Hernan gave a small nod, straightening up. “Not bad. You’re not totally lost in love. But seriously,


    why are you so hell–bent on saving Steve? Is he really that big of a deal to you?”


    He was sizing me up, ying it cool while trying to dig Into my head, figure out how much I cared.


    “Not really,” I said, keeping it casual.


    Heughed like he knew I was bluffing. “Yet, you used your one shot to save him.”


    “Steve taught me snooker,” I said like it was obvious. “So, his mess is kinda my mess.”


    Hernan shook his head, unimpressed. “But why not just use it to get yourself out? Why not ask me


    to let you go?”


    I shrugged. “Come on, you’ve made it clear you’re keeping me here ‘til the game’s over. Even if you


    did let me go, I wouldn’t make it out the door before you caught me. Besides, I came to see Steve


    y. I’m not running.”


    My eyes drifted to his arm, where his sleeve was rolled up, showing a deep, jagged scar.


    Hernan noticed me staring and tugged his sleeve higher like he didn’t care. “It’s still healing,” he


    shrugged. “Might get a tattoo over itter, so it’s less… ugly.”


    ssic. More worried about how it looked than how he got it.


    “Who did that to you?” I asked, already guessing.


    He smirked. “You don’t know?”


    No point pretending I didn’t. “So, that’s why you’re after him?”


    Hernan rolled his sleeve down with a flick. “Not entirely.”


    He paused. “My history with him? Goes way back, longer than this scar.”


    I blinked, surprised. “You knew Hayden before?”


    Hernan’s frown came fast. “You two dated, right? He never told you about his past?”


    That hit harder than I thought it would, and I knew he saw it.


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    I forced a smile. “Nope. He didn’t.”


    Hernan shook his head, like he actually felt bad for me. “Guess he didn’t love you. If he did, he’d


    have told you all about his ‘glory days.“”


    My chest twisted, “Yeah… if he loved me, he’d be here right now–fighting for me, kicking down


    doors, making sure I was okay.”


    I dropped my gaze, trying to swallow the lump in my throat.


    Then, I felt a warm hand on my head. Hernan was patting me. “Poor thing,” he murmured.


    I wanted to pull away, but before I could, he let go, his voice soft but heavy. “Haddy might not love


    you, but some people do.”


    I didn’t get a chance to figure out what he meant, because right then a voice yelled, “Don’t touch


    her!”


    whipped around, startled, to see Jace sprinting toward us, two of Hernan’s guards stumbling behind


    like extras in a bad action movie.


    I’d kinda thought Jace might show, but seeing him here still hit me hard.


    Hernan leaned in, voice low and teasing. “Looks like he cares more than Haddy ever did.”


    Love? If Jace loved me, why did he cheat on me?


    I don’t believe in love anymore.


    Jace reached me, his eyes scanning me like he was checking for damage. Hernan’s guards


    stepped forward, but a look from Hernan stopped them cold.


    Seeing the panic in Jace’s face, I gave him a quick smile. “I’m fine.”


    He exhaled, grabbing my wrist. “Let’s go.”


    Just as he pulled me forward, another hand mped down on my other wrist. Hernan smiled, voice


    smooth but icy. “And where do you think you’re taking what’s mine?”