Page 27 of Dragon His Heels
“Her name is Ruby. A—a mistake that happened about six years ago, right before he became reeve.”
“Are you serious? And he’s just now telling everyone? What a dick.”
“He didn’t know. Remember that call I took a couple days ago while we were having girls’ night, and then I took off without explanation?”
“Yeah. I ended up covering the entire bill, by the way—and you never told me what happened. I assumed it was something to do with Gabe.”
“The call was from Jasmine. Do you remember her?”
Petra frowned and nodded. “Another hot mess. The two of them would be perfect together.”
Talia leaned forward and sucked more alcohol into her system.
“Wait—Jasmine and Gabe?” Petra stared at her. “Seriously? Didn’t she leave the colony a few years back? Was it because of him?”
Talia thought back to the Jasmine she knew then and the woman she’d found, unconscious from a drug overdose, a few days ago. Seemed like three lifetimes had passed in those six years.
“No, I don’t think it was because of him. She…she had her own issues that had nothing to do with Gabe.”
“I remember. The two of you were so different. She was always acting out, getting into trouble, and you have always been down-to-earth, determined to ensure the colony was safe, secure, and prosperous. So where did she go? How did you find her after all this time?”
Talia grimaced. “She ended up in the Rojo colony.”
Petra’s eyes widened. “Aren’t they the ones who make that drug? What’s it called?”
“Dragon’s blood.”
“Yeah, that. And she ended up there—with Gabe’s kid?”
“The only reason I found her was because she called and asked me to come get Ruby.”
Petra shook her head and took another drink. “Wow. You really do go above and beyond, don’t you? You’re the perfect choice for the reeve’s PR manager.”
“I refuse to fail.”
“I know. Uncle Blake loved that about you. Not that he needed as much help as Gabe does.”
Talia shrugged. She didn’t want to argue with Petra anymore about whether Gabe was worthy of the position of reeve. The Elders had chosen him, and now they all had to live with that decision. And someday, the colony would be grateful for their choice. Talia would ensure it. She didn’t fail, remember?
“You and I started hanging out shortly after Blake hired me,” she commented.
“Yeah, my uncle Blake was a good man. Other than the whole dying without naming an heir part. So Gabe really has an heir, huh?”
Talia nodded. “He’s going to declare her at the next colony meeting.”
“So two weeks from now.”
“Yep.”
“Wonder what the colony will think.”
Talia shrugged. “Noah met her this morning. Didn’t even blink an eye over it.”
“He’s not a good example. He just does his own thing. I don’t think he cares if he’s even in a colony.”
“She’s starting school in a couple days, too. Ilsa met her and now knows that she is his heir. I suspect we’ll start seeing an influx of visitors at the house as word spreads.”
Talia placed her elbow on the table and rested her chin in her hand. Sounded like it was time to get back to work managing Gabe’s image.
