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“So what the fuck do you want from us?” Jacques asks, coming to lean on Xander’s chair.

Nova slips off the desk, standing and facing us. “You need help. They’re trying to take you and everyone else out. They’re working to be the ‘big bad’, and they’re coming for you first.” She points a short acrylic-nailed finger at Xander, who stiffens beneath me. “They might’ve killed my men and stolen my supplies, but they’ve poached your men. It's only a matter of time before they start to take you down. You did the right thing closing Diamond Lounge and killing Jayden.”

I go ramrod straight.

They killed Jayden?

I glance at them, but Xander’s face reveals nothing. Only a slight smirk plays on his lips.

“The answer is no,” Jacques blurts out, and Nova whips her face towards him, as does Xander.

“Jac,” Xander snaps. Jacques narrows his eyes at Xander, nostrils flaring.

“I’m gonna cut to the chase here. I don’t have a lot of time. You need help tracking people down, and I could do with two new business partners.”

“What’s your price?”

“I can fast track your name up the chain; you’ll be the new heads of the UK mafia. Axel will wipe all your records off the police system. No trace of you. Like you never even existed,” she finishes, turning her palms face up like it’s that simple.

“What’s in it for you?” he pings back.

“I get two new business partners.” She smiles and looks at me. “Or three. And there’s no one in my way. We share everything. Weapons. Supplies. Guards. Soldiers. Anything that’s yours is mine, and vice versa. Trouble at your doorstep? My men come to your aid.”

When no one says anything, she continues.

“Think about it. Ultimate protection, weapon supplies… you’re in control here. No one to answer to. Everything runs how you want it. The UK dons.”

Her eyes ping between Xander and Jacques, then finally land on me. “And you.” She walks over to me, taking one of my curls and twisting her finger around it. She smells like cherries and caramel. “You’ll get your revenge."

My palms break out in immediate sweat; Xander’s thumb starts rubbing small circles on my thigh.

“Tempting offer.” Jacques tilts his head from side to side, but he’s tense. “But how can we guarantee that you can track him down?”

“Axel,” she says simply.

Axel moves forward, leaning on the desk next to her and pulling his phone out. He flips the screen towards us and swipes through a series of pictures of Luke in various places. My head starts spinning.

Keep it together.

“We have eyes on him. These are the places he’s recently been seen. We haven’t got a tracker on him yet, but the idiot is leaving a trail,” she explains, but her voice is starting to become muffled.

“You came prepared,” Jac states. She nods.

“Yes,” Xander blurts out, like it’s the easiest thing in the world. “You have yourself a deal.”

“Xander, don’t you think we should discuss it?”

The room suddenly becomes too small. Too tight. “Excuse me,” I mumble, and head out of the door. I don’t know where I’m going, but I need to find some fresh air. The party still going on downstairs echoes throughout the hallways.

Laughter, music, clicking of dishes.

I finally make it to a balcony through the blur in my eyes.

Opening the doors, I step outside, letting the cold air hit my face. I don’t feel the effects of the cold October air; my body is heated from the stress of seeing his face again after two years.

I don’t know how long I stand out here—it can’t be long—but a blazer is draped over me, and Xander’s leathery scent fills my senses.

“Sorry, it’s me.” Jacques’ thick accent finds my ears. He stands next to me, leaning his elbows on the metal of the bannister. “Are you okay?”