Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem ( Elysia and Tarquin)

Winona was totally unfazed.

"Whatever. He's going to find out sooner or later anyway. What's the difference if it's today or tomorrow?"

Elysia and Blossom just exchanged a look. "...."

Later, back in the bedroom, Elysia recapped everything to Tarquin.

Tarquin took it all in stride, pulling her close. "You're still worried about Zane figuring it out? Winona's right-he's going to know eventually.

Winona's just playing dumb to make it easier to get back at them.

She's putting on a show so she can go after Priscilla and Sarah right out in the open.

But even if she wasn't pretending, she wouldn't let them off the hook. She'd just find another way to take her revenge. Nothing to lose sleep over."

Whether Winona was faking or not, whether Zane caught on or not it didn't affect Tarquin's plans at all.

To him, whatever was going on between Winona and Zane was just petty drama. Digging up the whole mess with Zane and Burmalia, now that was the real play.

That was Zane's Achilles' heel. Get leverage there, and you could take him down for good.

Elysia let out a breath.noveldrama

"You're right. But Winona pretending to be clueless isn't just so she can slap someone around-it's also her way to sniff out proof that Zane's behind all this. If they really go at it openly, wouldn't it be harder to get evidence?"

Tarquin shook his head. "Nah. Even if things get ugly, she'll just find another way. There's always a way."

Elysia frowned. "But if they go head-to-head, won't it be more dangerous for Winona?"

Tarquin kissed her gently on the forehead, all warmth and reassurance.

"From the moment Winona showed up on our radar, she was safe. You don't need

to worry. Anyone you want to protect, I'll protect for you. Now relax and get some sleep, okay?"

Elysia felt a rush of warmth at his words and snuggled closer. "Okay."

Once she'd drifted off, Tarquin sent a quick text to Lowell:

[Heads up Tamsin: expect Zane to make his move tonight. Tell her to stay alert.]

Lowell replied instantly: [Got it.]

Around 1 AM, Tarquin's phone buzzed.

Elysia had been jumpy for days—at the first sound, she was wide awake.

"Who is it?"

Tarquin glanced at the screen. "Lowell."

He kept his arm around Elysia as he answered. "Yeah?"

"Tarquin, just like you said Zane made his move!

He sent people to kidnap the illegitimate daughter, and wanted to inject Ridley with something. We've caught all of his guys."

Tarquin's voice was calm. "Inject her with what?”

He'd expected Zane to go after Ridley's secret daughter-kidnapping her would give Zane leverage to force Ridley to hand over control of the Newsom family.

But the injection was new.

Lowell replied, "No idea. Zane's men didn't know either. All they said was he told them to inject her, but didn't say with what. I just sent you a photo."

Tarquin opened the image: a vial of clear liquid. Not much to go on.

Elysia peered over his shoulder. "Could be a virus or something."

Tarquin told Lowell, "Send it to Benjamin Lawson for analysis. Have Zane's guys

call him say the job's done. Tamsin will follow their lead."

"Understood."

When the call ended, Elysia was wide awake.

"Zane going after Ridley and the 'illegitimate daughter' out of nowhere does that mean he's completely figured out Winona's faking?"