“Thank you, Eric, it’s an old family recipe,” Sophia said, and for some reason it had Bryson thinking about the dresser from the night prior.
The green one with the carving that he knew he had seen before but couldn’t place. The item was so different from everything else in the estate. An antique orphaned in this modern home.
“I was admiring that dresser, Miss Farias. The old one in the meeting room. Where is it from?”
Sophia glanced at him, recognition flickering across her face, before she said, “I can’t take credit for that one. That’s got Xander written all over it.”
As if summoned, Xander came into the room. He kissed Sophia on the cheek before taking his spot to her right.
Bryson could feel Kaydon eating vigorously beside him. Obviously, he was trying to eat the tension away.
“I was just asking Miss Farias about that antique green dresser in the meeting room,” Bryson said.
Xander looked off into the distance, trying to place the item, and Bryson didn’t miss the way Sophia tried to speak.
“Oh, that’s not mine, that’s Soph’s.”
Bryson raised an eyebrow in Sophia’s direction.
A murderous shadow crossed over Sophia’s face before she smoothed her expression and hit Bryson with a huge smile.
“My mistake, I own so many things.”
Bryson smiled back at her. “Completely understandable.”
“The Serras were a powerful family back in the day. When she saw it up for auction, Soph insisted we bid on it.”
Serras.
The name licked at Bryson’s mind.
“I always liked furniture with a little bit of history,” Eric said, taking up the conversation.
Meanwhile, Bryson pushed food around his plate. It was clear that Adria and Seth weren’t coming back.
Why did the family name Serra stir something in him? Bryson rolled the name around in his mind, before a flicker of something came to him.
“Bryson, I’ve been thinking about your little problem,” Sophia said, drawing Bryson’s attention from his thoughts.
“My problem?” he said.
“Yes, your issue with Jonathan aside, we also have the small matter of Rolland, your father’s man,” Sophia said.
Bryson nodded.
“Well, I understand there is some history there. Perhaps it’s deep enough that you would like to take care of this matter yourselves?”
Bryson tensed.
“I wonder if a quieter approach might be more prudent,” Eric said, interjecting.
“My daughter’s safety is my top priority. And Adria has led me to believe that she is important to you three as well. No?”
Sophia kept her gaze on Bryson.
“I thought, given the circumstances and the danger you have put her in, you might want to put things right.”
“We would be happy to,” Bryson said without hesitation.
