Last Female Sypher and Her Brother's Friends novel Chapter 88

We reach the cafe and step inside./

The familiar scent of coffee and baked goods wraps around me, but it doesn’t quite settle the unease.

We grab a table near the window.

“I’ll get coffee,” Kade says.

“I can-”

“I’ve got it.”

He doesn’t give me a choice.

Typical.

I watch him at the counter, then scan the room.

That’s when I see him.

Ransom.

He’s sitting in the corner, leaning back like he owns the place.

My stomach tightens.

Him, my wolf says, ears flattening.

Kade returns, setting a cup in front of me.

“Thanks,” I say, still staring.

He follows my gaze.

His entire body goes rigid.

“Problem?” I ask lightly.

“That’s him,” Kade says.

“The buyer?”

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Kirmen’t answer.

Ransom stands and walks toward us, a slow, easy smile on his face.

“Aria,” he says.

“Kansom.” I force a polite smne. “Didn’t expect to be you.”

“Small world.”

Too small, my wolf mutters.

Kade steps slightly in front of me, subtle but unmistakable.

Ransom’s eyes flick to him, amused.

“And you are?”

“Kade.”

No handshake. No friendliness.

Just tension.

I roll my eyes internally. Males.

“How are you healing?” I ask Ransom, ignoring Kade’s posture. “After that night?”

Ransom laughs. “I’ve had worse.”

“Of course you have.”

We fall into an easy banter, like before.

But it feels… off.

Kade doesn’t relax.

Not even a little.

We finish our drinks and head to the house.

The moment we step inside, memories hit me like a wave.

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0:00 am

Chapter 88

Isak if the loorboards The faint scent of lavender that never quite left.

I swallow hard.

“Like I said,” I begin, forcing focus, “it’s a bit of a fixer–upper.”

Ransom walks slowly through the space, running a hand along the wall.

“I like that,” he says. “Gives me something to do.”

Kade stays close to me, eyes tracking every movement Ransom makes.

“What do you do?” Kade asks suddenly.

There it is.

Ransom glances at him. “A bit of this, a bit of that.”

“Specifics?”

I shoot Kade a look. “He’s not applying for a job, Kade.”

Kade ignores me.

Ransom’s smile sharpens slightly. “I work with my hands. Construction. Repairs. That sort of thing.”

“Convenient,” Kade mutters.

I step between them slightly. “The roof needs work. And the back deck-”

“I can handle it,” Ransom says, his gaze still on Kade.

The tension is thick enough to choke on.

They’re circling each other, my wolf growls.

I take a breath.

“My mom loved this place,” I say, redirecting. “It just needs someone willing to bring it back to life.”

Ransom’s expression softens slightly as he looks around.

“I’d do that.”

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10:00 am

PP

Chapter 88

thing in his tone makes my clicst tighten.

My intuition prickles.

Something’s wrong, my wolf says.

I nod slowly. “Why this town?

Ransom shrugs. “Felt right.”

Not an answer.

Not really.

I force a smile. “I actually have another offer to review. Let me take your paperwork, and I’ll get back to you by the end of

the day.”

Kade glances at me, surprised.

Ransom studies me for a beat, like he knows I’m stalling.

Then he nods.

“Take your time.”

We exchange final words, and then he leaves.

The second the door closes, the air shifts.

I exhale sharply.

“Okay,” I say, turning to Kade. “What the hell was that?”

“Get in the car,” he says.

Not an answer.

“Kade-”

“Aria.”

Something in his tone makes me listen.

We lock up and head to the car.

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10:01 am

Chapter 88

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