Page 168 of The Elusive Billionaire
“What’s going on?” I ask. The tension in the air takes on an acrid scent.
Clover’s staring at Roman’s friend like she saw a ghost, and then she starts hyperventilating.
“Get him out of here,” I say, still unsure what the hell is happening.
“Clover? Are you okay?” Savvy’s asking on the other side of the table. The poor girl’s mouth is still popping like a blowfish.
The guy standing next to Roman is staring at Clover, but his expression is completely blank.
“What the hell happened?” I ask, more aggressively this time, and instantly regret it because Clover squeaks like a goddam cat toy.
“I—I.” Nothing else comes out of her mouth.
“I wanted to discuss this with you in private,” Roman says, gesturing toward the guy at his side. “This is my cousin.”
“Valen. M—my Valen,” Clover says just before she faints. Savvy barely latches onto her arm before she hits the ground.
What the hell is it with these two and fainting?
“For fuck’s sake.” Before the words are even out of my mouth, Valen has reached Clover and is lying her on her back, checking her pulse, and then all hell breaks loose.
Again.
“What do you mean, that’s Valen?” Madi starts plucking at the elastic on her wrist and pacing in a circle around Clover.
“Your cousin? You’ve known that Clover’sValenis your cousin this entire time?” Savvy’s words are lethal.
“He doesn’t know that he’s Clover’s Valen,” Roman says.
Everyone stares at Roman while Valen pulls something from his pocket and wafts it beneath Clover’s nose.
“He’s missing most of his childhood memories. He doesn’t remember anything before he was sixteen,” Roman says. “We’ve been looking for a ghost for years. That led us here. Valen runs Styx and Stone Security.”
Clover Styx—she changed her last name to Danforth when she entered the foster care system at fourteen. Glancing around the table, I don’t find any indication that anyone else knows that bit of information. I’m only privy to it because I ran thorough background checks on everyone when Braxton first moved here.
Clover stirs, stares up at Valen, screams, and then passes out again—this is worse than the reality TV Savvy’s been making me watch.
Valen sighs, then lifts Clover into his arms and starts walking off without saying a word.
“Where the hell are you taking her?” Savvy demands, keeping pace with him.
I’m not far behind. “You have some explaining to do, Roman, you prick.”
“I always do.” He sighs, and I get the impression whatever is happening with Valen has weighed heavily on him for years.
Behind us, feet are shuffling to keep up.
“Stop pulling on my arm, you’re jostling her head,” the enigma known as Valen growls at Savvy.
“You’d better watch your fucking tone,” I say, but remove Savvy’s hand from his arm because he’s right.
“Birdie team, take flight.” As soon as Roman speaks, he removes his hand from his ear.
“Where are you taking her?” Savvy demands.
Lights flash on a black van straight ahead.
“Oh, no. You’re not stuffing my best friend in the back of a van.” Savvy runs ahead, spreading her arms wide. As if that’s going to stop him.
