Page 93 of All The Pretty Little Lies

Talon's eyes meet mine for a brief moment, a silent understanding passing between us. He takes a deep breath, his fingers drumming lightly on the table as he speaks. "Well, Natasha, I've been giving some thought to the breeding clause in our contract. I believe it's time to explore those options."

The words hang in the air, heavy with implication. I feel my heart rate quicken, knowing we're treading into dangerous territory. Vesper stiffens in Zaire's arms, her face paling slightly. Z's jaw clenches, his tattoos seeming to ripple with tension.

Natasha's voice, when it comes, is filled with predatory interest. "Ah, the breeding clause. How delightful. It's not often our clients take advantage of that particular feature."

Talon's voice remains steady, but I can see the strain in the set of his shoulders. "Yes, well, I believe in maximizing my investments. I'd like to set up a meeting to discuss the details. Perhaps with her previous owners? I’d like to discuss the possibility of buying them out.”

There's a pause on the other end of the line, long enough that for a moment I wonder if we've overplayed our hand. When Natasha speaks again, her voice has a sharp edge to it. "I'm afraid that won't be possible, Mr. Blackwood. My client is extremely private and values their anonymity above all else."

I exchange a glance with Zaire seeing my own frustration mirrored in his eyes. We're so close to a breakthrough, but Natasha's words threaten to slam that door shut.

But Talon doesn't miss a beat. "Of course, I understand completely," he says smoothly. "Privacy is paramount in our line of work, after all. Perhaps we could meet with you instead? As their representative, I'm sure you're fully authorized to discuss these matters on their behalf."

Another pause, shorter this time. I can almost hear the gears turning in Natasha's head as she weighs her options. "That would be acceptable," she finally says, her voice carefullyneutral. "I have the authority to act on my client's behalf in these matters."

I feel a surge of triumph, quickly tempered by the knowledge that we're far from out of the woods. Talon catches my eye, a ghost of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Excellent," he says. "I'm eager to move forward with this. What does your schedule look like?"

As Talon negotiates the details of the meeting, I find myself marveling at his composure. The transformation from our laid-back friend to this suave, calculating persona is jarring, yet impressive. I watch as he jots down notes on a nearby napkin, his handwriting neat and precise despite the tension thrumming through the room.

"New York, you say?" Talon replies, his voice smooth as silk. "As it happens, I have business in Manhattan next week. Perhaps we could arrange something then?"

Natasha's voice crackles through the speaker, a hint of satisfaction coloring her words. "Perfect, Mr. Blackwood. I know just the place. There's a charming little restaurant I simply adore. It's called 'Le Petit Oiseau,' quite fitting, don't you think?"

I feel a chill run down my spine at the name. 'The Little Bird, ‘it’s almost too on-the-nose, a cruel reminder of how Natasha and her clients view women like Vesper. I glance at Vesper, seeing the same realization dawning in her eyes. Zaire's arms tighten around her, a silent promise of protection.

Talon doesn't miss a beat. "Sounds delightful," he says, his voice betraying none of the disgust I know he must be feeling. "Shall we say Tuesday, at 7 pm?"

"Tuesday, at 7 it is," Natasha purrs. "I look forward to our meeting, Mr. Blackwood."

Just as Talon is about to end the call, Natasha's voice cuts through once more, sharp and sudden. "Oh, and Mr.Blackwood? Do bring your purchase with you. I'd love to see how she's progressing."

The room goes deathly still. I feel my heart skip a beat, my mind racing to process this unexpected twist. Vesper goes rigid in Zaire's arms, her face draining of color. Z looks like he's about to explode, his muscles coiled tight with barely contained rage.

Talon, to his credit, doesn't falter. "Of course," he says smoothly, though I can see the strain in the set of his jaw. "She'll be delighted to join us, I'm sure."

As soon as the call ends, the tension in the room snaps. Zaire jumps to his feet, nearly knocking over his chair in the process. "Absolutely fucking not," he snarls, his voice low and dangerous. "We are not putting Vesper anywhere near that woman."

“I don’t think we have a choice. If Talon shows up without her, Natasha will know something is wrong.”

“Over my dead fucking body will I put her in that kind of danger.”

I stand as well, my mind already racing through possibilities, trying to find a way to make this work without endangering Vesper. "Z, calm down," I say, holding up my hands in a placating gesture. "We need to think this through."

Vesper, who has been silent throughout the entire exchange, suddenly speaks up. Her voice is quiet but firm.

“I’ll do it.”

TALON

The room erupts into chaos,a cacophony of Russian expletives and English curses mixing in the air like oil and water. I can barely make out individual words as Oscar and Zaire talk over each other, their voices rising with each passing second. It's like watching two storms collide, all thunder and lightning with no room for reason.

I glance at Vesper, expecting to see her shrink back from the verbal onslaught, but she stands tall, her green eyes flashing with a determination that makes my breath catch. She's afortress, unshakeable even as the twins' argument threatens to tear the room apart.

"Enough!" Vesper's voice cuts through the noise like a knife, silencing the room in an instant. "I said I'll go with Talon to meet Natasha, and that's final."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. Natasha. The name alone sends a chill down my spine, images of what that woman has done flooding my mind. She played a part in Vesper’s uncle’s plan. She is the puppet master behind Vesper's suffering, the architect of her pain. The thought of Vesper being anywhere near her makes my blood boil.

“We have no choice. If we want to see how far down this goes, we need to meet with her, and the only way we can do that is if I go.”

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