Love's Cruel Redemption (The Ghost Bird #12)(126)

If they were going to give him a new one, it was the worst one. He could never drive it. He’d be expected to. Not to mention he didn’t have his own car here. It was still in repair after it landed in a lake after an Academy job. What was he going to tell them?

Suddenly he felt a hand at his lower back, small and warm. Sang’s voice floated, polite, small and disarming.

“Victor,” she said. “Don’t we have a hair appointment in a little bit at the spa before tonight?”

Escape. That’s what he needed. “You’re right,” he said, taking her lead. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to just not hand it over. But I wanted to get this done this morning and would have asked for it back anyway in just a few minutes.”

Jasmine relaxed her stance and George backed away to stand closer to his wife. “I wish you would have thought to schedule it yesterday,” Jasmine said.

“I didn’t have time,” Victor said.

George wasn’t looking at him anymore. He was looking a little too closely at Sang for Victor to be comfortable. “Take her for a last spin,” he said. “A little morning tryst, right?” He winked for a good long second.

“Stop,” Victor said.

Sang stood by still, now blushing. Without makeup to mask it, it was too obvious she was completely embarrassed.

George looked ready to say more and Jasmine nudged George just slightly by stepping closer to him. It appeared to others she was just getting close to her husband but it was more akin to stepping on his foot to tell him silently to shut up. “Go but be back early. Forget what your father said. Try to look surprised. Be ready to dress by three.”

He started away from his parents. Silas and Nathan joined Victor and Sang as they headed to Mr. Blackbourne’s car parked near the garage doors.

Sang leaned into him as they walked. “What are we going to do?” she asked. “The car...”

“I don’t know,” Victor said. He glanced back at Silas and Nathan, both stern faced.

“Can we repair it within a couple of hours?” Silas murmured, but with his deep voice, it carried.

Nathan was slowly shaking his head, unsure. North could perform miracles with cars, but the damage from being in the lake was unclear.

Before they reached the car, Victor stop. A man in a dark suit with his back turned to them stood by the vehicle. At first Victor thought he was one of the workers perhaps admiring the car or ordered to wash it.

“Pardon us,” Victor said.

The man turn, and the familiar face surprised him.

Mr. Buble wore dark rimmed glasses, and had dark hair combed back neatly, still appearing damp after a morning shower. His suit was perfect, with a thin dark tie and the front button secure. His gaze instantly went from Victor, to Sang, to the others and then back to Sang.

“Good morning,” he said. Every syllable clear and direct. He looked to Victor. “It’s your birthday, isn’t it Mr. Morgan? A very nice occasion indeed.”

Victor’s nerves shook. He was Academy but he wasn’t someone he’d spent a lot of time with. Was he here to monitor on behalf of the Academy for some security reason? He hadn’t been informed of it. Surely all of his own team being in attendance and helping with the security would be enough. “Mr. Buble,” Victor said, taking on a more formal tone, matching Mr. Buble’s. “Were you going to be attending the party? You’re very much invited of course.”

“I learned from Mr. Blackbourne that Miss Sorenson was here. I wished to come by in person. I didn’t realize there was an event taking place. I didn’t mean to interfere.”

“You’re here for Sang?” Nathan asked.

Mr. Buble redirected his attention to him. “In a way I’m here for all of you, but for her especially.”

“Is something wrong?” Sang asked. “Did you need us?”

“No, but from what I understand, you need me.” He stepped closer, closing the distance to them all and speaking the next part lower, looking directly at Sang. “I’m your new manager.”