Chapter 52

Of all the things Valerie despised in life, there was nothing she hated more than the vile trade of human organs. Skyler had long crossed that line. If not for the bargaining chip, she wouldn't have hesitated to send him straight to hell. It was past 10:00 pm when she returned to Azure Bay. To her surprise, Keane was also in the house, talking quietly to Lucius. When he saw Valerie, his eyes lit up. "You're back, Ms. Collins." "Still working with Lucius this late, Keane?" She nodded at him and gave him a polite smile. That one word, "Keane," rankled Lucius. In a heartbeat, it felt as though everyone around him had built a connection to her, except him. Unaware of Lucius' thoughts, Keane felt nothing but admiration for Valerie since surviving the explosion. "I was just reporting some important matters to Luc, and I wanted to thank you in person. The protective talisman you gave me that day saved my life." He had been looking forward to an explanation from her, as what had happ