Page 28 of Dark Gambit Reliance

"It is, but you still need to report to Valstar about your hobnobbing with the rich campaign contributors."

"I'll do it tomorrow. It's too late today."

Eleanor shrugged. "It's only a little after eight in the evening but suit yourself. I'm going to retire for the evening." She winked. "I suggest you do the same." She turned and walked away.

"See you tomorrow," Asher gave them a smile before following Eleanor.

Marcel wrapped his arm around Sofia's waist. "Let's find Roxana."

She shouldn't be surprised that he offered to accompany her. It wasn't because he couldn't stand being apart from her, and it wasn't a gesture of love. He wanted to ensure that she didn't tell Roxie anything she shouldn't.

"You don't have to come with me."

"I know, but I want to. It's on the way to my bungalow. We can go there after we say hello to your friend."

She hadn't expected that. "Am I allowed in your section?"

"Now that you know about us, there is no reason for you not to be allowed. I want you to see my bungalow, and if you like it better than the bunker, we can stay there from now on."

"Of course, I like it better. It's not underground. I like having windows."

"It's very small."

"I don't care. Should we go to the bunker first and collect our things?"

"Yeah. It will be more believable that you were away if Roxana sees you with your luggage."

It was a short walk from the underground garage to the cottage, and since the side door opened to Emmett's private garden, they didn't encounter anyone from the lodge.

Less than fifteen minutes later, she was packed and they were on their way.

As they passed through the lodge, a few people waved hello at her, but Roxie wasn't there, and neither were the two other women she'd befriended.

"She might be in our room." Sofia tugged on Marcel's hand.

"It's too early for her to be asleep."

Sofia smiled. "She might be busy doing other things."

"I didn't know that the retreat instructors assigned homework."

Stifling a laugh, Sofia kept walking. "Not the kind of homework you have in mind."

Understanding dawning, Marcel halted. "Maybe we shouldn't stop by at this hour."

"It's okay." She leaned closer. "With your exceptional hearing, you will know whether it's okay to knock."

He winced. "I'd rather not spy on Roxana's bedroom activities."

"She wouldn't mind." Sofia pulled on his hand. "Roxie likes to boast about her conquests. I think the free-love philosophy of the community was what drew her to the retreat, not her paranormal talent." She leaned closer to his ear. "I don't think she really has talent. She claims to have precognition, but she failed all the tests we did. I scored better than her at the card guessing game."

"What about your talent? Is it real?"

"The truth is that I'm not sure," she admitted. "Here is my old room." She pointed.

Marcel got closer and listened for a moment. "It doesn't sound like Roxana is engaged in sexual activities. She is talking with another female." He took a step back and waved at the door. "Go ahead."

Sofia had been gone for days, so she couldn't just walk into her old room. Instead, she knocked.

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