Chapter 109 Chapter one hundred and nine
Sydneys POV
(“he raised his brows. “How’re things so far?!
I shrugged and took my time to respond. “Nothing much”
He suddenly wiped off his smile with a frown, “What do you mean nothing much? Come on, give me appropinate report on what things he has been un
to since the last time we spoke Who did he meet with? What did
He went on and on, listing and counting down things he wanted to hear with his fingers.
“Something like that, you know that,” then he squirted hi eyes, wat why are you stalling”
shrugged again Tm not stalling. There’s just really nothing much to report “Part of me felt a bit of guilt for playing dumb, but I pushed i
too important – | couldn’t risk blowing my cover over a minor deception
Even if he shits, Sydney, you have to tell me,” he gritted out, his jaw tenging with impatience.
“Alright then, he did shit this week” I said lightly
I couldn’t resist a little joke to defuse the growing tension between us.
I held back my giggle at my own response but it quickly died down when I saw his narrowed eyes and thunderous expression. Ah, so he wantin
humorous mood today. I made a mental note not to push any further jokes.
I folded my Ips tightly and apologized in a tiny, contrite voice, “Sorry.“I pouted when he wouldn’t stop glaring at meruing my hand along his arms “Come on, I was just trying to make you laugh. You’ve been frowning since you got here.”
He sighed heavily would not be frowning if you’d just tell me about his movements. That’s the only thing that I can hear about and will make me smile
I
I sighed as well, realizing I needed to get down to business and give him the information he was hungry for Painting him a picture of Tavos daily life and
routines was the only way to earn back his favor and trust.
I began recounting everything I knew Tavon had been up to lately.
THe came to visit and I brought him to the garden terrace. Scarlet was busy making sure that no one could interruptus and ended up unintentu
eavesdropping on our conversation while Bella was working on keeping Tavon in his room” cringed inwardly. I didn’t want to dwell on what exactly “keeping him in his room” might have meant from poor Bella.
“He has also rarely gone out, I continued, laying out the details meticulously. He’s just basically been frolicking around with Jessica in the mansion without any shame or regard for me. However
My heart skipped a beat as his eyes sharpened and his whole demeanor tensedm Clearly that “however had piqued his interest in a major way
I bit my lip. “He takes time out every day to meet with Axel“inally rushed out.
Dylan immediately became alert. “Apart from Axel, who else has he been seeing?
tell he is abou
I pretended to furrow my brow as if racking my brain. Then I said slowly, 1 remember that there’s another middle–aged man. I can tell be is about same age group as Tavon”
Dylan leaned in closer and I mirrored his movement, playing up an air of conspiratorial secrecy between us.
“Whenever he’s here, the staff call him. “I trailed off, furrowing my brow further and biting my lower ip in an exaggerated pantomime of struggling to remember. 1 can’t really recall what they call him, ah, the military adviser!” I blurted out with take excitement
“Yes, they call him the military adviser. Each time he comes, Tavon meets with him in the conference room for several hours every day often with Avel and
some other unknown faces involved”
“Other faces?” Dylan’s eyebrows drew down in a severe angle of anger and interse concentration
And you cannot recognize any of these other face?”
I shook my head sadly and played up my disappointment
“Unfortunately not. I’ve tried but they’re too unfamiliar.*
He narrowed his eyes further at me, clearly displeased by this lack of key details
“Yet you think all of this activity and strange meetings aren’t important enough to report promptly, huh?”
I sighed heavily and let my shoulders droop as I wrapped my arms around myself in a vulnerable posture
1 didn’t want you to get too worried just yet,” I said in a small voice. 1 mean, it might as well be nothing serious, just them having fun or mundane |
discussions.”
“It could be anything,” he sneered dismissively. It could be something much bigger, so tell me every single piece of information and everything you see
and hear, no matter how insignificant it may seem.”
I flinched back slightly at the harsh edge in his voice, then slowly nodded in acquiescence.
“Of course, you’re right, be sure to report everything moving forward, no matter how trial”
I frowned, as if just remembering another puzzling detai
“Actually, why haven’t seen you come to visit Godfather these days? You know how important maintaining family ties and loyalty is in this business. You do understand that night Dylan?”
He didn’t respond immediately. He was processing the implications of what I’d just told him I could see the calculations and contingencies flickering behind his e
udge him
After a pause, I decided to nudge him further, keeping my tone purposefully casual and gentle
“Besides,” I moved closer until my body was almost brushing against his trailing my fingers lightly across his chest before resting them on his s
shoulders
Tve missed you. If you come to visit Tavon more frequently, you’ll be killing two birds with one stone. Not only will you get to see me “I gave him a coy look from under my lashes
“But you’ll also reinforce your position in Tavon’s mind as the heir apparent by showing your commitment to the family.”
He shook his head slowly, turning to face me with a grim look,
“Nah. It’s too late for that now, Sydney. Did you hear any details about what they were actually taking about in those meetings?” His face was gloomy. brooding, as he asked. I could almost hear the gears whirring as he worked up some new plan in his head
“Not exactly.” I replied with a small shake of my head. “They always speak in hushed tones that I can’t quite make out. But I think Tavon is gradually beginning the process of transtioning his power over to Axel”
I shrugged as he fixed me a wary look 1 mean, why else would he be staying cooped up in the mansion all the time, never going out? My guess is Axel is increasingly running the day–to–day operations, then coming back every evening to brief Tavon and receive his instructions.”
Dylan’s eyes turned even icier at this.
I knew I needed to try and placate him, so I rushed to add: “But then again, it might also just be some kind of test. Maybe Axel is only temporarily shouldering more duties so Tavon can evaluate how well he handles the responsibility Then next week or next month, it could be your turn to prove your
ments”
fury
“it’s not a test,” he growled, and fats clenched tightly at his sides. The muscle in his cheek twitched with barely restrained fur
Hoping to soothe his rising anger, at least for the moment, I stepped forward and began rubbing his shoulders soothingly.
“Don’t get too riled up just yet, baby,” I murmured. “We still have time to figure this out.“.
I felt the slightest release of tension in his powerful frame at my gentle touch and reassuring words. But that small victory was short–lived–because it wasn’t what I truly wanted. I needed him enraged. His ambition needed to be stoked white–hot. Only then would he be primed to take the actions
intended to goad him towards.
So w
with a tremor of faigned anxiety in my voice, I said. “If Avel really does become the next Godfather permanently how will we ever have any chance to
survive and thrive, Dylan? What should we do now to prevent that?”
He grinded his teeth fiercely and I felt him tense. When he looked at me, I was overjoyed by the flash of ruthlessness in his eyes.
Good thing, that was something rd been looking forward to these past few minutes.
“Since Tavon plans to let Axel take over, then I can only stage a coup. I’ve always wanted to get rid of Axel, but I’ve always felt that the timing was not right, and I was also worned that Tavon would retaliate against me.”
Since he wasn’t saying out his plan and lack of plan and
wasn’t sure which was which, I decided to go ahead with my prepared story
I cradled his face in my palm and looked him in the eye, once heard that there were two princes competing for a throne. The younger prince killed the older one. Although the emperor was disheartened, he could not kill the younger prince because if he did he would have no heir to succeed the throne whenever it was time.“I searched his eyes to see if he was getting my pint abd he seemed to be getting it because he was raising his brows. “Why don’t you act now, Dylan? Act now and become the only prince to inherit godfather’s position when it’s time.”
Dylan remained silent for a while, his eyes searching my face as he scrutinized me. He finally spoke up. “So what you’re saying now is that,” he started slowly, should take action in getting rid of the competition before Tavon completely hands over the power to Axel? I should strike first, right?”
I wanted to slap him and scream in his face, yes Yes fool, isn’t that obvious,” but I smoothly maintained my cool.
I nodded firmly. “Yes, Dylan, strike while there’s still time.”
He had to strike while I still had the time too. I was rapidly running out of time and if I spent too much time here in Italy. I would either be declared dead or Mark would fly to Italy and comb the whole country by himself until he found me. Then what? I would be busted poor Bells who had managed to settle down would also get busted–oh, how she would hate Mark and I even more. And worse of all, the bastard would probably find out that I have a child for
Fim
That would never happen.
Dylan looked at me and abruptly busted into a fit of laughter. I frowned, wondering what he found so hilarious.
“You know, you act so stupid around me that I didn’t expect you to be so nuttdess Thesis what really like he said wider has d
I
after and caressed my cher with has inder fager.
to
blushed and sailed at tumour you roaid, packing lots of passion wen those three words “And on I will become date you to be As long
grant com
it makes you happy. I make it happen ”
