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Nearly everything is White, and not cozy in the slightest. That’s definitely something to do with who she is as a person because I’ve been in homes where the main color choice is white or very neutral tones, and they still feel welcoming and cozy.

This place is just cold and sterile.

It’s absolutely horrible, and I can’t imagine anyone willingly and happily living in a place like this. You couldn’t sit on the couch and eat chips or a pizza here. You’d be too fucking terrified to stain anything.

It does make one thing abundantly clear though.

Linda has money.

She shouldn’t.

Most of their accounts were frozen when Luc’s dad was arrested. The ones that were left only had a small amount in them, certainly not enough for this place. She disappeared and somehow got access to money and a lot of fucking money. This place is worth an absolute fortune. We’re talking multi-millions.

It wouldn’t surprise me if they had a couple of hidden accounts where they kept money for this sort of thing, but the tech guys at the organization are pretty fucking good. Actually, they’re the best of the best, and they didn’t find any.

If they didn’t find any, then Linda either has someone who is better than they are, which is unlikely, or she’s come by the money by other means, and that’s concerning.

Especially since we know that she has a link to Hunt.

Granted, we aren’t sure what that link is, but it’s a link, and that’s not a good thing.

We have always known that Luc’s mom is money-hungry. Even when we were kids, we knew that. Nothing has changed.

I do think that Ever’s theory that Drake might have told her to go to the house and get the file is interesting. Mr. R is struggling to get in to see him because of Drake’s lawyers, whereas Linda would not have that problem and be able to talk to Drake when she wanted.

Drake and Linda’s relationship has always baffled me. He was fucking horrible to her, but she never strayed, and he treated her better than he treated anyone else, even though the way he treated her was shitty.

She would definitely still have access to him.

From what Mr. R has said though, and how difficult we know Drake’s lawyers are being, I doubt that they’re even sharing the information about whether she has visited or not.

While it’s pretty standard that lawyers are difficult in these situations, especially with people who have as much money as Drake has. He used one of the accounts that wasn’t frozen for the lawyers, which also makes the fact that Linda has been able to buy this place suspicious.

It didn’t click earlier.

Knox’s phone call has thrown me off completely.

However, Drake’s lawyer seems to have too much control and pull, I suppose that's the right way to describe it. I’m sure that Mr. R is already looking into why.

I refocus.

“Okay. The place is empty,” Riot announces as we all find ourselves in the same room, having completely cleared the house.

Luc walks into the room with a puppy snuggled up under his chin. “Not quite. I found her locked in a crate far too small and whining.”

“Oh, look at her,” Ever says, immediately going over to her and stroking her gently. “She seems so timid.”

“Yeah, living with my mother will do that,” Luc says bluntly.

“What breed is she?” Rafe asks as he walks around Luc to get a better look at the puppy’s face that is now resting on Luc’s shoulder.

“She looks like she could be a labradoodle, maybe?” I suggest.

Luc nods. “She’s definitely got some poodle in her. Her fur is curly, and she’s got that look about her. I’m taking her home. No one deserves to stay with my mother. Plus we’ve been watching the house for hours, and she’s too little to be left alone for that long.”

Pete grins as he strokes her. “Shadow will love a playmate. Runa gets pretty bored of him quite quickly.”

Trick shakes his head but smiles. “Well, that’s a twist that I wasn’t expecting today, but we’ll roll with it, and thankfully we’re flying back on the organization plane, and we don’t need to worry about the fact that we’re now bringing a puppy home.”