“C–cold…”
Felicity knew exactly what was coiling around her neck–a long, sinuous creature, alive and moving.
But no matter how wide she opened her eyes, she couldn’t make out its full shape.
A suffocating terror gripped her, stealing even her ability to scream.
“Mmph!”
Her legs buckled, and she collapsed into unconsciousness.
Up on the slope above them, security cameras dotted the area. After a moment’s careful thought, Harrison led Dames back down to the base of the hill.
*
It wasn’t until early the next morning that Harrison finally brought Dames and Felicity to the hospital.
The bottom of the slope was swarming with bugs. Harrison’s face and neck were covered in angry red welts, and a few insects had crawled inside his shirt, leaving itchy bites on his chest.
Dames had broken out in a rash from head to toe.
But Felicity had it worst. After fainting at the foot of the hill, her eyelids had swollen shut from insect bites. When she finally woke, she realized she couldn’t open her
eyes at all.
For a terrible moment, Felicity thought she’d gone blind. Her desperate scream nearly pierced Harrison and Dames’s eardrums.
Now Felicity lay facedown on a hospital bed as a nurse dabbed ointment on her thighs and backside.
She howled and whimpered without pause, driving the nurse to roll her eyes repeatedly.
“Excuse me, are you Felicity?”
A woman’s voice sounded behind her. Felicity turned her head, but with medicated ointment smeared over her eyelids, she couldn’t open them at all. She had no idea who had come.
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Chapter 217
“Huh? Yes, that’s me. And you are?”
“We’re officers from the Gilded Quarter Police Department. We’ve received a report and have evidence of your attempted assault. Please cooperate as we take your
statement.”
A few days later, at Capital City International Airport-
Selene stood behind the arrivals barrier, holding little Daph’s hand, scanning the crowd with eager anticipation.
“Mommy, what does Carmel look like?” Daph asked.
“In a crowd, you’ll spot the most handsome, charming person there–that’s Mommy’s best friend,” Selene replied with a smile.
Luke Holloway and Adrian stood behind mother and daughter. Adrian stifled a yawn; it was barely 7 a.m., and he’d dragged himself out of bed before dawn just to pick up Carmel.
Other travelers couldn’t help but stare at the two striking men. Luke, wearing a face mask, was never fond of attention, but his tall, athletic build and the way his muscles filled out his clothes made him impossible to ignore.
Adrian was even more eye–catching; his looks drew glances from everyone–grandmothers and toddlers alike, regardless of gender.
“You sure care a lot about your former employee,” Luke remarked, his tone half teasing.
But Adrian’s gaze never left Selene. “I only care about your sister,” he replied bluntly. Truth be told, he’d already forgotten what Carmel even looked like.
Luke’s brow twitched in annoyance.
Just then, Daph spotted a figure pushing a luggage cart–an impossibly attractive young person, standing out in the crowd.
“Wow!” Daph gasped, mesmerized. “Is that-?”
“Carmel!!” Selene called out breathlessly, waving with excitement.
Carmel spotted her and stopped, her eyes bright with joy. She smiled shyly, lifting a hand in a reserved wave.
Selene couldn’t wait another second. Grabbing Daph’s hand, she dashed toward
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Carmel.
Carmel had a short chestnut bob and a fashionably understated style–a black turtleneck hugging her frame beneath a long white puffer coat, black studded jeans accentuating her long, slender legs.
She had bright eyes and clear features, a delicate mouth and gentle brows:
Selene flung herself into Carmel’s arms, and Carmel, blushing fiercely, buried her face in Selene’s shoulder.
Adrian’s eyelid gave an involuntary twitch as he observed the scene.
His gaze, sharp as an x–ray, measured up the “man” in Selene’s embrace.
If he rated himself a perfect ten for height, Carmel barely scored a seven.
If his looks were a ten, Carmel might eke out a 6.9.
Adrian let out a quiet, dismissive snort.
And if Carmel’s bond with Selene was a ten… well, surely his own must be-
Selene cupped Carmel’s face, her eyes shining, and planted several affectionate kisses on Carmel’s soft cheek.
“I missed you so much,” she whispered.
Carmel’s round face flushed crimson. She ducked her head, but Selene rose on tiptoe, pressing their foreheads together.
Both girls broke into laughter. Carmél felt her nose tingle and her heart race, wrapped in a dizzying warmth.
Shyly, her voice muffled with emotion, she managed, “I missed you, too…”
Adrian:………….
Zero.
Compared to Carmel, his relationship with Selene might as well score a zero.
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Chapter
