So, who could I actually turn to for help in exposing the Drago family’s shady business?
Yara came to mind first, but she was a Drago.
She had a strong sense of justice and used to work alongside Hayden, but with him gone, I doubted
she’d lift a finger to help me now. The Drago family was her bloodline, her safety. I couldn’t see
her betraying them, no matter how noble she once seemed.
Then there was Sasha. She’d told me before how much she hated Thorsten, but after the way she
stabbed me in the backst time, trusting her again would be delulu. If anything, she’d sell me out
before I got a word in.
All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.
After running through every option, I came up empty. But the Drago family’s operation needed to be
stopped. This wasn’t just about avenging my parents anymore–it was about saving the countless
women they’d exploited and destroyed.
Demi’s story hadn’t been detailed, but it was enough to reveal a twisted pattern.
The Dragos had created an insidiouswork. They groomed men like Demi’s ex–boyfriend, Jorian,
to seduce women, pretending to love them. Once these women were hooked, they’d be
manipted into taking out loans, sinking into debt they couldn’t repay. That’s when the Dragos
swooped in, forcing them into “special services” to settle up.
And this was just the surface. Their ck market schemes probably went deeper than I could
imagine.
I tossed and turned all night, my thoughts too loud to let me sleep. But no matter how impossible
this seemed, I wasn’t giving up.
By dawn, I gave up on sleep altogether and decided to go for a run. They say exercise clears your
mind, right?
But as I stepped outside, I spotted Jace.
There was a pile of cigarette butts on the ground near his car. His hair was a mess, and his hollow
eyes told me he hadn’t slept either.
Had he been here all night? Watching to make sure Wayne didn’t show up? Or… was it something
else?
“Breakfast?” His voice was hoarse, almost strained.
It wasn’t about breakfast. He clearly had something to say.
“No thanks. Just get to the point,” I replied, brushing him off.
The dim light in Jace’s eyes flickered outpletely. For a few seconds, he just stood there, silent,
before finally speaking, his voice heavy. “Can you stop messing around?”
I didn’t reply.
He took a step closer, his face tight with desperation. “I’m begging you. Please–just stop.”
The answer was still no.
If this was only about getting back at the Johnstons, I might’ve found another way. But now that
Wayne might be tied to the Drago family’s crimes–and my only lead–I couldn’t back down.
“Jace,” I said evenly, “we’ve already been over this. Who I’m with, what I do–it’s my call. Not yours.”
“Not Wayne,” he said, his voice cracking. “Anyone but Wayne. I didn’t say a word when you were
with Hayden. But not him.”
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“Why? Is it just about your bruised ego? Because I remember you once said my being with Wayne
humiliated you.”
He held my gaze. “Stay away from him. He’s not who you think he is.”
That hit somewhere deep, sending a ripple of uncase through me. Did Jace know something about
Wayne I didn’t?
“What’s wrong with him?” I pushed.
Jace’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t answer.
His silence confirmed it. He knew. And whatever it was, he wasn’t nning on telling me.
Fine. I wasn’t going to push further.
“I’m an adult, Jace,” I said. “I know what I’m doing. And you’re my ex. From one boyfriend ago.
Even if my parents were alive, they wouldn’t have the right to control me.”
His face hardened, the frustration in his eyes obvious.
“Oh, and by the way,” I added, switching gears. “I ran into Tanya. She’s working as a hostess now,
at some bar. Not looking too great. If you’re that bored, why not let her… take care of you…?”
I trailed off, though, as something clicked in my mind.