You know something about girls?The moment a girl tells you she loves you, she’s not confessing. She’s declaring war. She’s saying she wants access—full access—to your fucking heart. After that, your mind follows. Then your soul. Then your spirit. And at the slightest chance, she’d cut your head off and tell you to stop acting like a kid about it.Love was never about feelings. Love was leverage.All she really needs is to sniff out the cracks in your life. A fucked‑up family. A weak father. A mother with regrets. Once she knows that, she digs in. She pulls out every dirty trick she’s been hiding up her sleeve and turns the people you love into her damn servants. Smiling while she does it.Hell, Jace already knew his life was screwed the moment he realized who Maya really was. But dragging his father into this? Using him like a puppet?That crossed something ugly.He’d make her regret ever having the brain cells that cooked up that idea.He’d just driven the hell out of the hotel, tir

Jace pulled back slowly.This fucking dude had lost his brain. Maybe during surgery. Maybe the doctors took it out and forgot to put it back in.“First,” Jace said flatly, “why the fuck are you still alive?”Paxton grinned. “I bet you’re relieved my ass is still standing here.”“Yeah. Fuck yes. But the crash.” Jace snapped. “Hey—will you tell me what the hell is going on before I lose it?”Paxton’s gaze flicked to the door. He hissed under his breath.“You owe me one, man. I swear, I would’ve actually died if I didn’t have martial arts training. My pops is all over my ass, trying to keep me grounded. I had paint packets in my pockets—carry them around sometimes. Threw them on the road. You were just… perfect timing.”Jace stared at him.This was officially the most insane shit he had ever heard.“You wanted your father to think you were fucking dead?” Jace asked.“Not dead,” Paxton corrected quickly. “Just hospitalized. I told your guys not to bring me here, but they were being dicks.

“Sorry, man, but I can’t let strangers stay in the same room with me,” Jace said immediately, flippant as hell.“That hurts,” Paxton replied. “’Cause I can already feel our chemistry.”“Ain’t feeling nothing.”“You’d be dead before you do, Prescott,” Paxton said, deadpan.And because his brain was wired in all the wrong ways, Jace burst out laughing. Like—actual laughter. Loud. Had to be the funniest shit he’d heard all day.“So,” Paxton said, leaning back. “Where were you heading before you almost killed me?”“To treat Maya in a way she’ll never forget,” Jace replied.“If I’m being real with you,” Paxton said, “everything you’re doing to that bitch is just making her more interested in you. I know one thing you could do that would silence her forever—and it doesn’t involve stupid crap like setting up cameras or posting pity stories like hers.”“I’d rather be caught dead doing that.”“I could do it for a living,” Paxton shrugged. “Way more fun than burying my head in fucking city life

A few seconds passed—seconds that felt like the longest of Jace’s life.Everything in him was itching to kick this dude out of the car. This dumbass had just made him rethink every plan he had for Maya today. And the worst part?Some twisted part of Jace could see the logic in it.That alone pissed him off even more.“I found it,” Paxton finally said. “It’s ten million dollars, man.”There was disappointment in his voice. Actual, genuine disappointment.“I’ve never touched that kind of money before. The highest I’ve ever gotten in my account was ninety thousand.”He snorted. “And that was because I cried and told him I missed my mom. Shit.”Jace exhaled slowly. “I honestly don’t know whether to pat your back or ask you to let me think.”“Sorry,” Paxton muttered. “But it’s a dead end, right?”“Says the idiot who has no idea how much I have access to right now.”Jace grabbed his phone again. This time, he didn’t hesitate.He called his uncle.A few minutes of smooth talk—about “potentia

More men poured in, voices hushed but sharp, barking orders at each other like shit was already going wrong and nobody wanted to be the first to say it out loud.“What the hell is that?” Jace’s voice cut through the noise.“Hey, man. You’re back.” Paxton stepped out of the car, rolling his shoulders. “Thought I was gonna fucking die in there. My skeleton would’ve been left in that seat for you to find.”More men rushed past them, sweat on their brows, tension thick enough to choke on.“Looks like some crazy shit is going down,” James muttered beside Jace.“Yeah,” Jace said, eyes narrowed. “Looks like it.”That was when one of the men abruptly turned, staring straight at them.“Hey—you guys.” His tone wasn’t friendly. “Any of you go near that place?”“We were just coming out,” James said quickly, lifting his hands slightly.“And I was in the car the whole time,” Paxton added, a little too sharp, a little too fast.The man frowned. “What’s the problem?” Jace asked calmly.“One of our VI