A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 899

Fairfax laid down an absolute mandate to Seymour.

He had to intercept Starla and bring her to the Black Sea. Under no circumstances was he to let Herbert's men walk away with her.

"That's going to have to wait until tomorrow, after Herbert's men make their move," Seymour noted.

After all, he was Fairfax's operative. The fact that he was currently embedded near the Hoggart estate was already pushing his luck. Smuggling Starla out of the highly fortified compound, especially when she was fiercely uncooperative, would be nearly impossible on his own.

"Just make sure Herbert doesn't get her on his plane," Fairfax ordered.

Fairfax was certain Herbert intended to use Starla as leverage, and he didn't trust the man as far as he could throw him.

"Don't worry. The second she steps off the estate grounds, I'll secure her and head straight for the Black Sea," Seymour assured him.

"Good."

"After this goes down, Ms. Lansbury is going to be completely disillusioned with her family."

Fairfax was just about to end the call when Seymour's comment made his hand jolt.

"What do you mean?"

"If Herbert's men come to drag her away tomorrow, the guards here probably won't lift a finger to stop them."

If Starla was hauled out of her own family's stronghold tomorrow without a single bodyguard intervening, what else would she feel but utter betrayal from the entire Hoggart family?

Fairfax fell silent.

He took a hard, bitter drag of his cigarette. "Are you telling me the Hoggart family is just going to step aside and let Herbert take her?"

"That looks to be the case, yes."

"Those bastards!"

Fairfax was genuinely at a loss for words when it came to Yardley Hoggart. That was his own flesh and blood. No matter how much Yardley trusted Herbert, throwing his sister to the wolves like this was unconscionable. The whole situation with Brinley had already driven a massive wedge between them. Did Yardley really want to permanently sever their bond?

Even back when they were close friends, Fairfax always knew Herbert was a calculating man with depths no one could fully read. Now that they were actively at each other's throats, Herbert's motives were even more obscured.

"Wait, doesn't Herbert blame her for Brinley's death?" Amos asked.

Fairfax didn't reply.

"This is a good thing! Let them tear each other apart!" Amos grinned. He knew Starla used to have a soft spot for Herbert, a fact that drove Fairfax insane.

"Do you honestly think them fighting makes a difference right now?" Fairfax shot back.

Amos blinked. "...What do you mean?"

"Herbert is taking her to the Black Sea. That's the real threat."

Why the Black Sea? It proved that all of Herbert's previous 'affection' for Starla was a calculated act. He was a direct, lethal threat to her.

"Fair point. I guess their little lover's quarrel over Brinley isn't the main issue anymore," Amos conceded. The two of them had certainly fought enough over Brinley by now anyway.