Never Mistake a Queen for a Lapdog novel Chapter 837

Noreen looked up.

He was backlit by the streetlamps, his chiseled features cast in shadow, making his expression impossible to read.

But she mumbled his name anyway. "Seth... Didn't you leave?"

The alcohol was really hitting her now. Squatting on the sidewalk, she swayed slightly on her feet.

In her blurred vision, the halos of light behind him seemed to drift and dance.

"Did you want me to leave?" Seth stared at her flushed cheeks, his gaze growing noticeably warmer.

Noreen's face scrunched up in distress.

As if he had just asked her the hardest question in the world.

Deciding to take a different approach, Seth asked, "Do you want me to stay, then?"

Noreen still looked utterly troubled. "I don't know."

Seth's lips curled into a faint smile. "I'll take that as a yes."

In the distance, fireworks suddenly burst over the bay, illuminating the dark blue sky.

Distracted by the lights, Noreen turned her head.

No matter how many times she saw The Esplanade's fireworks display, it always took her breath away.

Catching her awe, Seth asked, "Want to go watch them?"

Noreen nodded honestly.

"Come with me." He held out his hand to her.

Noreen's eyes lingered on his bandaged palm for a fraction of a second before she reached up and took it.

After pulling the car around, Dariel couldn't find Noreen anywhere, so he tried calling her.

It rang out without an answer.

Just as Dariel was debating whether to round up his men for a search, his phone buzzed. It was Castle.

Castle instructed, "Stand down for the night. Tell the others to pull back, too."

Dariel never questioned his boss. "Understood."

Over at the hospital, Castle ended the call and looked at his older brother, Sage, who was sitting by his bed. "I called Dariel off, just like you asked."

Sage stared intensely at him, looking grave.

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