Jax circles the table, each footstep deliberate. “Three members questioned my judgment this quarter. All three have been reassigned to more suitable positions.”
Translation: they’re either dead or wishing they were.
Marcus had suggested an alternative approach to the Davidson deal. Elena had data showing Jax’s strategy for the eastern territory might be flawed. Both were gone within a week.
“Your judgment has built this organization,” I say carefully. “Nobody questions that.”
“Yet I sense hesitation from you, Hunter.” He stops directly behind me. I resist the urge to turn. Showing weakness to Jax is never wise. “You’ve always been ambitious. Perhaps even... impatient.”
The threat hangs between us. Jax doesn’t tolerate perceived challenges to his authority, and lately, his threshold for what constitutes a challenge has narrowed dangerously.
“My ambition serves the Vipers,” I respond. “Always has.”
“See that it remains that way.” His hand lands on my shoulder, fingers pressing slightly harder than necessary. “Your Harrison obsession. Ensure it doesn’t become a problem.”
I wait ten minutes after Jax leaves before texting Penn to meet at our secure location—an unmarked office three floors below my penthouse, swept weekly for surveillance. When he arrives, he’s already holding a tumbler of bourbon, extending a second glass toward me.
“You look like you need this more than I do,” Penn says, dropping into the leather chair across from me.
I take the drink but don’t sip. “Jax knows about Aurora.”
Penn nods, unsurprised. “That’s not all he knows. He’s had her under surveillance for the past week. Full package. Physical tail, telecommunications, the works.”
My glass cracks slightly in my grip. “How did you find out?”
“Grayson mentioned Jax pulled three of his street team for a ‘special assignment.’ I traced the allocation code and it’s the same one used for high-value targets.” Penn leans forward. “Hunter, you need to be careful. Jax doesn’t just see this as you breaking protocol. He sees your obvious emotional attachment as a weakness to exploit.”
“You’re certain about the surveillance?”
Penn pulls out his phone, shows me a requisition form with Aurora’s name coded at the bottom. “Remember what happened with Marcus Chen?”
My jaw tightens. Marcus had been Jax’s right hand for years—until he fell for a federal prosecutor’s daughter. Three months later, Marcus was gone, his position filled without comment.
“Jax had Marcus eliminated for the same kind of distraction,” Penn continues. “Called it a security risk. But we all knew it was because Marcus started prioritizing her over the Vipers.”
I drain my glass, mind racing. “I need to move up my timeline.”
“Or put it on hold,” Penn suggests. “At least until Jax’s paranoia finds a new target.”
“That’s not an option.”
Penn studies me, a rare seriousness replacing his usual irreverence. “Then you’d better be prepared for what comes next. Because Jax won’t just threaten you—he’ll go after her first.”
I slam my empty glass on the desk, rage building under my skin. “If Jax thinks he can dictate my personal life?—”
“Hunter.” Penn’s voice cuts through my fury. “This isn’t some business rival. It’s Jax. The man who had his own cousin disappear for questioning his strategy in the city.”
My phone buzzes. I ignore it.
“I’m aware of what Jax is capable of.” I pace the room. “Which is why I need to accelerate everything. Get the Harrison merger done, and then end the engagement with Olivia, before dating Aurora.”
“You’re not thinking clearly.” Penn rarely looks serious, but the concern in his eyes is genuine. “Jax doesn’t issue warnings. When he sees a problem, he eliminates it.”
My phone buzzes again. Then a third time in rapid succession.
“You should look at that,” Penn says, nodding toward my phone. “Could be important.”
I grab my phone, expecting another message from Aurora. Instead, I see three notifications from an encrypted number. Jax’s private channel.
