When Love Finds Its Way Back (Cassienne and Dreston) novel Chapter 365

The road that led away from Richardson’s Vineyard became narrower the farther the convoy drove.

Garry sat in the back seat of the SUV, his wrists held tightly between two men who had not spoken since they left the estate. He kept his face turned toward the window, watching the passing trees, broken fences, and old service roads that cut through the outskirts of the Richardson property.

They were no longer heading toward the main city.

That alone told him something.

Donatus was not taking him somewhere important.

He was taking him somewhere hidden.

Across from him, Donatus sat in another vehicle ahead. Garry could not see his uncle’s face clearly from where he was, but he did not need to. The old man had been tense since the phone call. Everything about the move had been rushed. The guards had not even packed properly. They only grabbed weapons, files, and whatever bags had already been prepared in case of emergency.

Garry shifted slightly.

One of the men beside him tightened his grip. “Don’t try anything.”

Garry looked at him and gave a tired smile. “Do I look like I have the strength to fight both of you?”

The man did not answer.

Garry turned back to the window.

His heart was beating faster than he wanted to admit.

He had been trying to stay calm, but every minute inside that vehicle felt like another step away from rescue. He had no idea whether Dreston knew where he was. He had no idea whether Leo had survived. He had no idea whether Tina had managed to tell anyone what he told her before his phone was taken away.

All he knew was that Donatus was scared.

And scared men made dangerous decisions.

The convoy turned off the main road and entered a private route bordered by tall trees. After a few more minutes, an old wine-processing facility came into view. It looked abandoned from the outside, with rusted gates, faded signs, and weathered walls covered in vines. Years ago, the Richardson family had used it for storage and bottling before moving operations to a more modern facility. Now it looked forgotten.

Perfect for men who did not want to be found.

The vehicles stopped inside the compound.

Garry was pulled out.

His legs nearly failed him the moment he stood. He had been sitting too long, eating too little, sleeping badly, and pretending not to be afraid for too many days. One of the guards shoved him forward, but Garry caught himself before falling.

Dreston nodded.

Joseph came to stand on his other side. The older man looked at the building with a face full of memories and worry. So much had happened because of the Richardson name. Mike Richardson had destroyed Ethan Rhodes. Donatus Richardson had kept the hatred alive. And now Garry, who had tried to stop his uncle, was trapped inside the family’s old property.

“Dreston,” Joseph said quietly.

Dreston looked at him.

“Be careful.”

For a moment, the two men simply stared at each other.

There were many things Joseph wanted to say. Too many. But this was not the time. So he said only the one thing that mattered. “Come back to Cassienne.”

Dreston’s face softened for less than a second. Then the hardness returned. “I will.”

An officer approached and gave them a brief update. The guards inside were armed, but they were not a large group. Most appeared to be hired private men, not trained criminals. Donatus was inside the central office wing with Garry. The police wanted a controlled entry. No unnecessary shooting. No rushing without knowing Garry’s exact position.

Dreston listened without interrupting. He wanted Garry out. But he also knew one wrong move could get him killed.