Eagle was blinking.
This kid had been constantly hiding from him earlier, but was now calling him ‘Uncle Eagle’!
Still, he could not say yes since it was not up to him. “You have to ask your mom.”
Tommy quickly turned toward Abigail, who shrugged. “Do whatever you like.”
Zachary was quiet, but he said then, ‘I forgot what you did to me anyway. You don’t have to be that careful.”
“I don’t believe you,” Tommy replied.
Abigail shot the boy a look. “It’s been half a day now. Stop it.”
“You betrayed me, Mommy.” Tommy huffed.
Abigail was speechless. “What are you talking about?”
“Uncle Zachary told me.”
Zachary was speechless, while Abigail turned toward him.
What had gotten into them? It was as if they all had something against him!
“I’m done. You guys do whatever you want,” Zachary said with a snort-he really could not afford to challenge them!
Abigail called out, “Aren’t you going to eat?”
“Not feeling an appetite,” Zachary replied.
However, he did not lose appetite over something so simple, or he would be as petty as a child.
In fact, he was sulking mostly because he did not get to see Lulu’s baby. Suddenly, a man barged into the dining room!
Zachary recognized the man-he was one of the protective details Stan had arranged for them whom Zachary stationed outside.
He frowned. ‘Why are you panicking?”
The man shook his head-he was not panicking, but it was urgent.
“There is someone asking for you outside,” the man reported.
“Who?” Zachary asked.
“No idea.”
Why did he bother asking?
Zachary started to head outside, with the man in tow. “Let’s go take a look.”
At the gates, Zachary saw that the person looking for him was actually a boy. Standing at a modest five foot four, he looked scrawny and his cheeks were dirty as if he had not bathed for a long time, and he had tied up his long hair.
Zachary felt suspicious since the filth hid the boy’s face, but asked, “You were looking for me?”
The boy nodded.
“Who sent you?” Zachary asked.
“A Zidonian named James Cross,” the boy said, still staring at him. “He told me about this place.”
Zachary turned serious since James did know about the place.
However, he did not believe the boy immediately, since they had been getting into endless and complicated problems.
“Really?”
“Yes.” The boy held out his palm to show the number written on it, which was Zachary’s too. “He said to call you if I can’t find you here.”
Zachary believed the boy already but did not lead him into the house.
He told the man beside him quietly in his ear, “Tell the others I’m leaving for the night.”
Abigail and her children were staying here, and he should not recklessly bring the boy, Barzel, inside without knowing who he was.
Taking Barzel to a hotel, he said, “Get yourself cleaned up. I’ll get you some clothes.”
Barzel nodded.
Zachary left the room, heading to the lobby to buy some clothes.
He then went somewhere quiet and called Stan, who quickly picked up.” Hello?”
“Have you found James yet?” Zachary asked.
“We know who has him, but we haven’t gotten him out yet.”
Zachary leaned against the wall as he said, “There’s this boy who just came to me. He looks around sixteen and local. He said
James sent him, but I’m not sure if he’s friend or foe.”
Stan did not know either, and said, “I’m hanging up. Just wait for a while- ill call you later.”
Zachary did so, but he waited a long while without any reply from Stan.
Almost losing patience, he was wondering if he should call Stan again when his phone rang.
“So?” he asked impatiently after answering. “How did it go? And what took you so long?”
Stan ignored the last part and said, “Just found out who he is. He’s good, but don’t bring him into the house.”
He then gave a summary of Barzel, who turned out to be the son of the couple who saved Diarmuid.
Barzel had been a hostage and was confined in the same place with James after he was captured.
James helped him escape when he had a chance, telling him Zachary’s address instead of Diarmuid’s castle just in case. After all, if
Barzel turned out to have been brainwashed, he would lead the gang straight to Diarmuid’s family.
Zachary had therefore shown composure and wit since he took Barzel straight to a hotel instead of into his own home.
Hanging up later, Zachary headed back to the hotel room, and waited on the couch, prepared to probe Barzel’s allegiances.
However, Barzel did not leave the bathroom even after a long while, and Zachary checked his watch.
It had been over an hour—Barzel had to be done by now!
What was keeping him?
Zachary walked over to knock on the bathroom door, but Barzel did not respond.
He opened it to find the room still filled with steam, but Barzel was nowhere to be seen.
Where did he go?!
Zachary almost cursed. “Did he bail?”
However, he had just whipped out his phone when he saw Barzel, who had already changed into the clothes Zachary brought, i
Barzel’s hair was now clean, revealing its original dark blond hue. It was quite long and covered his ears.
His cheeks were fair and speckled, and his bangs dangled over his brows in front of his cobalt-blue eyes.
He was carrying a plate of food and watching Zachary as he said, “Sorry. I was hungry.”
He left to find food when he stepped out of the bathroom and found no one around.
Since it was complimentary, he brought some back to his room.
As Zachary lowered his phone, Barzel asked, “Would you like some?”
Zachary shook his head and settled on the couch, while Barzel put the plate on the table and continued eating.
“What’s your name?” Zachary asked.
“Barzel,” Barzel replied while keeping his head lowered and continued stuffing his mouth full of food. “Just ask me if you have any questions.”
Zachary was quite surprised that he was being so candid despite his youth.
Then, before Zachary said anything, Barzel added, “I mean, I found you at your own house, but you brought me here instead of letting me in. It’s obvious you don’t trust me-but that’s fine, because I don’t trust you either.”
Zachary stared blankly at him for a moment and asked, “You don’t trust me, but you still came looking for me?”
Barzel paused for a moment, but he soon quietly returned to his food.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Zachary asked.
“My parents are dead. I have nowhere else to go,” Barzel said quietly.
Zachary rubbed his nose-he should not have asked.
Still, Barzel kept his head lowered as he said, “I don’t mind.”
Zachary was speechless for a moment and told Barzel, “You can stay here from now on.”
As Barzel nodded, Zachary got up to his feet, but the boy stopped him before he left. “What’s your name, sir?”
“Zachary Slate.”
“Mr. Slate… Can you lend me some money?”
Zachary turned and stared at Barzel for a couple heartbeats, but he reached into his pocket and asked, “How much?”
“As much as you’re willing to give,’ Barzel replied-he was penniless anyway.
Zachary gave him all the cash without questions, since Barzel had just escaped. It made sense if he had no money.
“I’ll return it,” Barzel replied.
“It’s fine. Just keep it,” Zachary told him.
Stan did just mention that Barzel’s parents were killed and the boy had no place to go after escaping the gang. Further questions were unnecessary.
Barzel stayed silent, his thoughts unknown.
“I’m going now,’ Zachary simply said and left the hotel.
When he returned to his house, Abigail came to him right away and asked,” Who came looking for you?”
Zachary stared at her for a couple heartbeats.
“Why should I tell you?” he asked a little spitefully, before adding, “I mean, I don’t even get to see my own baby.”
Abigail was speechless. The man could really hold a grudge!
“Do you know the difference between love and like?” Abigail asked.
Zachary snorted. “Nonsense. How old do you think I am?”
Abigail then asked, “Then tell me-do you like Lulu or do you love her?”
Zachary was suddenly silent.
He was certainly attracted to Lulu when they first met, and he was convinced she felt the same.
And after they started dating, it was mutual liking..
But as time went by and their bond grew, it definitely was love, no?
That was what he understood of their relationship, at least.
Still, he noticed the point of her question. “What are you getting at, Abigail? No, to be precise-what are you trying to tell me?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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