?
Wayne''s gaze darkened, heavy and cold. "Of course it matters."
If it weren''t for Hayden, Wayne might''ve had his shot. Keira and Jace''s breakup had been the perfect opening, but Hayden had slipped in before he could.
Wayne had always med himself for being just a step toote. If he''de back sooner- been there when the cracks started between Keira and Jace-would Hayden have ever been part of the picture?
But life doesn''t deal in what ifs. Wayne had missed his chance, and Hayden had taken it.
"How surprising-and what an honor-to be someone so important to you," Hayden quipped, his words sharp enough to draw blood.
Wayne smirked faintly. "Let''s stop ying games and get to the point."
"To what exactly?" Hayden''s tone was light, almost mocking.
"I know why you''re pretending to be someone else," Wayne said, straight to the point. But you''re not part of de Front anymore. That fight? It''s not yours. If you keep this up, you''ll just end up hurting yourself-and everyone around you."
A warning, thinly veiled as advice.
Hayden''s teasing fa?ade dropped, reced with cool focus. Wayne wasn''t here to stir up trouble-this was a negotiation.
"Yeah, I''ve left de Front," Hayden said, his tone calm. "But when you all keep dragging me into your mess, what choice do I have but to y along?"
Wayne smirked. That was all the confirmation he needed-Hayden had just admitted who
he really was.
"We didn''t pull you in because of who you are," Wayne replied, tilting his head slightly.
Hayden nodded. "No, you dragged me in to get rid of me. But you didn''t think to check what you were dealing with. That''s on you for kicking a ho''s nest.
Hayden wasn''t just some ex-soldier. His time with de Front-a covert international task force battling global crime-was no ordinary service.
For three years, he''d operated undercover, his identity ssified even within the group. It wasn''t until Keira''s brush with death in Houston-and Wayne''s reckless choice to involve Herman-that Hayden called on his old contacts, exposing himself in the process.
Wayne let out a low, humorlessugh. "So, you''re saying we brought this on ourselves."
Hayden didn''t deny it.
"Alright," Wayne said, shifting gears. "Let''s talk terms. What will it take for you to stay out of this? Money? Or... someone?" By "someone," he meant Keira.
"Do I look like I need money?" Hayden tilted his head slightly, the faint mark on his throat
Keira''s kiss-catching the light.
Wayne''s smirk wavered, reced by a cold re. "Hayden, wake up. If you keep this up, the one who''ll suffer most is Keira."
Another warning. Another thinly veiled threat.
Hayden gave a small nod, acknowledging the weight behind Wayne''s words.
But then he said, "Wayne Johnston, you don''t love Keira. You want her-because she''s your trophy. This isn''t about her; it''s about beating Jace. Having her proves you''re not second best."
Wayne''s face darkened instantly. ''How dare Hayden say that?" Of course, he loved Keira. He''d loved her for years! Right?
He clenched his jaw, trying to ignore how much the jab stung. "You have no right to judge my feelings," he said icily.
Hayden shrugged, unfazed. “Maybe not, but your feelings dragged me into this circus. And let''s not forget, they''ve hurt the girl I love."
Cue awkward silence. Wayne''sugh broke it. "You de Front guys really are a pain in the ass. But don''t get cocky, Hayden. You''re not one of them anymore. Sure, they respect you, but when it''s you versus their interests, who do you think they''ll pick?"This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.
Hayden''s expression didn''t even flicker. "Feel free to find out.
The air between them practically crackled, both too stubborn to blink first.
Finally, Wayne spoke again. "You''ve got evidence, don''t you? Let''s make a deal. What do I have to do for you to hand it over?"
Hayden stayed quiet.
Wayne pushed harder. "Come on, hand it over, and we''ll call it even. No grudges, no
revenge.
"And if I don''t?" Hayden''s voice was calm but sharp.
Wayne''s eyes narrowed into slits. "What do you think?"