“It connects directly to the house staff through the estate’s internal system. Think of it like instant service. You press it, someone shows up.”
“Why so fancy?” I asked.
He set the device back down. “Because the people who stay here value privacy,” he explained. “No shouting down hallways, no phones ringing all over the place. Quiet requests… quiet service.”
That made a lot more sense.
“In the meantime,” he added, “you’re free to take a tour around the estate. The staff won’t mind helping you if you need anything.”
Then his expression shifted slightly.
“I would warn you not to wander outside the main courtyard, though.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
“Guard dogs,” he shrugged casually.
My eyes widened.
“Relax,” he chuckled. “They’re harmless to family. They’ll get used to you in no time.” Then he gave me a quick wink.
In my head, I scoffed.
If you call five days enough time for a pack of guard dogs to decide I’m family.
With that, he stepped out and closed the door behind him.
For a few seconds, I just stood there, taking in the quiet luxury and the way every single detail in the room seemed intentionally placed, like whoever designed it wanted the person staying here to feel important.
It was breathtaking, almost as if someone had gone out, but if I had to guess, someone had gone out of their way to make sure I felt comfortable—maybe a little too comfortable.
Maybe the head boss was trying to win me over to come back as one of the organizations mule. After seeing that the money was gone, I might not have a choice.
After another moment, I stepped back into the hallway and headed down to Lainey’s room.
When I pushed her door open, she was already on a mission with her phone out, camera facing her, going live.
“Y’all… my best friend done brought me to paradise!” she announced dramatically to her viewers, spinning in a slow circle so the room stayed in frame. “If I don’t come back, just know I’m somewhere being fed grapes on a balcony in a bikini.”
“Lainey!” I hissed.
She flinched and immediately ended the live.
“What?” she said defensively. “I was just giving them a quick tour.”
“Yeah, but we’re in an unknown house that could belong to a cartel boss or something,” I muttered, lowering my voice.
Lainey waved me off like I was being ridiculous. “Girl, I don’t care if this place belongs to Scarface himself,” she said, dropping onto the bed. “I’m about to enjoy every second of this vacation. If something happens, at least my last day will have been well spent.”
She pointed at me.
“And you better leave all them problems back in Charlotte. This is vacation mode.”
Even surrounded by all this beauty, I couldn’t shake it. The weight of Kyrin’s surgery still sat heavily in the back of my mind like a storm cloud that refused to move.
Maybe sensing it, Lainey lowered her phone and her voice. “Look, Jo,” she said gently. “I know you’re stressed, and I know you’re probably thinking about what’s next and how you’re gonna make everything happen. But you gotta chill, boo. God doesn’t need you to have the whole plan figured out before he moves. Sometimes you just gotta be still and let him work.”
My eyes softened. “That’s easier said than done.”