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Going back to the car, we settle in our seats. Simon drives through the open gateway, taking us further inside the mayor’s home.
Lush greenery covers the vast lawn. Even though spring isn’t here yet, the grass adorning the grounds is bright green. The hedges lining the driveway are neat and well-maintained.
“Mayor Bailley takes good care of his home,” I comment as we reach the front doors of the lavish mansion.
“Yep. It’s almost like a grand palace,” says Simon as he brings the car to a stop. “I can easily imagine Rory growing up in a house like this.”
Mayor Bailley’s family is famous for running the most thriving construction business in Maplewood. His great-grandfather and grandfather were among the founders of this town and were responsible for developing most of the places around here.
Mr. Bailey is the first one from his family to step into politics.
Despite his new job, he continues to manage the construction business along with running successful political campaigns. It’s impressive how he’s able to handle both aspects of his life so successfully.
“This place is lavish,” I mutter as we reach closer to the towering mansion. “I can’t believe a girl who lived in a place like this could end up in those hellish underground vaults.”
A shuddering breath escapes my brother as he rests his forehead against the steering wheel. “Don’t remind me of her being there,” he says in a pained voice. “I can’t bear to think of the tortures she suffered at those evil men’s hands.”
“Let’s make sure we don’t say anything about it to Heather,” I remind him.
“I know,” he says in a bitter tone. “I can only imagine how soul-suckingly hard it was for her to bottle up all that pain and not say a word to her dad or her friends.”
“Thank fuck we found her,” I whisper, thanking our luck that we found Rory at the right time. “I don’t even want to think of the mental strain she’d be under if she was all alone. She needs us to help her heal from the trauma of being a captive under the Black Widow.”
“Let’s get her stuff and hurry back home,” Simon says and climbs out of the car. “I don’t feel good about straying from her side when she needs us.”
I follow him and together, we move toward the front doors of the mansion.
Simon’s hand is about to reach for the bell when the door suddenly opens from the inside. A short elderly woman with snowy white hair stands at the threshold and stares up at us with a keen gaze.
“Hi, you must be Heather,” Simon says brightly and extends his hand toward her.
She stares at his hand with raised eyebrows before stepping backward. “You guys must be the ones Philip told me about.”
“Yes, that’s us,” I answer her.
A gruff expression deepens the lines on her face as she stares between us. “You’re twins?” she asks with a sliver of surprise in her voice.
“Yes, ma’am,” Simon says, continuing to grin at her despite her cool attitude toward us.
“Could you take us to her room, please?” I say, hoping to get out of her hair as soon as possible.
“Are you really her mates?” she blurts out. Her hard, annoyed expression falls away to reveal her curiosity.
“Weareher mates,” I tell her. “We knew she belonged to us the moment we caught her scent.”
Concern swirls in her vivid blue eyes. Stepping closer to me, she grabs my hand. “Tell me the truth, Son. How did you meet her?”
I glance at Simon, silently asking him to stay quiet while I handle her question.
“We met her a couple of weeks ago,” I tell her. “She wasn’t in a good place and wanted nothing to do with us at first. But my brothers and I became crazy about her the moment we caught her scent. We knew she was ours.”
“Where did you meet her?” Heather asks, forgetting to put on her fake, cold mask. “How did you make her trust you?”
“We met her right here,” I say, mixing up facts and lies to create a plausible story that would relax the sweet old lady.
“Oh,” she says, looking both surprised and relieved. “I’m so glad to hear Rory didn’t go far away to hide from her pain.” Placing a hand over her chest, she takes several deep breaths. “It’s so good she chose to stay in town instead of running away somewhere far away where we couldn’t reach her.”
The abandoned town of Kentville where the Black Widow hid is not far from Maplewood. It lessens some of the guilt I feel for concealing the truth from Heather who clearly loves Rory.
