Koby leans back in his chair, one arm draped over the backrest—the epitome of calm boredom, at least by any passive observer’s standards. His casual pose doesn’t fool me. Sharp eyes scan the room like he’s waiting for a fight to break out, his free hand drumming against the table in a deliberate rhythm.
“He’s late,” Broadway mutters, breaking the silence.
“Power play,” Koby points out, without humor.
Carter doesn’t entertain the conversation, too busy watching the door, waiting. Calculating.
The seconds stretch, the silence between us thickening. My gaze shifts back to Bianca. She stares into her glass, the soft glow ofScarlett’slights casting a faint shimmer across her skin.
My mouth parts, words of reassurance dissolving on my tongue when the VIP entrance swings open.
Immediately, the air in the room shifts.
Jax strides in, led by a bouncer, his presence like a blade cutting through the tension. The jagged, angry scar across his throat is a reminder of the night Carter put a bullet in his neck, grievous but not fatal. He’s tall, less bulky than he was last year... but his weight loss isn’t what catches my attention.
It’s the girl on his arm.
She’s a tiny, fragile-looking thing with wide eyes darting around the room like she expects something will jump out at her. Her fingers tremble against the fabric of Jax’s jacket, the smile gracing her lips the fakest I’ve ever seen. It’s the kind of smile that’s meant to hide fear but fails miserably.
The moment they reach us, Carter stiffens. A flicker of recognition breaks through his mask of indifference. “Leilani?”
The girl freezes, words almost tumbling out of her mouth, but before she speaks, Jax steps between her and my boss, shielding his girl from Carter’s view.
“She’s not here for your entertainment,” Jax growls. “Keep your distance.”
Broadway shifts in his seat, his hand dropping to his thigh, hovering near his holster. “You’ve got some fucking nerve ordering him around.”
“Broadway,” Carter snaps, his tone a whipcrack, eyes not veering from Jax. “I’ve known Leilani since she was five years old. She was my sister’s best friend.”
“Aalyiah’s not around anymore. As far as I’m aware, it’s been at least five years since you sawmy girl. Things have changed. Keep. Your. Fucking.Distance.”
Next to me, Koby shifts forward, his expression dark. He’s not looking at Jax, though, every ounce of his concentration is fixed on the girl. His usual easygoing demeanor is gone, replaced by something unreadable.
“You’re scaring her,” he seethes.
Jax’s attention flicks from Carter to Koby then back. He leans down, murmuring something in Leilani’s ear. She flinches, her shoulders hunching as if she’s hoping the floor will open and swallow her whole.
Koby vibrates beside me, his hands in fists, murder on his mind. I grip his shoulder, digging my fingers into the bone. I’m afraid he’ll pounce if I stop physically restraining him.
“Let’s get this over with.” Carter gets up, gesturing toward his office. “This way.”
Jax gives a sharp nod, turning to Leilani. “Stay with the girls, dollface. Don’t leave this section.”
She nods, eyes scanning the table, then Koby, who watches her every move with bated breath.
I cast one last glance at Bianca, holding her gaze for a second, proud to note that the simple gesture helps ease the tension keeping her wound up tight. She’s here. She’s safe... but it’s a fragile kind of safety, one that could shatter quickly.
“Stay with Arthur and Apollo,” I mouth, following Carter and the others toward the office.
It’s not until we’re halfway across the room that I realize Koby’s still at the table, still looking at Leilani, his jaw tight.
“Koby,” Carter snaps. “Move.”
He blinks, dazed, as if waking from a long nap. Rising to his feet, his eyes land on Leilani again. He turns away but glances back at her. Three steps forward, a glance over his shoulder. Three more, another look. It continues, his checking on her after every few steps, until we enter Carter’s office.
The door closes with a soft click, but it feels like the slam of a steel vault. The shift in atmosphere is instant, the air thicker, heavier. Fucking suffocating.
Carter’s status as the boss in Ohio may still be fresh, but this room has seen its share of blood, sweat, and desperate deals.
