A while later, I touched down in Gainesville. The air was cool as I stepped out of the heli, making my way ho.
As soon as I walked in, Charlotte greeted at the door with a bright smile. She was in casual wear—jeans and a fitted T-shirt. "Hey," she said, giving a hug. "You good? How was the night?"
"Productive," I replied. "I'll tell you more in a second; I just need to make a call."
I set my jacket down and headed to the study, pulling out my phone.
I called Ava.
She picked up after a couple of rings.
"What's up?" Ava's voice ca through the line.
"I've got sothing that might speed up our plans," I said, sitting down and leaning back in my chair. "If I can pinpoint a guy's location, I could ask for all sorts of favors from the club."
There was a pause on the other end. "Who?"
"Hunter Rothschild," I explained. "He's part of the club, but apparently, he crossed them and vanished. Last known sighting was in Russia, but he's gone dark. If I can find him, well… let's just say the club owes . I could have people in the club bending over backward for ."
"So, you want us to help you find him?" she asked.
"That would be best," I replied. "Also, I'll be opening a super political action committee soon. Everything's already set up, so I'll be able to influence the politics. But finding Hunter could really push things forward. "
"Got it. We'll get on it. Call if anything changes." Ava nodded on the other end of the line.
"Will do." I ended the call, pocketed my phone, and glanced at the clock.
It was late, and the weekend stretched out ahead of .
I spent the next two days with Charlotte. On Sunday, we hit the cinema and grabbed so food.
Just a weekend to unwind.
...
Monday morning ca fast, and Charlotte and I dressed in simple, no-nonsense outfits—I chose dark wash jeans, a sleek navy bomber jacket, and a pair of crisp white sneakers. Charlotte wore high-rise black jeans that flattered her figure, topped with a soft, cream knit sweater. She finished her look with chic black ankle boots.
We were heading to Orlando to et Jacob and his fiancée, Lucy, at Eola Park.
The drive was quiet. The only sounds were the hum of the car and the occasional blare of a horn from a nearby driver, pissed off that I wasn't going 30 miles per hour above the speed limit, just like he did.
The sun was filtering through the trees as we rolled into the parking lot.
As soon as we pulled up, I saw Jacob and Lucy near the park's entrance.
I felt nostalgic in the park. It made think of how everything had begun.
Jacob was rocking light khakis that were just loose enough to give him that easygoing feel. His button-up was a soft sky blue with the sleeves casually rolled up, making him look both sharp and relaxed.
Lucy, though—she really threw for a loop. Normally, she's all about flashy outfits, showing off a lot of skin. She'd swapped the glitz for sothing totally different. She wore a soft, flowy sundress, light pastel with tiny floral patterns. The fabric seed to catch the breeze.
Paired with simple sandals and a low ponytail, she looked like a totally innocent woman.
Jacob was the first to spot us walking up. He nudged Lucy on her shoulder.
"Lucy, that's... definitely a different look for you," I said as we approached, nodding toward her dress with a slight smile.
She laughed, giving a small shrug. "Yeah, maybe I'm no longer the Lucy you knew."
Jacob grinned and pulled her close. "She's a whole new woman," he said, looking at her with obvious pride.
"Looks like it." I smirked.
Then, I realized I hadn't introduced Charlotte yet. I gestured toward her. "Jacob, Lucy, this is Charlotte."
Charlotte smiled warmly and extended her hand. "It's great to finally et you both. I've heard a lot about you."
Jacob shook her hand, grinning. "Charlotte, you look stunning."
I shot Jacob a playful glare. "Hey, man, you've already got a fiancée. Maybe chill out a bit."
He laughed, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Just giving a complint where it's due."
Lucy rolled her eyes. "Jacob... I swear, you've got no filter sotis."
Charlotte chuckled softly. "It's fine."
The conversation flowed easily as we wandered through Eola Park, catching up and sharing stories. The sun was bright but not too hot, making the stroll pleasant.
When the ti ca, we went to the restaurant where Jacob had already booked a table.
The restaurant was definitely on the fancier side. The lights were dim, giving the room a cool, darker vibe. Black leather booths and sleek wooden tables filled the space, and the candles flickered on each table.
The walls were lined with dark art, a bit abstract, with touches of gold.
But when we arrived, the host at the entrance had an apologetic look on his face.
"Ah, Mr. McCoy," the host said, glancing down at the reservation list. "I'm terribly sorry, but it seems your reservation was taken by another party."
Jacob frowned, clearly annoyed. "What do you an? I booked this table weeks ago."
The host looked uncomfortable, clearly not enjoying being caught in this ss. "I know, sir, but it was taken by a very important guest... soone we couldn't refuse."
Jacob was clearly annoyed, and Lucy let out a frustrated sigh. I could see the situation slipping downhill fast.
I stepped forward and gave the host a nod. "Would it be possible to have a quick word with your manager?"
The host blinked, a bit caught off guard, but quickly went off to fetch the manager. A few monts later, a middle-aged man with a polished smile appeared. His eyes widened slightly when he saw , recognition flashing across his face.
"Mr. Somnus?" he asked, his tone shifting to one of surprise. "It's an honor. How can we assist you today?"
I offered a friendly smile. "Good afternoon. Do you mind if we step to the side for a mont?"
He nodded imdiately. "Of course, right this way."
We moved away from the entrance, and I kept my tone casual as I continued. "I understand there's been a mix-up with our reservation, and I know you have limited space. I wouldn't want to inconvenience anyone."
The manager gave a slight nod, listening carefully. "Actually. There wasn't any mixup; it's just that we had the Mayor of Orlando show up unexpectedly, just a few minutes ago., and we just could not refuse. We're really sorry. But of course, make arrangents if you'd like—have soone moved if necessary."
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I shook my head. "That wouldn't be polite. But I did notice there's so empty space in the dining area. Would it be possible to bring out an additional table? It seems like the arrangents could be shifted."
"That... That's certainly doable, Mr. Somnus."
I gave him a nod of appreciation. "Thank you. I think that would work perfectly."
He smiled and returned to the host, whispering a few quick instructions.
The host then turned back to us and said, "If you could give us just two minutes, we'll have a table ready for you."
I rejoined Jacob and the rest, and as we waited, Jacob shot a grateful look. "I don't know how you do it, but that was smooth, man."
"Just so gentle persuasion."
Just then, two waiters brought in a new table, carefully maneuvering it between two existing ones in the center of the restaurant and then arranging chairs around it.
Other diners looked up from their als to take a look at what's going on.
With the table finally in place, the host returned and gestured for us to follow him. "Your table is ready. Please, this way."
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