Chapter 268 An Unexpected Voice

Chapter 268: Chapter 268 An Unexpected Voice

Lila was about to ask when a sleek black sedan pulled up beside the curb.

The tinted window glided down. Lainey leaned toward the opening, dressed in a cream wool coat and oversized sunglasses.

"Killian, Dad just landed in Palo Alto," she called. "He wants you to take him to the Clearhaven this afternoon. I’m heading over to meet him. Want to ride with me?"

Alpha Killian barely looked at her.

"I need to get ready. I’m skipping lunch."His attention shifted to Eira instead."I’ll stop by the office first."

The message was clear. He had no intention of riding anywhere with Lainey.

Lainey heard it, of course. Her smile only grew warmer as she looked at Eira.

"Eira, it’s good to see you."

Eira returned the courtesy with a small nod. "You too."

Lainey rolled up the window and pulled away from the curb.

Alpha Killian looked at Miles.

"Miles, you’re driving. Lila, no alcohol for Eira. Keep an eye on both of them."

Lila blinked. "She’s an adult."

"I’m aware."

His gaze settled on Eira, his voice lowering.

"I’ll see you later."

Before Eira could answer, he turned and walked toward his Maybach.

Fiona watched him leave, arms folded across her chest.

"Since when does the Ice Alpha sound like somebody’s overprotective mother?"

Barry gave her a pointed look.

Fiona glanced at Eira and Alpha Killian, then let out an exaggerated sigh.

"Unbelievable."

She tossed the keys back into Barry’s hand.

"You figure it out."

Barry laughed as he unlocked the SUV. "Get in, Miss Carter. Looks like I’m your chauffeur."

Fiona lifted her chin. "Eira, send him the address."

Eira dropped a location pin into Barry’s phone, then forwarded it to Susan, who had decided to drive herself.

Miles brought the second car around. Lila slid into the back seat, Eira took the middle, and Claire climbed in last. Her eyes were still red and puffy from crying.

The moment she sniffled, Lila reached into her purse and handed her a tissue.

"Here."

"Thanks, Lila." Claire dabbed at her cheeks.

Then Lila leaned toward Eira.

"Listen, my brother having lunch with Lainey’s father is our parents’ idea, not his. And Killian doesn’t like Lainey. Not even a little. So don’t overthink it, okay?"

Eira glanced at her. "Sit back and buckle up before you make yourself sick."

Lila immediately fastened her seat belt. "Yes, ma’am."

Eira turned to Miles. "Just follow the GPS. I need to make a few calls."

"Of course."

She called Dr. Shaw first. Felix answered and, the moment he recognized her voice, hurried to pass the phone over.

"It’s Eira."

Dr. Shaw listened as she told him the ruling.

"So you won?" he asked.

"We won."

"Good. I’m glad to hear it."

Before the call ended, Eira heard Felix grumbling in the background.

"When she doesn’t call, you pester her nonstop. She finally calls, and you hang up after a few words? You’re impossible, old wolf."

Dr. Shaw ended the call without dignifying that with a response.

Eira smiled and dialed Davies next. He answered on the first ring and let out a long breath when he heard that she had won, as if someone had finally lifted a weight from his chest.

Her last call was to Miss Gwen.

She answered by video. Sam sat beside her, color back in his cheeks. The moment he saw Eira, Lila and Claire squeezed into the frame.

"Hi, Miss Gwen! Hi, Sam!" Lila called.

Sam’s eyes moved from one face to the next. "Sisters."

Eira adjusted the phone so all three of them fit on-screen. "That’s right. We’re sisters."

She asked whether Sam had eaten and taken his medication. He nodded earnestly to each question.

"Barry and Kate told me you were in court," Miss Gwen said. "Did you win?"

"How did she know?" Lila whispered.

Miss Gwen laughed. "Eira only calls with good news. If she’s reaching out, I know something went right."

Eira nodded. "The court ordered Serena to return the money and the assets. Sebastian won’t receive anything from the division of the estate."

Miss Gwen’s expression tightened at his name, but she quickly changed the subject.

"Sam should be discharged soon."

"Good. After Christmas, I want to take him to Mercy General for a full evaluation."

Eira looked at Sam through the screen.

Miss Gwen nodded. "All right. We’ll talk then."

They stayed on the call a few minutes longer before saying goodbye.

"Mercy General can bring in some of the best autism specialists in the country," Miles said from the driver’s seat.

"We’ll see." Eira unlocked her phone. "I want to review their published work first. The best way to find a real specialist is to follow the research, not trust whoever makes the loudest promises."

"Eira, where are we eating?" Lila asked.

"Bellini’s."

Lila groaned. "That’s practically next door to the Clearhaven. Killian could’ve skipped the office."

"He had work to handle," Miles said. "When he’s done, he’ll bring Kate and Natalie straight to lunch."

He glanced at Eira in the rearview mirror.

[Don’t worry. With Kate and Natalie beside him, no other woman is getting near Alpha Killian.]

Eira missed the look. She was already scrolling through Bellini’s menu, placing their order ahead.

They reached the restaurant just after one.

As they stepped onto the sidewalk, Lila pointed toward the stately stone building beside Bellini’s.

"That’s the Clearhaven."

"The old-money crowd practically lives there. Private lunches, charity boards, quiet deals, and enough family history to fill a museum."

A man’s voice sounded behind them.

"Lila?"

She turned.

The moment she saw him, her cheerful expression flickered with surprise.