Austin left the embassy as confused as he arrived. He and Dominic had barely spoken. On his way back, he pondered the old man's words, finding them utterly baffling. "What the hell is Uncle Dom trying to say?" he wondered.

Alexander and Mike were waiting at the house. Seeing Austin, they rushed over. "So? Why did they invite you?"

Worried about Austin's safety, Alexander had sent several men to escort him in a separate car. Their relief at Austin's return was tempered by his solitary arrival.

"Did they threaten you? What else did they say?" Mike asked anxiously. "Was it Rhea? What was she up to?" Only she could orchestrate such an invitation and then seemingly do nothing.

"No," Austin said, shaking his head and looking at Alexander. "I met with Uncle Dom."

"Dominic?" Mike was surprised. Alexander was equally puzzled; he hadn't expected Austin to see Dominic so easily. Why would the embassy let Dom see Austin? he wondered.

"Yeah," Austin nodded. "Well, if you can even call it a meeting."

Mike exchanged glances with Alexander before turning back to Austin. "Why do you look so confused? Tell us what happened!"

Mike and Alexander led him to the living room and poured him a cup of tea. He was thirsty, having forgone the coffee offered at the embassy. He blew on the hot tea and drank half.

"I met my granduncle, but he told me not to say anything. So, I just listened without telling him much. When I told him to leave with me, he refused, saying he had things to do." Austin looked at the bewildered Alexander.

Alexander listened intently, then frowned. "So, Dom refused to leave with you."

"Uh-huh," Austin nodded.

"Dom also told you to say nothing and just listen," Alexander said after a pause. "What did he say afterward?"

Austin frowned, trying to recall the conversation. "Nothing much, actually. Oh, yeah, he told us to do nothing."

"What?!" Mike exclaimed. "Is he under Rhea's control?!"

Austin shook his head. "No, it didn't seem like it. He's lucid, and he explicitly told us not to do anything because the matter is beyond us. However, he also said not to be too anxious because there will always be someone who can handle it. 'What we can't do, others can do for us.'" He repeated Dominic's words, still unable to decipher their meaning. "That's why I said I could hardly call it a meeting."

Alexander stopped him. "What else did Dom say?"