Larissa Judson and Haskell Palmer novel Chapter 437

As Larissa drew closer, she saw that the person making the sound was Faith. She was bound hand and foot, a filthy, blackened rag stuffed in her mouth. She thrashed on the ground, unable to make a coherent sound.

Draven was there too, kneeling on the ground before Haskell's wheelchair, trembling. His forehead was red and swollen, the skin broken, clear evidence of repeated, forceful kowtowing.

Hearing her footsteps, Haskell turned his wheelchair around, a smile lighting up his face. "Larissa, you're here."

Larissa walked over, carrying her medical kit, and sat on the stone bench that had been prepared with a soft cushion. "Solomon sent Draven back," she said, intrigued. "Why haven't you let Faith go?"

Haskell opened the bento boxes he had brought. "I was planning to," he said with a wry smile, "but Solomon decided to be clever."

"How so?" Larissa asked, opening her kit.

"He tried to hand Draven over to Lucius."

Larissa laughed. "What was he thinking? Did he really believe you'd still release Faith after a stunt like that?"

"And so," Haskell said, "this is my lesson for Solomon."

He glanced at Faith, who was still struggling on the ground, and gave a slight nod to Crispin.

Crispin stepped forward and yanked the rag from Faith's mouth.

Finally able to breathe, Faith coughed violently before glaring up at Haskell. "Haskell, you dare to kidnap me! I swear, my father and brother will dig up your mother's grave!"

"She's being too loud. It's bothering Larissa," Haskell said softly. "Wear her out a little."

Crispin hauled Faith to her feet and slapped her hard across the face. The sharp crack echoed in the quiet air, and an angry red mark immediately blossomed on her pale cheek.

Haskell just smiled.

Hearing Larissa's mocking laughter, Faith's anger flared again. She ignored Crispin and turned her attention back to Haskell. "Haskell, Draven is in your hands now. I suggest you let me go."

"Neither you nor your brother had any intention of letting me go. Why should I extend a courtesy you denied me?" Haskell replied with a placid smile. "Your brother took Draven to Africa to lure me there, didn't he? To make sure I never came back."

"You're imagining things, Haskell," Faith retorted. "My brother had nothing to do with it. Draven did something to betray you and fled to Africa on his own."

"Oh?" Haskell turned to Draven. "Is that so?"

Draven shook his head frantically. "No, bro! It was Solomon! He took me there! I heard him telling his men he was going to force you to come rescue me so he could get rid of you."

"Haskell, don't listen to him!" Faith interjected. "He's lying! He tried to harm you once before. He just wants to see you and my brother destroy each other!"