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    Chapter 96 Odd


    Dawn’s mind spun with confusion.


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    +20 Free Coins


    Her uncle had just returned to the country. How could the kidnappers have found him so fast?


    Then she pieced it together. Austin was probably back in Trifton, far away and out of reach. Lucas hade back openly. Anyone paying attention could figure out who he was.


    She didn’t ask more questions. She exchanged a few words with Lucas and prepared to leave with Tony.


    “I’ll pay back the 30 million as soon as I can, Uncle Lucas. I’m really sorry for all the trouble.”


    Night hung heavy over the old neighborhood. Streetlights flickered or had burned outpletely. Shadows stretched across cracked pavement like wet fog, swallowing every step in darkness.


    Lucas stood with his back to her, half his face hidden in shadow.


    He waved her off. “We’re family. It’s okay. Thirty million is nothing. Just think of it as a gift from me.”


    The lesson from her kidnapping did note to Dawn instantly, but it waited for her not too far ahead.


    The world only truly valued two things–life and money.


    Some people refused even money handed to them freely because they wanted something


    more.


    After saying goodbye to Lucas, Dawn and Tony got into the car.


    Tony opened the trunk and pulled out a bottle of water. He twisted the cap and handed it to her. “Ms. Porter, are you okay?”


    Dawn looked at the worry in his eyes and managed a small smile. “I’m fine.”


    How could she be fine?


    Her face felt drained and was pale as paper.


    Tony usually knew what to say to ease tension, but now he froze. She wasn’t just anyone. She was his boss‘ beloved woman.


    Chapter 96 Odd


    He thought about Ethaning back and the trouble that could follow.


    He swallowed hard and started the engine.


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    +20 Free Coins


    Dawn rolled down the window. Cold wind rushed in, whipping her hair around and clearing her mind.


    She closed her eyes and let the day’s chaos rey in her head like a film, each moment sharp and unforgiving.


    After about ten minutes, she opened her eyes and spoke in a quiet, raspy voice.


    “Tony.”


    “Huh?”


    Tony jumped and turned toward the rearview mirror. “What is it, Ms. Porter? Are you hungry? Thirsty? Or … are you missing Mr. Jackson?”


    Dawn did not feel like joking. She looked at him with calm eyes and asked, “How did you end up here with my uncle?”


    “Well…”


    Tony’s gaze darted. “Your uncle …


    ”


    He cleared his throat twice, like he was trying to push down a knot of nerves. “I got a final warning from Mr. Jackson. He said I had to find you in 30 minutes. I had no choice, so I asked a couple of friends to help a little. People call them shady, I call them reliable.


    “When we tracked your location and went over, someone was already ahead of us. It turned out it was your uncle.”


    Dawn listened, quiet and steady. She whispered, “I see.”


    “Exactly,”


    Tony forced a smile that tried to be easy. “Ms. Porter, please don’t tell Mr. Jackson I called in help. If he knew I ran around with those guys, I’d be in real trouble.”


    Dawn hummed softly and closed her eyes again.


    The ck Maserati roared down the highway. Its tires drummed against the asphalt, leaving only a shadow that seemed to stretch and shiver behind it.


    Chapter 96 Odd <fncf5c> Chapters first released on Find[?]ovel</fncf5c>


    It was almost midnight.


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    +20 Free Coins


    The sky was clear in a way that made the stars sharper. Thin clouds drifted slowly, folding into themselves. A few stars pecked through the dark, bright enough to look like they were brushing away thest haze of winter and inviting spring in.


    Tony drove back to the vi. When he nced at the backseat, his boss‘ beloved was asleep. Her head leaned lightly against the window, hair falling in soft tangles around her face.


    Streetlight flickered across her delicate features, making her look unreal, almost like someone had ced her here from another world.


    Tony snapped his gaze away and muttered a quiet apology to himself.


    This was his boss‘ beloved.


    One long look could be dangerous. Another might get him shredded by Ethan.


    He thought of Ethan and quickly pulled out his phone to check in with his own boss. The ne was almostnding anyway.


    Dawn stirred after a while, her eyelids fluttering open.


    “Can you drop me off? I need to get some rest.”


    Tony waved his hands like it was nothing. “Oh, it’s no problem, Ms. Porter. You don’t have to be so formal with me. This is my job. I am staying here tonight anyway. Mr. Jackson wants me to make sure you are safe.”


    Dawn nced at him. She did not refuse.


    They stepped into the vi together.


    Hannah sat on the couch, eyes half–closed, fighting sleep. She had no idea what had happened today, but throughout the whole day she had felt a tight knot of worry in her chest, like something bad was waiting around the corner.


    Seeing Dawn safe made her exhale and then jump to her feet.


    “Good lord! Where have you been? Look at you!”


    She dashed to the bathroom and grabbed a towel. “Quick, wipe this off. You are covered in mud. Did you roll around outside?”


    Dawn let her fuss andughed softly. “Yeah, Hannah. We went up to the mountains today. A


    dog chased us and I kind of ended up like this.”