Page 48 of Orange Spell
Theyreallyneeded her gone.
Marlin didn’t have a lot of time right now, but he and Curran made plans to see each other after work.It would have to be on a video call because the less time they spent together, the better it would be for their plan, but it was better than nothing.Marlin hated it, and he was sure that Curran did, too, but he didn’t mention it.Curran knew why they were doing it.He understood.
Marlin had never loved him more.
Curran’s phone vibrated in the pouch around his neck, so he took it out and looked down at the text on his screen.When he frowned, Marlin knew something was up.He didn’t ask because he didn’t know if it was personal, but he was sure that Curran would tell him if it wasn’t.
“I don’t know this number,” Curran said, handing the phone to Marlin.
Marlin didn’t recognize it, either, but then, he didn’t remember a lot of phone numbers.He didn’t have to know the number to be sure about who this was, though.“Pearl wants to meet you again.”
“We don’t know if it’s her.”
Marlin looked at Curran.“Who else could it be?”
“I agree that it’s her, and I’m sure she’s using a new number because she doesn’t want it to be traced to her, but it could be anyone.”
“We know she’s smart, but we’re smarter.”
Curran grinned.“I love how confident you are.”
“I have to be.”Because he couldn’t imagine a life in which they didn’t stop Pearl.They had no other choice.It was either Pearl or Killian, and they needed Killian to win beyond the friendship they shared.
“What do we do?”
“We prepare.”They’d prepare so much that there would be no possibility of Curran getting hurt.
Marlin could feel that Pearl was finally doing what they’d been waiting for her to do since she’d first approached Curran.She was going to try to use him against Killian.They didn’t know how yet, but they would soon, and once they did, they could step in and finally stop her.Once she was in one of the palace’s cells, Marlin and Curran could focus on their future.
It was about time they did.
Chapter Twelve
This wasn’t Curran’sidea of a good time.Even though the garden was as beautiful as always, he suspected that from now on, he’d always associate it with Pearl.He hated that she’d ruined that for him, and he suspected she was about to make it even worse.
Pearl had wanted to see him.Well, she hadn’t signed her message, but he was pretty sure it was her.Who else could it be?He didn’t get random messages from people he didn’t know.The only person who would want to see him was the king’s sister, which didn’t bode well.
