Chapter 124 #124
Chapter 124
~Dwayne's POV~
I wasn't phased.
Not even slightly.
Dante wanting me dead? Expected.
Him actually having the balls to follow through? That was the surprising part.
Luke would love this. Another excuse to come over here and stare at Hannah like a lovesick puppy.
The man needed to make a move already. Life was too short to waste time being careful.
Speaking of not wasting time—
I looked at Shailyn sitting beside me on the couch, her hand still in mine.
She was here. In Hannah's apartment. Away from Dante. Away from the house.
This was perfect.
"I need to get some water," Hannah announced suddenly. "Dwayne, help me?"
I raised an eyebrow. "You need help getting water?"
"Yes. Kitchen. Now."
She walked away without waiting for an answer.
I squeezed Shailyn's hand. "I'll be right back."
"Okay."
I followed Hannah into the kitchen.
She spun around the moment we were out of earshot. "Are you insane?"
"What?"
"Your brother is literally planning to kill you and you're sitting there holding Shailyn's hand like you're on a date!"
"I can multitask."
"This isn't funny, Dwayne!"
"I'm not laughing. I'm just saying, she's here. That's rare. I'm not wasting it worrying about Dante's murder fantasies."
Hannah stared at me. "You're crazy."
"Maybe. But I'm not wrong."
"Luke's going to be here any minute. You need to focus."
"I am focused."
"On Shailyn."
"Like I said. Focused."
She threw a dish towel at me. "You're impossible."
"And you're deflecting."
"From what?"
"Luke. The way he looks at you. The way you pretend not to notice."
Her cheeks flushed. "We're not talking about that."
"Why not? I'm opening up about my feelings for my brother's wife. Seems fair."
"That's different."
"How?"
"Because Luke and I are, we're just friends."
"Right. And I'm just Shailyn's brother-in-law."
She glared at me. "I hate you."
"No, you don't."
A knock at the door interrupted us.
"That's him," Hannah said quickly, looking relieved. "I'll get it."
She practically ran out of the kitchen.
I followed more slowly, watching as she opened the door.
Luke stood there, slightly out of breath like he'd run the whole way.
"What's the emergency?" he asked, eyes immediately finding Hannah.
There it was. That look.
Idiot.
"Come in," Hannah said. "We need to show you something."
Luke stepped inside, nodding at me. "Dwayne."
"Luke."
Shailyn was still on the couch, phone in hand.
"Let me introduce him again. Officially this time, Luke, this is Shailyn," I said. "Shailyn, Luke. My close friend and investigator."
"Nice to meet you," Shailyn said softly.
"You too." Luke sat down in the armchair. "So what's going on?"
I pulled out my phone and showed him the video.
His expression darkened as he watched.
When it ended, he looked at me. "When did you get this?"
"Last night. Hannah's cameras picked it up."
"Cameras?"
Hannah stepped forward. "I installed them in Dante's study. And his bedroom. And the living room."
Luke's eyebrows shot up. "That's... bold."
"That's necessary," she corrected. "And clearly worth it."
"Agreed." He looked back at me. "So Dante wants you in an accident this week. Before the board meeting."
"Looks like it."
"You don't seem worried."
"Should I be?"
"Most people would be. When their brother is plotting their murder."
"I'm not most people."
"Clearly." Luke leaned back. "Alright. We need a plan."
"I'm listening."
"First, we need to identify this Frederick person. Find out who he is, what his capabilities are, who he works for."
"Can you do that?"
"Give me the audio file. I'll run voice recognition, cross-reference with known associates of Dante's. Should have something by tonight."
"Good."
"Second, we need to change your routine. Make you unpredictable. Harder to target."
"How?"
"Different routes to work. Different times. Vary your schedule. Don't go anywhere alone."
Shailyn spoke up. "What about protection? Bodyguards?"
"That might tip Dante off that we know," Luke said. "Better to stay subtle. But yes, I can arrange for discreet security."
"How discreet?"
"You won't even know they're there."
"Is that safe enough?" Shailyn asked, worry clear in her voice.
Luke smiled slightly. "I've kept Dwayne alive this long. I'm not stopping now."
"But if Dante's serious—"
"He is serious," I interrupted gently. "But we're prepared. I promise."
She didn't look convinced.
My queen, all worried about me.
It touched something deep in my chest. Something warm and painful and perfect.
"Luke," Hannah said suddenly. "Can I talk to you? About the security setup?"
"Sure."
"In the other room?"
Luke looked confused but stood. "Okay."
Hannah grabbed his arm and practically dragged him toward her bedroom.
The door closed behind them.
I looked at Shailyn. "Subtle."
"She's giving us space."
"I noticed."
We sat there in silence for a moment.
Not awkward. Just... present.
"Are you really okay?" she asked quietly.
"I'm fine."
"Dwayne."
"I am. I promise. This isn't my first rodeo with Dante trying to destroy me."
"But murder—"
"Is just a more permanent version of exile." I squeezed her hand. "I've survived worse."
"Have you?"
"Not knowing my real mother isn't even Cynthia. Being exiled from the family without knowing why."
Her eyes filled with tears. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be. It made me stronger. Made me who I am."
"Still. You shouldn't have had to go through that alone."
"I'm not alone anymore."
She looked at me, something shifting in her expression.
"No," she said softly. "You're not."
The moment stretched between us.
I wanted to tell her. Everything. How I felt. How long I'd felt it. How she was the only thing that mattered.
But the words stuck.
"Tell me about the babies," I said instead. "How are you feeling?"
She smiled slightly. "Heavy. Very heavy."
"They're growing fast."
"Too fast. I swear every day I wake up bigger."
"You look beautiful."
Her cheeks flushed. "I look like a whale."
"A beautiful whale."
She laughed. "That's not better."
"Okay, fine. You look like a goddess. A pregnant, glowing, absolutely stunning goddess."
"Now you're just lying."
"I've never lied to you."
Something flickered in her eyes. "Haven't you?"
My chest tightened. "Shailyn—"
"I need to get things for them," she said quickly, changing the subject. "The babies. Cribs. Clothes. All of it."
"Have you started shopping?"
"Not yet. I keep meaning to but Dante always wants to come and I just, I can't do that with him."
"So don't. Do it with me."
"What?"
"Baby shopping. We'll go together."
"Dwayne—"
"Why not? I'm their uncle. I should help."
Uncle.
The word felt like ash in my mouth.
"I'd like that," she said softly. "Actually, I'd really like that."
"Then it's a date."
"Not a date."
"A shopping trip."
"Better."
She shifted on the couch, wincing slightly.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, just, pregnancy sickness. It comes and goes. Sometimes my stomach feels off. Sometimes my back hurts. Sometimes both."
"That sounds miserable."
"It is. But it's worth it. For them."
"You're going to be an amazing mother."
"You think so?"
"I know so."
She smiled, and God, it was like the sun coming out.
"Thank you. For everything. For being here. For caring. For—"
She gasped suddenly.
A sharp, painful intake of breath.
Her hand flew to her stomach.
"Shailyn?"
She didn't answer. Just sat there, looking at me with a shocked face.
"Shailyn, what's wrong?"