Chapter 267: You're My Granddaughter
In the bustling farmers' market, Jason meticulously selected the freshest produce of the day. His grandfather, Flynn, was a man of particular tastes, and he trusted no one but Jason to meet his exacting standards.With his purchases in hand, Jason flagged down a passing taxi, climbed in, and relayed his destination to the driver. They hadn't been on the road long when Jason felt a prickling sense of unease."Are we going the right way?" he asked, his brow furrowing."Road's closed. Had to take a detour," the driver replied."But it was fine this morning.""Big pile-up happened within the hour. It's chaos out there."Jason was dubious but refrained from challenging the driver further. As the taxi veered onto a less-traveled street, his unease intensified, his voice taking on a stern edge."If you're planning to kidnap me, I'd advise against it. If it's money you're after, name your price."The driver erupted into laughter. "Man, you're a tough nut to crack for a sixty-year-old. But let's be honest, if I had any intention of snatching you, you wouldn't stand a chance."As he spoke, he pulled the car over and opened the back door. Jason, playing along, leaned out to exit the car, and then suddenly, he threw a punch at the driver. The driver, clearly trained, retaliated swiftly, but it was evident that Jason, despite his age, held the upper hand.Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows, pressing a cloth over Jason's mouth. After a brief struggle, Jason succumbed to unconsciousness.Ryan, shaking his hand, turned to Louis. "I have to admit, the old guy's still got some fight in him. That was too close for comfort."Louis nodded. "Reese warned you, didn't she? The old man's no pushover."Ryan chuckled ruefully. "Reese certainly knows her stuff. Lucky you were here, or I might've been in real trouble."Ryan had initially scoffed at Louis's suggestion to team up against Jason. Now, he realized the wisdom in his friend's words."Still, he was on high alert. He sensed something was off as soon as we turned onto this road."Louis had a different perspective. "I bet he picked up on your vibe not long after getting in the car. People like him have a sixth sense for danger. If he were slow on the uptake, like your average Joe, he wouldn't have made it to sixty, especially with those skills. He must've been a force to be reckoned with in his prime."Ryan nodded in agreement. "To be this spry at sixty, he's clearly not your average man. He must keep up with some training."Louis patted Ryan on the shoulder. "Let's get him to Reese. She must be getting anxious by now. And do something about that bruise on your face. It's embarrassing."They were, after all, among Reese's most trusted men, and yet they had almost been bested by a man of sixty.Ryan offered a sheepish smile, and together with Louis, they transported Jason to the secluded location Reese had chosen, a place well out of sight from prying eyes.When they arrived with Jason, Reese turned to Louis. "Go and create a false alibi for me. I'm worried Malcolm might start asking questions."Louis, taken aback, responded. "Really, Reese? You're that worried about your husband now? Doesn't he know Jason is likely the culprit behind the old lady's death? Why keep today's operation a secret from him?"Reese swiftly smacked Louis on the head. "You've been hanging out with Calvin so much, you're losing IQ points! Jason may not be a saint, but he saved Grandpa Flynn's life once. No matter what we find, Finn Sawyer probably won't take action against Jason if he's kept in the dark. Involving Malcolm would only complicate things with Grandpa Flynn, and that's a problem I'd rather avoid."Ryan and Louis looked shocked, as if a startling revelation had been made.Louis, though aware of some tension before, hadn't realized the depth of Reese's connection with Malcolm—her affection seemed to be growing stronger by the day.Ryan, having never seen Reese fall for someone, was taken aback. Such a change might seem trivial to others, but they had known Reese for years and were well aware of how she used to be.She wasn't just considerate now; in the past, she would have outright rejected any romantic advances. And those who persisted often ended up regretting it.This situation was a revelation for them—not only had someone finally won Reese over, but she was also actively showing concern for others.Seeing their stunned faces, Reese said, "Enough, you two. Let's focus on the task at hand and wake him up.""Hold on, Reese," Ryan intervened, "are you sure you want to intervene personally? If he spills to Finn Sawyer, won't you be risking your cover?"Ryan knew their identities were complicated, and Reese's especially so. Unraveling this thread could lead to trouble.Reese had considered this but..."Grandma is family, and I need to handle this myself to be at peace," she stated.Jason was no ordinary man, and definitely not easy to deal with.Louis understood—Grandma had raised Reese, so naturally, Reese's feelings for her were profound. Reese's marriage into the Flynn family was primarily to uncover the truth behind her grandmother's death."Alright, Reese, no matter what, we'll have your back," Louis affirmed."I know," she replied.Ryan stepped forward and roused Jason, who opened his eyes groggily, only to shift uncomfortably at the sight of Reese."Mrs. Flynn!" he exclaimed as he realized he was bound, looking up at her with wary eyes."What is this about?" he demanded.Reese scoffed with disdain, "You've always had a good idea of what I'm capable of, Mr. Tartt, haven't you?""What do you mean by that?""My grandma, you should know her - she died in a car crash six months ago."At the mention of this, Reese's eyes roiled with emotion, her gaze sharpening as she looked at Jason.Jason was aware of Reese's grandmother; she had mentioned her before.Jason couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of the situation. Even at sixty, he stood unruffled in the face of Reese's implied accusations, as if he had no fear of any rash action she might take."What's your grandmother got to do with me? If Mrs. Flynn can't uncover the cause of her death, she could always seek Master's help. The Flynn family has some clout in Atlanta; investigating someone's death isn't an issue for them. But don't pin this rap on me. I didn't have anything to do with your grandma; how could I be involved?""It's not up to you to decide whether or not you're involved." She turned her head to Louis and commanded, "Bring me the photos and files.""Right away."Louis quickly produced the prepared documents and photos, handing them to Reese. She opened the folder, pulled out a photo, and held it up in front of Jason."This was my grandma, see? Mr. Tartt, can you honestly say you don't recognize her? You two were old friends; this is a photo from back when you were young! Hard to believe Mr. Tartt was quite the looker in his day."Mr. Tartt's face remained stoic upon seeing the photo, almost finding the situation amusing."Do you really think I had a romance with your grandmother? Suppose I told you I did, that I was your grandmother's lover, and that your father could be my son! That would make you my granddaughter. Mrs. Flynn, would you believe that?"Before Reese could react, Louis lost his temper and unleashed a string of expletives."You son of a - what nonsense are you spewing, old man? For Reese to be your granddaughter... You think too highly of yourself. Looks like you need to be taught that words have consequences."Louis was about to throw a punch at Jason but was stopped by Ryan."Louis, cool it. Wait and see what Reese has to say."To avoid exposing Reese's identity, they had to pretend to merely be associates she had acquired; otherwise, if Jason left, his first act would be to investigate Reese.At that moment, Reese was shrouded in a cold, menacing aura, a subtle fury rising in her eyes."Louis," she said with edged calm, "since Mr. Tartt has claimed as much, we might have to resort to extreme measures to coax the truth out of him."
"What are you thinking of doing? Mrs. Flynn, let me remind you that I'm the one who saved Grandpa Flynn's life once upon a time, and after living with the Flynns for so many years, you won't get away with threatening me. You'll have a hard time explaining yourself to Grandpa Flynn if you do."Reese let out a scornful laugh, "Do you really think I'm someone who fears Grandpa Flynn?"Within the Flynn family, she knew her worth, and believed that Jason saw everything. Reese had never been afraid of anyone.Her words served as a reminder to Jason that, indeed, this girl was fearless, clearly someone who had faced many trials. It had crossed his mind before that there was something extraordinary about her background.
Sometimes, the calmness within Reese was downright terrifying.
He looked up, his eyes cloudy with wariness.
"What the hell do you want to do?"
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