The Last Time I Cried Your Name novel Chapter 310

It was already midnight, but Laura lay wide awake in her second-floor room at The Glades. Sleep just wouldn’t come, no matter how hard she tried.

“Laura, you’re still up?” The housekeeper noticed the light seeping under the door and gently knocked before coming inside.

Laura sat clutching her phone, eyes rimmed red. “Any news from the White family?”

The housekeeper shook her head. “Nothing.”

Laura’s brow drew tight. It had been three days since Franco’s investigation started. Ever since they took him away, she hadn’t been able to reach him, or Jay. The whole ordeal had thrown her life into chaos, but right now, none of that mattered. She just wanted Franco to be okay, to walk through the door safe and sound.

Yesterday, when the bodyguards offered to bring her back to The Glades, she didn’t refuse. She didn’t have the energy to keep pretending she was dizzy, either.

But she still knew nothing about Franco’s life in that detention center. Galen wouldn’t say a word beyond “he’s cooperating with the investigation.” No matter how many times she asked, everything else was a complete mystery.

How was Franco, someone so proud and composed, supposed to handle being slandered and locked up, losing his freedom while strangers and the media spat insults at his name? Laura’s heart twisted at the thought. She absolutely refused to let anyone drag Franco’s reputation through the mud.

The housekeeper watched her for a moment, her face creased with concern. “Please rest, Laura. It’s not good to stay up so late.”

“Go, please.” Laura kept her tone even, almost distant. “Shut the door behind you and don’t come in before ten tomorrow.”

With her part done, Petty stretched out on her bed, staring at the ceiling. She’d be leaving Cabinda soon. Only Hans, Malcom, and Amy knew she was planning to go to Coralia. She’d wanted to have one last meal with Nanette before leaving, but didn’t want to take any chances or tip anyone off. So she scratched that plan.

Petty lay there for a long while, her mind blank, but her heart tangled up in so many emotions that sleep stayed far away. Finally, she climbed out of bed, pulled a sleeping pill from her nightstand, and swallowed it. Even then, rest came hard, and she drifted into a light sleep only just before sunrise.

Early that morning, a car from Parrish picked Hans up, saying Tod wasn’t doing well. Before leaving, Hans stopped by Petty’s room, gently tucked her in, and told her to wait for him tomorrow so he could take her to the airport himself.

But she had lied to him—and to Malcom, too. Her flight wasn’t tomorrow morning. It was later today. She just didn’t want anyone knowing exactly when she’d go. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Hans or Malcom. She just wanted to keep them out of trouble.

Franco’s icy warning still rang in her ears. “Don’t even think about leaving Cabinda. If anyone helps you, I’ll come for them, Hans included.”