Chapter 6 Herbert stayed in the VIP ward until Stella finally woke . " Herbert ... " Her voice was weak , laced with the terror of a brush with death . He gathered her into his arms , his fingertips brushing away the fine sweat from her temple . " I didn't protect you well enough . I let you be frightened . " Stella shook her head softly , then seemed to remember something . " That lady who was tied up with me ... what happened to her ? " Herbert's eyes darkened , skirting past her question . " You're too kind . From now on , I won't let anything harm you again. " He stroked her back gently until she drifted back into uneasy sleep . Then he gave orders to his men . " Clear out the villa on the hillside . Strip it bare of anything unnecessary . Once Stella's discharged , she'll be living there . " One of his men handed over a file " This is the compensation agreement for Miss Robinson . As you requested - two casinos and twenty percent equity . More than enough for her to start her own . " Herbert gave a slight nod . " Send it over . Make sure she signs it . " In his mind , it was a generous gift , a clean break . Julia had been with him for eight years . She should understand where the lines were drawn . Yet a day passed with no response . Her calls went unanswered . Her messages vanished into silence . He phoned the villa's butler . " Where is she ? She hasn't returned ? " " Sir , Mrs. Morgan hasn't come back at all . " Annoyance prickled , edged with a faint unease . Where else in San Francisco could Julia possibly go , if not by his side ? One of his men reminded him , " Boss , what if she's still at the hospital ? Her injuries weren't minor ..." Only then did Herbert recall , two nights ago , he had driven a knife through her palm . He tamped down the strange tug in his chest and ordered coldly , " Find out which hospital she's in . Deliver the agreement . Get her to sign " The man took the file , about to leave , but Herbert stopped him . " Once you find her , put two sharp - eyed men on her . Julia has a vicious streak - if she makes a move against Stella , we'll know . And if she so much as twitches , use her brother . If necessary , let him take some pain . She'll know what that means . " That night , Herbert stood once again on the top floor of the casino . This place had once been his and Julia's sanctuary . Through the vast floor - to - ceiling windows , San Francisco's brightest lights spread beneath him , the neon shimmer and a river of stars Julia used to point down at half that sea of lights and laugh , saying it was their kingdom . He yanked his tie loose in irritation and tossed it aside , then caught the faintest sound from the bedroom . She was back ? Of course Where else could she return ? Chapter 6 D Dreame - Read Romance Stories When The realized his feelings , he had lost her forever ! Novels ready at night 4.4 FREE Installed Open 54.55 % With Julia's nature , slipping in silently never meant surrender . It could only mean one of two things : either she had come to tear everything apart , or she had a deadliér plan tucked away , one aimed straight at Stella . Herbert's gaze iced over . He strode forward in long steps and pushed open the bedroom door . Chapter 6 2- BELICATE