Rebirth Of The Heiress And The Tycoon's Lover (Alina) novel Chapter 358

Chapter 358.

AUTHOR’S POV.

Before they could celebrate further, Ace’s voice cut into the heavy air. “We have to be careful, though,” he said, hands flat on the table, palms splayed like he could hold the plan together that way. “Once whoever stole that key notices it’s a fake key, they’ll come back again.”

Lucian’s reply was immediate. “Yeah. You are right Ace.”

Violet looked from Ace to Lucian, then down at the little brass key on the chain at her throat. She felt steadier than she had when they’d first run out into the street. “There’s a high possibility the guy heard the location of the vault,” she said plainly. When he finds out the key is fake, he’ll want to follow us to the bank and steal the evidence when we get it.”

Ace’s face hardened. “That’s true.” He turned to Lucian, eyes hard with the practical side that never stopped calculating. “So what’s the way forward?”

Lucian rubbed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger, thinking aloud as much as he was answering. “We need help.”

Ace looked incredulous. “You are not thinking about calling Damien, are you?”

Lucian didn’t even hesitate. “That is exactly what I am thinking of doing.”

Ace made a harsh sound that wasn’t quite a laugh. “We don’t really need him. We can handle things ourselves.” Violet’s laugh, sudden and bright, broke the tension in the room. Both men turned to her.

Lucian’s brow creased. “What’s funny?”

She smiled, a little mischievous and entirely human. “You don’t know why Ace doesn’t want you to call Damien, do you?” Lucian’s confusion deepened. “No.”

Violet’s grin widened, and she leaned back against the chair. “It’s because he’s jealous.”

“Jealous?” Lucian echoed, eyes shifting to Ace.

Violet rolled her eyes playfully. “Ace is jealous because Damien… your childhood friend, is back in your life. He thinks you won’t care about him as much anymore.”

Ace’s face went a fraction red. He bristled. “Shut up,” he snapped, then turned on his heel and stalked away, rounding the corner with that stiff–shouldered walk Lucian recognized too well.

Lucian watched him go, an odd mix of concern and something softer tugging at his expression.

Ace wasn’t the type to put on a show, he never did. But Lucian noticed the way his shoulders stiffened and how he walked away with quiet and raw disappointment. Ace didn’t say his feelings out loud/but Lucian knew him well enough to see that he felt sidelined by Damien’s return.

Lucian decided he’d deal with Ace later. Right now, there was no time for private tangles and bruised egos. He reached into his jacket and pulled his phone out.

“I’ll call Damien,” Lucian said. His fingers were steady as he hit the screen

Ace’s footsteps faded in the other room but the silence that fell after was full of intent. Violet watched Lucian as he waited for the line to connect. When Damien answered, his voice was rough on edge, but attentive.

“Lucius?” Damien said. “Is there good news?”

Lucian pinched the bridge of his nose and then spoke, his words measured, each one a tool. “Yes. We found the vault location.” He paused only to breathe, then continued. “Ravinne Central Trust. Safety deposit 317. We also found the key, but someone tried to steal it from us outside the library.”

Damien’s intake of breath was audible even through the phone. “You found the key? And the… vault?” His mind was already doing quick arithmetic of risk and opportunity on Lucian’s news. “Okay. That’s… Lucius, that’s big.”

“Yeah, but we almost lost it,” Lucian said. “Thief made off with a key h

it wasn’t the real one. Luckily Violet switched keys

and kept the real one. Whoever grabbed the fake will realize soon, and if they

where the vault is, they’ll tail us to the go in.”

bank. We need coverage, Damien. We need people we can trust there befor 4

There was a short silence for a moment, then Damien’s voice came back steadier than Lucian expected. “I’m leaving town in the morning,” he said. “Got a meeting I can’t Successfully unlocked! need, I’ll provide. Tell me what you want me to

do.”

Lucian let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. “Good. We need three things right now. First: surveillance inside

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Chapter 358.

and around Ravinne Central Trust, it should be quiet, not the usual security firm. Someone low–key who can get a man in the bank’s lobby without drawing attention. Second, a rider to keep track of the people who were trailing us outside the library, someone who can run plates and follow without being obvious. Third, if it comes to it, a small team ready to move at

a moment’s notice.”

Damien was silent for a beat as he sorted the request. “I can do that. I can pull a face or two….old associates. It won’t be pretty, but it will be effective. I’ll have someone embedded at the bank by dawn. As for the trailing men, I’ll have a driver tail the routes to and from the library, circle them, see if they lead anywhere.”

Lucian’s shoulders lowered fractionally. “Make it clean, D. Discretion matters more than speed right now.”

“I know,” Damien said. “I don’t have time to be sentimental about procedure. I’ll get it done.”

Lucian could hear the faint rustle of papers on Damien’s end. “And your trip?”

Damien answered immediately. “It’s unavoidable. But if anything goes wrong, I can be recalled. Tell me where to stage, and I’ll have men on standby.”

Lucian’s voice softened in a way only Damien would notice. “Be careful.”

A small sound, half laugh, half grimace escaped Damien. “You too. Tell Violet the decoy was a smart move .I knew there was a reason I liked her.” There was a touch of admiration there, frank and raw.

“Stop trying to flirt,” Lucian said, rolling his eyes.

Damien let out a belly laugh before they two men moved straight to the matter at hand.

They moved through logistics for another ten minutes, the conversation was businesslike, and crisp, like men who had spent years keeping secrets and moving quietly through danger.

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