Chapter 45
Rodger drifted off, his mind replaying moments when Emilia had looked after him. He didn't even notice the faint smile forming on his lips.
Violet shot Rodger a sidelong glance, suspicion twisting in her chest. It hadn't even been that long,but here he was-zoning out and grinning to himself.
Who exactly was occupying his thoughts? Was it possible he had Emilia on his mind?
The idea made Violet's face go pale, her teeth pressing nervously into her lower lip as she debated whether to say something.
"Rodger, what's got you lost in thought over there?" Sebastian's voice cut in, echoing her own worries before she could work up the nerve.
Jolted back to the present, Rodger quickly wiped the smile from his face.
"Oh,nothing much. Just got lost in the memory of how Violet and I first crossed paths." Rodger forced a grin, hiding his unease behind the smile. All the while, he wondered what had come over him to let Emilia invade his thoughts like that.
"It's good seeing you two find your way back to each other. Honestly, if Emilia hadn't stirred things up, you'd probably have kids by now."Sebastian's jaw clenched the second he heard Emilia's name.
Violet shook her head, her voice soft."Sebastian, don't put all the blame on Emilia.She got dragged into things, too. Really, it's all my fault..."
"How is it your fault? You never had a choice-you were forced to leave everything behind.Don't blame yourself." Sebastian was quick to reassure her.
"I'm really sorry," Violet murmured, her eyes growing wet with fake tears.
"Violet..." Rodger reached for her hand and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "You have nothing to be sorry for. None of this is your fault."
"Alright, enough about the past. Rodger, what happened to you? How'd you end up getting roughed up like that?" Sebastian waved off the gloom with a sigh.
"I wish I knew. The police are still looking into it."Rodger shook his head, frustration clouding his features.
All he could remember was being jumped by a group who never even said a word-just blindsided him and left his hand busted.
Suddenly, a memory flashed. He'd grabbed Emilia by the throat earlier with that same hand.Could she have had something to do with his injury?
Rodger's eyes widened for a split second,surprise flickering across his face before he forced himself to relax.
No way,he thought. Emilia wouldn't go after him like that. If she'd wanted to break his arm, she would have done it right there in the parking lot,not let him off easy only to strike from the shadows later.
Sebastian clenched his fists, anger flashing in his eyes. "Whoever did this won't get away with it. I promise I'll make things right for you."
Violet leaned in, her voice gentle. "Did you upset someone without realizing it?" Rodger shook his head, still trying to piece it together. "I've gone over it a dozen times.Can't think of anyone I've crossed lately."
"Maybe it's someone holding a grudge? Or an old rival coming back to settle the score?"Violet wondered aloud.
Sebastian's face suddenly lit up with realization."I've got it! This has Webster written all over it.He also ended up at the hospital, so he's harboring a grudge and secretly retaliating."
Besides Webster, Sebastian couldn't think of a single person with enough reason to go after Rodger.
"That actually makes a lot of sense," Violet said,her suspicions now firmly pointed at Webster.
It wouldn't be the first time those two had locked horns-Webster and Rodger had a long history of butting heads, sometimes in broad daylight, othertimes in the shadows.
Rodger's fingers curled into a fist, the anger simmering just beneath the surface. Deep down,he was starting to believe Webster was the one behind the attack. "Don't lose sleep over it, Rodger. If we catch Webster in the act, I'll make sure he regrets ever messing with us. He wants to play dirty?Fine-we'll show him what that really means!"Sebastian tried to offer some reassurance.
He lingered beside the hospital bed, but his mind wandered, irritation twisting inside him. He still hadn't settled things with Emilia, and the thought of it gnawed at him.
"What rotten luck! I even paid Tyrone last night to put Emilia in her place, and he winds up dead before he can lift a finger. All that money down the drain."
Rodger's eyes widened in disbelief as the words sank in. Without thinking, he shot up from his seat and grabbed Sebastian by the collar, his grip tightening.
"Hold on-what did you just say? Who's dead?"