When Family Became a Place I Couldn’t Return To novel Chapter 245

“You mean Ms. Stewart’s husband?” Jude asked softly, wanting to be sure.

His words didn’t sit well with the man across from him. “His name is Brody.”

“Yes.” A chill ran through Jude, and he quickly lowered his head.

Brody was already receiving emergency care. The wound wasn’t fatal, but he’d lost a lot of blood. The casino’s clinic was barely equipped for this sort of thing. Infection and fever were real threats that needed to be handled fast.

“I’ll take care of it right away. The facilities here might not be great, but we have some excellent doctors. There’s special medicine, too.”

Jude grabbed the phone, mind racing with possibilities. He thought of someone who could really help. If he called him, Brody’s injuries would probably be under control.

He made the call with his back turned, keeping his voice low so the man wouldn’t hear.

When he hung up, Jude returned with a bright smile. “Everything’s set. You don’t have to worry.”

“Did you just call Ben?”

The question dropped suddenly, the man’s voice going flat and cold. His eyes narrowed, the look he gave Jude sharp enough to cut right through him.

Jude opened his mouth, but nothing came out. By the time he thought to lie, the moment had passed. It was obvious.

“Ben…”

“So, you two know each other pretty well, huh?”

The man’s tone was icy, but there was a hint of a smile on his lips. He turned on the polished tip of his shoe and stepped closer to Jude.

“Tell me, which one of the bosses thinks it’s a good idea to hide a wanted fugitive from an international crime syndicate? You realize how much trouble you’re bringing down on this place? What do you think your fate will be?”

Jude felt the blood drain from his face. He was old, and he’d always thought he was ready for whatever might come, but under that man’s gaze, his hands started to sweat. He swallowed hard.

“You… you’re after Ben, too…”

“Yes.”

The man’s voice was calm and even.

“My identity makes it hard for me to be seen right now. Someone will come for her after tomorrow.”

Jude nodded, still trying to process everything. The man was already leaving, his people following behind.

The heavy wooden door closed quietly behind them.

Once outside, the man slipped back into the shadows and put on his fox-eye mask. The gold lines caught the light, casting an odd, almost dangerous glow.

It was already past midnight, but in the underground city, night never ended. The darkness just went on and on.

He made his way to the room where Nelly was being kept. When the door opened, a beam of light fell across her curled-up form.

Nelly was barely awake, exhausted and disheveled.

Still, she was alert. The moment she heard the door, she tensed, shielding her eyes and watching the entrance carefully.