Kai snapped into action. 'Miss Connelly, this way please.'

He held the door open for her, his intention clear-either she left of her own volition, or she would be thrown out.

Deborah swept her eyes over Austyn and Kira.

Both had the same impassive, unsympathetic look.

Deborah left the room.

Damian, who had been silent this entire time, spoke up. 'I guess it's time for me to take my leave as well.'

'I'll walk you out,' Kira offered.

Damian raised an eyebrow but stayed quiet.

Austyn, on the other hand, was annoyed. 'Damian can find his own way. He's a grown man.'

'And I can make my own decisions,' Kira shot back. I'm a grown woman!'

She pushed open the door and gestured for Damian to follow her.

Kai passed them on his way back in. 'Boss, should I go after Young Madam?'

'Just stay where you are!' Kira's voice came from the hallway outside. 'I can find my own way back.

Kai looked at Austyn, who motioned for him to stay.

When it was just the two of them in the room, Austyn asked, 'Have you gotten the test results?'

'I'm afraid it's going to take some time.' Kai lowered his voice. 'I just delivered the DNA samples to Dr Chase this afternoon. He'll find someone to do the test and promised to call as soon as the results come out.'

Austyn just nodded. 'Tell him to put a rush on it. And to keep this under wraps. I need the results ASAP.' 'Yes, Boss.'

***

'Okay, go ahead and ask,' Damian said once he got into the lift with Kira.

'Ask what?'

'Whatever it is you wanted to ask me by coming to see me out.'

'Oh, you saw through that, huh?' Kira felt a little sheepish.

Austyn had smart friends.

"The lift ride and the walk to the carpark will take about three minutes. That's how long you have.'

Kira wasted no time. 'First, did Deborah go to Blumore with Austyn?'

'Yes. Austyn had a plan to lure Santoro out. Deborah was the bait.' 'I see.'

She should have guessed.

Deborah disappeared from the hospital together with Austyn.

Of course she went on the trip with him.

'Is that all you wanted to ask?'

Kira stared at the floor. 'Second question, did...did anything happen?'

'A lot happened on that trip. You'll have to be more specific.'

'Between them-I mean, between Austyn and Deborah.'

By Net The Tone To Cheat

what kind of things?

Ta know, the the kind of things men... Her face was flushed crimson. 'Did they share a hotel room?'

Oh, that land of thing. Damian chuckled. 'Are you asking if Austyn cheated on you?'

Kira gave a tiny nod of her head.

She couldn't forget the way Deborah acted back in the ward.

She had sounded so confident that Austyn would side with her.

And her allusions to a secret...

Was it a secret she shared with Austyn?

Did Deborah know something that Kira didn't?

No, no way.' Damian was emphatic. I know Austyn. He's not the type to cheat.'

Perhaps sensing this wasn't convincing enough, he added, 'We arrived in Blumore late in the aftemoon. I talked with Austyn. We drew up a plan of attack. By the time we were done, it was close to midnight. Deborah stayed in her own room and never came out." Kira nodded, slightly reassured.Material © of .

Damian decided to skip over the part where Deborah went to knock on Austyn's door in the middle of the night.

He heard it, of course.

Deborah stayed in the hallway and talked with Austyn for a long time.

Damian didn't catch most of what they said, but he was sure Deborah never stepped foot inside Austyn's room.

"Besides,' he continued, 'Austyn was shot the next day and was laid up in a hospital for the following three days. He checked out the moment he came to. With the wound and all, he couldn't have done anything with Deborah even if he wanted to-not that he ever wanted

to."

Kira kept her head down and hid a smile. 'I see. Thank you, Damian.'

'Don't mention it."

The lift stopped on basement level two.

Damian stepped out. 'You should know that Austyn got Kai to book the first flight home despite the doctors' strong objections. He really couldn't wait to see you, you know. Maybe you could leam to trust him a little.'

Embarrassed, Kira nodded. 'I will.'

Damian took out a key fob. 'You should head back. We'll have dinner sometime, you know, when Austyn's back on his feet.'

'Sure. Um, there's just one more thing."

'Yes?'

Kira looked up into his eyes. 'I wanted to see you out for two reasons. One is to ask you those questions. Two, to thank you.' 'For what?'

For taking care of Austyn on this trip. He told me you were the one who shot Santoro. I don't have all the details, but I can imagine it couldn't have been easy, taking down a dangerous man like Santoro. Austyn might have been in greater danger without you there, so- thank you.'

Damian had not expected this.

The Lenger The Silence. The Deeper The Hurt

The Longer The Silence, The Deeper The Hurt

Even Austyn had not thanked him, though Damian knew that deep down, Austyn was grateful.

He was just not used to expressing himself.

Damian smiled. 'It's no big deal, Brothers help each other. Besides, I might just get a promotion out of this trip.

"That doesn't mean I can just take your help for granted,' Kira said.