
His hands trembled.
The glass clinked against the bottle.
Why hasn't Owen reported me to the King?
That question haunted him.
If the evidence was already gathered...
Why wait?
Why stay silent?
What was Owen planning?
The uncertainty was worse than any accusation.
Because Owen Ambrose was not a man who forgave.
And he was certainly not a man who forgot.
Especially not after someone had tried to murder his daughter.
Bracken's grip tightened around the glass.
For the first time in years...
He felt hunted.
And somewhere deep in his gut, a terrible realization began to form.
Owen wasn't preparing a defence.
He was preparing a trap.
And Lord Bracken had no idea when it would snap shut around his neck.
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