Love beyond the mask (Whitney) novel Chapter 1173

Parker never imagined that what should’ve been a simple prison break was starting to spiral out of control.

“Well, I guess it makes sense,” he muttered. “Those mercenaries were no joke. Even you got hit twice. I heard there’s a pretty infamous private military contractor in Eurovoria—big shots hire them for... you know, the dirty work.”

As Parker spoke, Whitney, who’d been listening at the doorway, suddenly glanced away as someone approached her.

It was Erik—tall, broad-shouldered, impossible to miss.

Whitney blinked, thrown off. “Erik? What are you doing here? Did something happen to my mom?”

She sounded genuinely anxious.

Erik shook his head, waving off her worry. “Ms. Valentine, your mother is fine. She sent me to get you—Phineas got in touch with some news. She wants to see both you and Mr. Lippert. There are things you two need to know.”

Whitney frowned. Did her mom already hear about Bryce’s jailbreak? Did she… know something more?

Erik glanced into the hospital room. “How’s Mr. Lippert doing? If he’s too banged up to leave bed, maybe you should go alone.”

Whitney looked over at Ludwik.

Ludwik had seen Erik and caught the gist of the conversation. His eyes glinted, unreadable, as he raised his hand toward Whitney. “Your mom wouldn’t call us in for nothing. Actually, I’ve got a few questions for Ms. Tennyson myself. You and Parker, help me out of bed.”

“Ludwik, come on!” Parker protested. “You just had abdominal surgery—are you trying to put yourself back under the knife?”

Ludwik paused for half a second, then shot him a frosty glare. “What do you mean, I ‘can’t’? I can do anything. Say that ‘crippled’ word again and I swear—just help me up, dammit!”

Parker immediately got it—Ludwik was acting like someone had just stomped on his pride.