Chapter 16
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At this point, Thiago was one second away from completely forgetting his manners and just cussing someone out.
Luciana shifted slightly, murmuring something under her breath that he couldn’t quite catch. Then, she turned over and leaned against the window instead.
The tension in Thiago’s body finally began to ease. He pulled out his phone and sent Hans a quick text.
Thiago: “Find something out for me,”
Hans: “Mr. Langston, I’m tailing your bus right now. Where are you even going?”
Thiago: “You head home, I’ll be back later. I’ll send you the name of a restaurant. I want you to check on it for me.”
Hans: “Mr. Langston, I just helped you deal with a drunk creeper last night, and now, we’re digging into a restaurant? If Mr. Langston Senior finds out, what would I even say to him?”
Thiago: “Pick up some glue on the way and seal your mouth shut before heading to the Langston residence.”
Luciana had no idea how long she had been out when the bus suddenly jolted hard, shaking her awake with a start. She snapped out of her hazy dream, blinking in confusion as she looked around. Then, her eyes landed on a street sign outside.
jhazy
Thank God she hadn’t missed her stop,
Suddenly, she felt someti. ng warm in her hand. Looking down, she realized there was now a canned hot beverage resting in her palm. Luciana instantly snapped to full awareness.
She clearly remembered falling asleep with half a sandwich in her hand. Where was it? Did she sleep–eat it? And where did the hot canned beverage come from?
Still groggy and confused, her phone buzzed with a new message. It was from her family group chat that consisted of just her and her parents.
Dad: “Luciana, are you coming home for the Independence Day break?”
Mom: “Come home, sweetie. Don’t work yourself to death. Take a breather. I’ll make your favorites to get you back on your feet.”
Luciana’s lips curved into a small smile, warm and genuine.
No matter how hard life got, at least she still had her parents–people who loved her unconditionally. Somewhere out there, a light was always on, and her parents were always waiting for her to come home.
She typed out a quick reply. “Okay, I’ll come home.”
Meanwhile, back at the Langston residence, Lawrence sat on the couch in the living room, his sharp eyes locked onto Hans, who was starting to sweat bullets under the pressure,
Though he was in his 60%, Lawrence had taken remarkable care of his appearance and health. He was broad–shouldered, fit, and full of energy. He didn’t look a day over 50.
His voice, deep and commanding, cut through the room. “You’re telling me that Thiago saw a girl sitting at a bus stop… and just jumped out of the car?”
Hans gulped. “Yes, Mr. Langston Senior.”
“And then followed her onto a public bus?”
“Yes, Mr. Langston Senior.”
Lawrence’s jaw tightened, his lips a straight, grim line. That famously sharp jaw of his clenched with quiet fury, making the atmosphere feel like it could snap in half. The silence that followed was so thick, every breath felt like it echoed.
Hans could feel sweat prickling across his palms. His heart was pounding like a drum.
Finally, Lawrence spoke again, slow and deliberate. “You’re absolutely sure it was a girl? Not… a guy?”
Across the room, Alicia choked on her wine and sprayed it across the coffee table.
