A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 900

The biggest mystery right now was *why* Herbert was so intent on dragging Starla to the Black Sea.

"You better watch your back," Amos warned. "There's no telling what kind of twisted scheme Herbert is cooking up."

If it was a trap, it was going to be a deadly one.

"What's Starla's take on all this?" Amos asked.

The critical linchpin was Starla herself. Her stance on the matter dictated their next move.

But wait... that wasn't right.

Before Fairfax could answer, Amos corrected himself. "Actually, scratch that. What is the Hoggart family's stance on this?"

Starla's opinion hardly mattered if Yardley Hoggart stepped in. If Yardley refused to let Herbert take her, Herbert could kick and scream all he wanted, but he wouldn't get past the estate walls. The Hoggart family's power in Yoran Country was absolute.

"According to Seymour's intel, Yardley is giving Herbert the green light," Fairfax said grimly.

"Wait, what? But—"

Hearing that Yardley had actually agreed, Amos was completely dumbfounded.

"Well, that complicates things!"

Under normal circumstances, there was no way the Hoggart family would allow Starla to be taken to the Black Sea. Anyone with half a brain knew the place was a death trap. People didn't just go there on vacation.

Fairfax rubbed his eyes wearily.

"Complicated is an understatement."

Ever since Starla had returned to Yoran Country, the political chess board had become a tangled, bloody mess.

"So what's your play?"

Amos couldn't hide the tension in his voice. He was terrified Fairfax was going to abandon the Black Sea operation and fly straight into the heart of Yoran Country to play the hero.

They were too close to the finish line to blow it now.

Amos sighed, nodding slowly. "Fair point. This Herbert guy is a real piece of work..."

Words completely failed him. The man was a menace.

*Just tread carefully,* Amos thought. If Starla was coming to the Black Sea, all hell was bound to break loose.

"Honestly, I'm starting to think Herbert is only bringing her to the Black Sea specifically to mess with you," Amos muttered.

Fairfax frowned.

*To mess with him?*

If that were true, it meant Herbert knew exactly how deeply involved Fairfax was in the upcoming Black Sea conflict.

"If that's the case, there's absolutely no way I'm letting him get his hands on her," Fairfax stated coldly.

Herbert's true feelings for Starla were a giant question mark, but Fairfax's obsession with her was public knowledge. Herbert knew exactly where to strike.