Cindy was shouting too. “That’s right! Are you trying to get us killed?!”
“Shut up!” Frank bellowed.
It was Cindy and Gina’s fault that the Talnamese had caught on to his whereabouts in the first place. And now that they knew who he was, they would be sending every assassin and poisoner they had.
When that happens, it would not just be Frank, but everyone around him would be in danger too.
He could see that much from the look in Talc’s eyes. As long as the black market of Draconia stood, they would always trace the clues back to him.
And the mere thought sent Frank’s blood pumping!
“Whatever happens, you are all staying here,” he growled sinisterly and murderously.
Naturally, Gina snapped at him even before the Talnamese could. “You fucking idiot! They’ve already surrendered—why do you have to push them?! Are you not satisfied until you get me killed, so that you can have Helen without anyone stopping you?!”
“Yeah! You won’t even get a sniff of Helen if anything happens to Aunt Gina!” Cindy joined in.
“What’s going on here?” Silverbell remained impassive as she watched, but she was totally confused.
Those women were Draconian citizens, but they would snap at the martial elite here to save them?
“You wretches!”
Ned finally had enough, wheeling on Gina as he bellowed, “Mr. Lawrence just had to abandon you if he wanted you dead! We’re risking our skins coming to save you, but you’d insult him instead of being grateful?! Another word from you, and I’ll have my people sew up your mouths once we leave!”
Cindy simply smirked. “Who do you think you are, talking to my aunt like that?”
“Exactly!” Gina shot Ned a look of disdain, getting full of herself. “Lay a finger on me, and the Lane family of Riverton will get you for this!”
They clearly considered Ned to be Frank’s lapdog and did not show him an ounce of respect, even name-dropping the Southstream Lanes to puff themselves up.
“That gentleman is Ned Janko, first-in-line of Morhen’s Janko family,” Silverbell said neutrally, since she recognized him.
“What Jankos? Never heard of them!” Gina waved her off dismissively.
On the other hand, Cindy was suddenly sumped and dropped on her knees in front of Ned. “M-Mr. Janko? I-I’m so sorry! I must’ve been traumatized and misspoken. Please forgive me…”
While Gina was left puzzled, Cindy pulled her toward herself, whispering panickedly, “The Jankos are the fifth most powerful family in Morhen! They’ll crush us!”
“What?!” Gina glanced at Ned in astonishment, and promptly dropped on her knees to kowtow to Ned repeatedly. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t know who you were… Please don’t hold it against me…”
Their clownlike reaction only left Ned annoyed.
“Enough!” he bellowed. “Not another word from either of you!”
“Yes, sure.” Both Cindy and Gina nodded repeatedly.
