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“Well, you…you…” Fuck. This whole interaction is a fucking train wreck and all of the stuff I learned in college has been thrown out the window.

We are both hurt too much to be able to continue anything.

This shows that we are truly done.

Lana and M were a thing. Lana and Noa could never be.

“Your revenge on me is based on bullshit. But we do have a common enemy.”

“Dario.” That one name sends a shiver down my spine.

“When you are ready to take him down, come to my estate, and we’ll talk about it. After we are done, you will never hear from me again. After this, we are done.” He says that last part like it’s a tough pill to swallow.

It certainly is for me.

“Fine.” I grit my teeth.

The trust between us is broken, and I already got what I want from Noa, but his father is the catalyst for all of this. A dangerous predator that needs to be eradicated.

Noa turns around to leave, and his parting words make me weak. “For what it’s worth, I hope Emin makes it out alive.”

Then he is gone, and I am alone. Again.

Chapter twenty-three

Noa

Iarrive back home and head straight for the shower, ignoring my friends. After my shower, I go to my living room and sit down on the big chair, with everyone surrounding me.

I can’t ignore them forever.

“There was nothing left at the scene that could indicate where Dario could be. I am so sorry.” Adam’s voice is laden with guilt. His apology is unfounded, he has nothing to apologize for.

Dario is a sleazy motherfucker, and he got us.

He got us good.

“You can’t blame yourself. Nobody saw that coming.” I reassure my friend.

“What did you talk about with Lana? And how is Emin?” Hana fires off, and I tell them everything. Except about the part where we had an intense, emotional conversation and where I admitted that I still love her. I probably always fucking will.

Oliver whistles. “So, she is going to come here? And you will actually work with her?”

“Yep.” I punch the p for emphasis, like I want to make them believe that I can actually work with the woman I hate and love.

“Okay?” Oliver doesn’t sound convinced, but Josh nudges him and rolls his eyes.

“Oh, yeah. Yeah, that will definitely work.” Even a small child wouldn’t believe him now, but I digress.

For the rest of the evening, we talk about the next steps and how Dario could have possibly known that I would be there. Hell, that Lana even lives where she lives.

“Could he be tracking us?” Josh suggest to the group.

“Absolutely not. We only hang out with each other, and Lana is smart enough not to let anyone near her or her team.” Sara is right. We are nowhere close to knowing how he could have done what he did. It’s not only illogical that he knew where Lana lived; it’s equally baffling that he knew where my ex was torturing Hana.

“Maybe Lana has a mole in her team?” We all look at Hana like she grew three heads. Yet, nobody is saying anything. We all ponder it for a minute, and she may be onto something. This is something I have to talk to Lana about once she visits. While Hana’s suggestion seems plausible, it also perplexes me.

Lana is exceptionally smart and intelligent; a mole couldn’t have possibly gotten through her slick hands. Right?