32. ROME
Rome
I follow after them, a little wary of Yana’s intentions. She did her research? I’ve met that woman before and she’s never been so fucking nasty. She’s also never disregarded my and Nova’s comfort before by showing up at 6 in the morning. I’ve never felt off as I’ve looked into those hazel eyes. I’ve never felt the darkness wafting off of her like I did just now. Something rubs me wrong as I walk into my bedroom and grab my phone, immediately dialing my brother.
“It’s early.”
I bite back the retort I want to give him. “I know but I need some fucking answers. Some weird shit is going down here and if I’m going to do this favor for you, I need to know what’s going on.” My brother remains silent which means I have a very small amount of time to ask. “Paula’s Agency—they really trying to buy some of the land here?”
He snorts and I can imagine him chuckling as he sips a glass of brandy, even at this early hour. “Seriously? They deal in loans, not land. They aren’t stupid enough to attempt something that annoying.”
“Their name is on some of the paperwork filed to buy the old forest by the wharf.” I clutch my phone to my ear, gaze darting to my open door. This poor woman has been through enough and I almost wish that it was Paula’s Agency rather than a third party tied up in this. “Brother, tell me-”
“I won’t lie to you, Rome. They haven’t physically been in or around Spring Haven, ever, I don’t think. They send the hired hands and I’m pretty sure after me, no one’s been in that town. You find the guy yet?” My brother is a master at directing the conversation where he needs it to go but since I have my answers, I’ll let it be.
“He’s in town,” I mumble, letting out a deep breath.
“You find him, then the merchandise isn’t needed.”
A growl tears from my throat. “She’s not a fucking piece!”
“Ah, so she’s got to you? She was definitely a looker six years ago. Alright, alright. I’ll leave that alone. Just get the guy so I don’t have to come down there and do it myself.”
I know that’s more of a threat than a promise but I wouldn’t put it past him to come down here just for fun. I don’t even make it out of my room before Nova is there, waiting for me to debrief him on what I’ve found out. Of course, he would have sensed something was off about Yana too.
“Someone else is trying to buy up the land by the wharf. Paula’s Agency hasn't done much of anything with Spring Haven in six years and with Yana showing up like she did? It just all feels really weird.” I don’t believe in coincidences and with all of these instances happening one after the other? They have to be tangled together. I just don’t know how and it worries me that we might not find out until it’s too late.