Chapter 131: The Owner
"Who? Adrian Cole?" Theo frowned, his brow furrowing deeper. "And?"
"Oh," Miles’s voice carried a note of hesitation, "this new owner just took over the business about two months ago, and they officially opened it today..."
"Today? Like today?" Theo blinked, his grip tightening on the wheel. The fact caught him off guard, his mind turning over the coincidence. His frown deepened before he continued, "Any information regarding Daniel?"
"Daniel?" Miles repeated, clearly confused. The faint clicking of keys filled the pause. "No, sir. I’ve gone through the business registry, contracts, even past ownership records... there’s no Daniel connected to Wanderer’s Keepsakes at all."
Theo’s lips pressed into a thin line, a muscle ticking at his jaw. "Strange..." he muttered under his breath, the word laced with suspicion.
"Should I keep digging, sir?" Miles asked carefully.
"Yes," Theo replied sharply. His gaze narrowed on the scenery ahead, thoughts racing. "Or maybe you can get information about his workers. I mean..." he paused, almost unwilling to voice the thought, "...maybe this boy is working there instead."
There was a beat of silence on the other end before Miles responded. "Understood, sir. I’ll run a check on their staff lists, suppliers, anyone connected to the shop."
"Good." Theo’s grip tightened on the phone, his knuckles paling. "Get me every detail you can."
He ended the call without another word. Leaning back against the sofa, his eyes shifted toward the wide glass windows. Beyond them, the ocean stretched endlessly, waves breaking under the dim light of dusk. The calm view only sharpened the restlessness twisting inside him.
"Adrian Cole..." Theo murmured, the name slipping past his lips unconsciously. "Why do I feel like I’ve heard that name before... Adrian..." His eyes narrowed, as if sheer focus could force the memory to surface. A flicker of something tugged at the edges of his mind, but it remained maddeningly out of reach.
"Ah, whatever..." he muttered, flipping his hand in frustration before letting his head sink back against the sofa. The ceiling above offered no answers, only silence pressing in on his thoughts.
His gaze drifted, almost idly, to the small table beside him. The glint of metal caught his attention—the car key he had tossed earlier now lay tangled with the tiny keychain he’d slipped on without much thought. That baby keychain.
For a moment, his expression softened, the sharp tension in his jaw easing as the corner of his lips lifted. A small, fleeting smile tugged at him, light but undeniable. It was strange, how something so simple could cut through the storm inside his chest.
He leaned back deeper into the sofa, eyes lingering on it longer than he realized, before finally shutting them.
Meanwhile, chaos brewed at the shop.
"You go out first, check the surroundings but act normal, like you’re just out to breathe some fresh air," Aurora instructed Adam, her gaze sharp on him. "See if that man or anyone connected to him... is still around. We can’t close up and head home until we know it’s clear."
Adam’s brow furrowed, but he gave a quick nod. "Got it."
Daisy, leaning against the counter at the back, couldn’t help a small smile despite the knot twisting in her chest. "Both of you sound like spies..." she teased softly.
Aurora shot her a look, lips twitching between amusement and exasperation. "Trust me, Daisy, this isn’t nearly as glamorous as it sounds."
Adam nodded and put on a smug face, muttering under his breath as he headed toward the door, "Should I put on my earphones and cool glasses, pretty sis?"
Daisy stifled a laugh, covering her mouth quickly.
The sound earned her another sharp glance from Aurora, who shook her head. "Just go, Adam. And keep your eyes around."
"Yeah, yeah," he murmured, hand brushing the doorknob. But as the bell above the door jingled faintly, his joking demeanor melted into a sharper focus. His eyes scanned the street with a casual air, though every step outside carried the weight of their unease.
About fifteen minutes later, Adam was back, slipping inside with the same casualness he’d left with. He shut the door behind him and exhaled, loosening his shoulders.
"All clear," he reported, brushing his hands together as if dusting off the tension. "I didn’t miss a single spot. No Theo, no shadow of his men, nothing lurking around. We’re safe."
Aurora let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, the tight line of her shoulders easing. "Good. Then let’s close up quickly before luck decides to change its mind."
Daisy clapped her hands softly, her grin returning. "Finally! Home sweet home."
Adam smirked at her enthusiasm and moved to help Aurora with the shutters.
"Should we stop at Aunt Jamie’s stall tonight?" he asked, voice deliberately casual.
His suggestion earned him another one of Aurora’s sharp glares, the kind that could slice through steel.
"You know what..." she muttered, tugging the shutter down with more force than necessary, "...consider yourself lucky. I’m still holding back from asking why you’re even here instead of in your college classes."
Adam raised his hands in mock surrender, a grin tugging at his lips. "Ouch. That’s cold. Can’t a guy just check in on his beloved sister without getting interrogated?"
Aurora rolled her eyes. "Beloved brother, my foot. In the middle of the week? Seriously?"
"Ah..." Adam dragged out the word, scratching the back of his neck. "It’s just that our whole major is getting two days’ leave because of a faculty seminar thing. Professors, guest speakers, all that boring adult stuff. So technically, I’m on break."
Aurora narrowed her eyes. "Technically?"
Adam’s grin widened, the kind that made her suspicious instantly. "Yeah. Which means you can’t complain about me being here. Free labor and all." He wiggled his eyebrows at the shutter he was holding.
Daisy laughed softly from behind them. "Honestly, Aurora, I don’t see why you’re complaining. I’d kill for a brother who willingly helps with the labour works."
"But but pretty sis..." Adam held up his hand, "I don’t want to be your brother..."
Daisy raised a ’talk to my hand’ instantly. "As I told you, younger men are not my taste..."
Aurora snorted, shaking her head at the both of them, and the three finally locked up the shop. The night breeze greeted them as they strolled along the quiet road. Their house wasn’t far, just a short walk from the beach. So, walking home had become a small routine, one that carried a strange comfort despite the day’s tension.
Adam, of course, couldn’t keep quiet. "Come on, just a quick stop at Aunt Jamie’s stall. Midnight skewers, Aurora... Midnight... Skewers."
Aurora groaned. "You’ll never change."
Daisy chuckled, "I second that vote. Midnight skewers sound perfect."
Before Aurora could snap back, far across town in a hotel room overlooking the beach, Theo stirred awake from his nap. His neck ached from the awkward angle he had slumped into on the sofa. He rolled it slowly, stretching with a grunt.
As his eyes blinked open, they drifted lazily toward the tall glass windows. The dim glow of streetlights caught his attention, and beyond them, the sandy stretch of road. His gaze sharpened when he spotted three figures walking together.
One of them... smaller, with an unmistakable sway in her step, making something inside him jolt. He leaned forward, pressing closer to the glass.
"Daisy..." he muttered under his breath.