Claimed by the Crown Heir novel Chapter 130

"Didn't you tell me to hit up the fight clubs and underground arenas to find some tough guys for debt collection?"

"Are those places even remotely the same as the cartel-run Undercity you just broke into?"

Seraphina instantly fell silent, completely unable to argue.

"Just stay here for now. Don't leave until it's completely safe," Vanessa warned softly.

They had given detailed descriptions to the cops last night, and the sketch artists had already circulated the composites. The suspects were now top-priority cartel fugitives, being aggressively hunted citywide.

"Yeah. If things get really bad, I'll just go hide out at Zephyr Bistro for a while."

"Just hold on a bit longer. The cops might catch them soon."

Seraphina nodded. Her eyes suddenly dropped to Vanessa's neck. Reaching out, she yanked the silk scarf aside.

A shocking cluster of dark, heavy love bites was fully exposed.

Her jaw dropped so far it practically hit the floor.

"Mr. Howard is that wild?"

"..."

"The last time you went on that blind date, you completely ghosted me on the details. Spill it right now. Did he lose his mind the second he saw a total bombshell like you?"

"It was absolutely nothing like that," Vanessa snapped, snatching the scarf back and re-tying it to hide the evidence.

"Then what was it like? Is he hot?" Seraphina's curiosity was completely out of control.

"He's very handsome."

"Hotter than Lucas?"

"Yeah. Way hotter."

They weren't even playing the same sport.

Lucas was conventionally attractive and well-mannered, but Alistair was breathtakingly gorgeous with a deeply dangerous, predatory edge.

Seraphina narrowed her eyes and gave her a wicked grin. "Sounds to me like you didn't 'sacrifice' anything. You're completely falling for him."

Vanessa's ears burned. "I'm just being objective."

"Objective?" Seraphina raised an eyebrow. "Are those massive hickeys on your neck objective too?"

"What is that?" Seraphina stared at the package, frowning deeply.

"I don't know. It was just sitting outside the door." She shook it slightly. It was incredibly light, making a faint rustling sound.

"Open it."

Vanessa nodded. She carefully peeled the tape back and opened the lid.

The next second, the contents were completely exposed.

Inside was a dead bird, its neck brutally snapped, its feathers violently torn and matted with blood.

Terrified, Vanessa dropped the box. It hit the floor with a thud as all the color drained from her face. She stumbled backward.

Seraphina stopped breathing. Her blood turned to ice, and her limbs went completely numb. "V-Vanessa... did they find me?"

It was a blatant, terrifying warning.

Were they telling her to keep her mouth shut, or were they promising she'd never speak again?

The room plunged into a horrifying, suffocating silence, where even breathing felt too loud.