Chapter 230: Find The Thief

The moment they teleported into the room, Ezra had his hand around Helena's neck, lifting her off the floor. "How do you know about Lockwood?" He hissed. "What are you trying to pull?"

Helena grabbed the hand holding her gently, speaking calmly. "This time, it's not me."

"Stop it with your lies." Ezra snarled. "What do you want?"

"Think, Ezra." Helena hissed back at him, her calm expression twisting into a frown. "If this was me, why would I approach you about it? I could steal it for myself or show Yuri that you stole from her. Instead, I came to you."

She met his gaze, speaking slowly and surely. "I know you don't trust me. But shouldn't I at least get the benefit of the doubt?"

Ezra watched her, not saying a word. After a moment, he released her and she dropped, landing lightly on her feet.

"Thank you." She nodded, straightening her uniform.

Ezra didn't trust her and didn't know if this was her plan or not. But she knew about his slush fund. He'll hear her out.

He stepped back, giving her space. He'd teleported to one of the storerooms at Ascendant Capital. That was the first place that came to his mind. It wasn't very secure but it was unexpected and he could count on there being no vampire eavesdroppers. As for the humans, they'll hear them coming from a mile away.

"Speak." Ezra commanded. He hoped Olivia was busy securing their slush fund. If it was still where it should be. Sёarch* The Nôvel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"As you probably know, I have eyes and ears at Star Heights."

Ezra frowned at her words. Star Heights? How would the Necromancer know about the slush fund? Yes, he'd killed X but X hadn't known about it, had he?

"After the Necromancer was hit by the Investigation Bureau, I heard whispers of some kind of back up cash he was holding onto." Helena explained. "So, I searched deeper, looking for ways to cut him off from the money but I was too late."

"And?" Ezra asked impatiently. "What does this have to do with Lockwood?"

"It was later that I learnt that the back up cash the Necromancer had taken was yours." Helena said, holding his gaze.

Ezra blinked, trying to keep the shock off his face. The Necromancer had his money? That slush fund was his lifeline. That was what he'd been hoping to use to establish himself at Faewall. The money that will be his protection against being beholden to anyone.

Ezra took a deep breath before asking. "And how did he know about the fund?"

"In the brief time Natalia had been in charge of Ascendant Capital after you left, she found the slush fund." Helena answered. "And with her death, it fell into the hands of the Necromancer."

Ezra stood silently. "Are you sure?"

Helena nodded.

Ezra took a minute to digest the information, his brain working on ways to reclaim his money. Helena watched him in the ensuing silence.

"Why?" Ezra finally broke the silence, turning to Helena. "Why did you bring this information to me and not just blackmail me or take it to Yuri?" He wanted to know what she'd say. He still didn't believe her story fully. Why was she doing all this?

"Action speaks louder than words, Ezra Matten." Helena smiled softly, the action changing her face completely. "I had to show the sincerity of my apology."

Ezra stared at her. He stood there, fighting the urge to kill her. If he did, he'd be drawn deeper into the war as her absence would mean more hands needed. A fire burned within him and he turned away.

This wasn't Helena's time to die. If she turned out to be the thief, he'd kill her without hesitation. With a final nod, he teleported away.

He appeared in the living room of the Matten apartment, striding to the dining room where his wives were hard at work.

"It's gone." Olivia spoke as he entered the room. "Our money. All of it."

"What did that bitch say?" Red asked. "What does she want? Is she blackmailing us?"

Ezra raised a hand and silence descended on the room. "I will be a fool to believe any word that comes out of Helena's mouth." He said. "The only thing we know for a fact is that the money's gone."

"Our next step right now is finding who stole the money and getting it back."

"Isn't it Helena?" Gen asked with a frown. "Or did she say it was someone else? And you believed her?"

Ezra's fist slammed into the table and it shattered, splinters flying everywhere.

"Find. The. Thief." He whispered through gritted teeth, staring Gen down. "I don't care who says what or who does what. I'll find the thief myself. Got it?"

Gen nodded quietly at his words, taken aback by his anger.

Ezra turned, leaving the room. The three women exchanged glances before turning back to their work. Ezra was right. They couldn't depend on whatever Helena did or didn't say. They had to find the thief themselves.

The room was a hive of activity until Ezra returned a few hours later. "What did you find?" He asked.

"All trails point to Westside." Olivia answered. "While it isn't conclusive, we can put the Necromancer at the top of the suspect list."

Ezra sighed, sitting down at the head of the table. "I see."

"You're not surprised." Red noted. "You expected this."

"Which means that was the person Helena pointed to as the culprit." Gen said. "And we just confirmed it for you."

Ezra didn't say anything. He knew Helena wasn't trustworthy but everything she'd said turned out to be what his wives had found out.

Even with all this, he wasn't convinced. This could be Helena's plan at making him eliminate the Necromancer for her.

Either way, he had to retrieve his money. He'd go after the Necromancer and if he didn't get his money, he'd come for Helena.

He was willing to risk Yuri finding out. She'll lose her trust in him but she wouldn't be willing to punish him too badly. With the ongoing war, she needed all the help she could get.

There was only one option.

He stood, the attention of his wives on him. "Prepare." He spoke. "We're attacking Star Heights tonight."