The Bound Between Us

Chapter 883

Herman had no idea someone had been following Anastasia. She hadn't

mentioned it-figured, why worry him if nothing happened? But now it had slipped

out, and there was no point hiding it.

She came clean. "On my way home from work this afternoon, someone was

following me..."

She gave him the short version, then quickly added, "I'm fine. The guy's name

was Ben, I think-he was pretty clueless. Total rookie move. He's at the police

station now."

Anastasia knew Herman would worry, so she made sure he understood she

hadn't been hurt.

When Herman heard about the close call, his stomach twisted. "If people are

going that far, whatever's on that chip must be important."

He didn't dare shrug it off. He grabbed his laptop and tried to crack the chip, but

after two tries, no luck.

It was seriously encrypted.

If even Herman couldn't break in, that was saying something. Nelson had always

called him a computer genius. If this stumped him, they were in trouble.

"This thing's a hot potato," Anastasia said, her tone all business. "No idea where

got it, but we need to get rid of it fast. Can you find

out, "I haven't heard from Rowan lately

Either?" Anastasia zeroed in, raising an

hesitated, coughed awkwardly into his fist.

He's... he's been following

been worried Rowan might have bad intentions, but

hurt Anastasia. Still, every time he heard about Rowan

pang of jealousy flared

for?" Anastasia wondered aloud. Even

Melody

time she'd almost been trapped, it was

owed him for that.

chip in the first

After a moment, Herman

working on

Anastasia took the hint and let

downstairs to fix Herman a cup of

ran into Salma, her mother-in-law, just coming

Anastasia called. "You're by

"Don't even mention your

wisely kept her head down and started upstairs. She'd just taken

Salma called after her, "Ana, I'm moving out

back to my old

Anastasia stopped short, stunned.

you can't. Your

great, and you're

go back to that old

bothering

And what about the

miss them!"

was, Salma

if it weren't

after everything with