[This story is complete and being edited.]
Armed racing is Atropellado's deadliest and most profitable sport. And wherever there is profit in Atro, there is crime.
Gervassio Blaze has left his most prized possession - ownership of the armed racing f...
A/N: I was trying to find an image for this chapter, but gave up. Sorry! Hope you enjoy anyway. ;-)
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It'd been two days since Lancet left the Gloxinia property and Uncle Fachnan had put rubbish in Rose's head about her mother. Rose had spent the better part of those days rummaging through the endless sea of boxes, documents, and dust bunnies in the attic with Isaac. Had Johan not been in prison, courtesy of Fachnan attempting to harden his son and convince him to turn on Rose, she was sure her cousin would've been at her side helping as well.
Unfortunately for Rose, after almost two days with a scant amount of restless sleep in between, all she'd managed to find were childhood clothing that she'd outgrown, and embarrassing school photos.
"Ugh, my nose," Rose sniffled, the dust making her eyes and nose itchy. "Why is our attic so huge!"
"Surrender is always an option," Isaac offered.
"And let that bug uncle put in my head fester for eternity? No, thanks. We're settling this now."
"Are you sure you're not doing exactly what your uncle expected you to do?"
Rose stopped sorting through the chaos to consider this, but shook herself out of it quickly.
"I still need to know either way. What's the worst he can do while I'm up here? Throw his weight around the mansion and terrorize the help? We both know none of my father's men will listen to a word he says if it isn't for the good of the family."
"I think that's what you're misunderstanding, Rose. They are your father's men. While there are a handful indebted to you, most are only here out of loyalty for the family. There's been whispers. Not everyone is happy about Lancet Steel's visit — well, aside from the maids, of course."
Rose rolled her eyes, "I bet. Don't think I didn't notice Betsy gave him a slice of cake twice the size of mine after dinner. When I asked her about it later, she said that she was helping me keep my figure."
"Well, she's not wrong," Isaac laughed.
"Shush, Isaac. Less teasing and more searching. If you're worried about morale, I'll give some of the retainers a holiday, provided that they earned it in the first place."
Before the man could say anything more, Rose's comm device rang for the third time that day. It was Steel. She'd given him an earful about his attitude before he left, and yet, here she was, ignoring his calls.
Rose knew ignoring him was hypocritical of her, and perhaps a tad childish, but she wasn't really in the mood to speak to him. They had agreed for her to visit the Racing Circuits in Atropellado this week, but since he left her estate, she hadn't confirmed she was still coming.
"You know, Isaac, I didn't realize it at first, but my father was a hoarder, wasn't he?"
He sighed, "Rose, I'm starting to think this isn't the most productive use of your time..."
