KESTER

We don''t need a genius to figure this out, Kes, Non said, sprawled out on my couch like I hadn''t just dumped a damn war at his feet.

He felt this was nothing more than child''s y?

That arrogance of his that he''d never let go.

"Kex and Wes areing for you so hard. You don''t step on that may big toes without expecting some to

kick back. He raised his ss, knocked it back, and casually reached for the remote.

I snatched it before his fingers touched the stic and flung it onto the other couch.

''I don''t have all day, on."

He let out an unbotheredugh. "But you''re not going to the office today, are you? It''s past three.

"No," I said tly. "I''ve got an appointment. Therapist. First session. want to see the guy''s worth the hype. I want to make sure I -go for the best."

Non blinked, then slowly sat up, setting the ss down.

"This is good, Kes," he said more seriously. "I''m d she got through to you. I never thought I''d see the day you''d admit you needed that kind of help. I''m..." he hesitated, "...honestly proud of you."

"Yeah, well..." I shrugged. "I''d do anything for her. You know that. If she says I need to fix my head, I''ll fix it. It''s that simple." I replied with a sense of pride. And weirdly, I meant it.

There was something satisfying about it, like wearing a clean suit after rolling around in blood and dust. I felt... good. Settled. Like, maybe I wasn''t fucking everything up for once.

Hell, I already felt like a responsible man with a family.

There was a beat of silence.

Then I broke it. "What about June?"

He tensed.

"She''s... not easy. You know that. Always had her eyes glued to you since the beginning. Makes it hard for her to see me."

I rubbed my jaw. "I hope I don''t have to kill her before you make any progress. She''s really testing metely, getting on my every nerve with her numerous texts and emails. She threatens me in one breath and apologizes in the next. She''s unraveling." I said with disgust.

Non sighed like he''d aged a year in two seconds. "She''s obsessed, Kes. She was never going to walk away clean."

I leaned forward, "Well, she better start trying harder. I''ve had enough of her games. One wrong move, and I swear-"

He raised both palms, cutting in fast. "I get it. I''m working on it."

Silence.

speaking of June... How about Alpha Mellors? Is everything set you I changed the topic to something more important.

Norian leaned back again, the smirk returning to his face like it nev whole damn thing beforeir here.* left. "Everything''s set with Mellors, he said. "Launched the

I raised a brow. "You sure?"

He nodded. "I sent him a little reminder. Ipiled every illegal deal, every offshore transfer, every under- the-table arrangement he''s ever touched. Layered with timestamps, receipts, and recording The whole bloody anatomy of his empire." He reached into his jacket and tossed a nash drive onto the coffee table. "Copy for you. Just in case."

A slow grin tugged at my lips.

Non tilted his head. "I gave him a choice. Either he ys nice, or drag his name through enough filth to make the feds salivate. I told him, one toe out of line, and his entire legacy goes down in mes."

I picked up the sh drive, twirling it between my fingers like it was king''s scepter. "He''ll fold."

"Oh, he''s already folded" Non said. "Mellors

knows we''ve got him by the throat."

I looked at him, nodding. "You did good, Nor.

truly blessed to have you.".

"Yeah, well, somebody''s got to keep the wheels turning while you''re off... healing."

I chuckled at that. "Therapy doesn''t mean I''m out of the game.''

"No, but it means you''re no longer ying with blodshot eyes and

and three-day migraines. That''s progress."

I exhaled slowly and sat back. "What about Kex? The bastard is practically bleeding out, and he obviously wants something to hold onto for dear life." I hissed, "And now he wants to drag me down with him."

"Exactly," Non said. "He knows he''s sinking. He just doesn''t want to do it alone." "Pathetic."

"Desperate.men do stupid things. Keep your guard up." He paused, Also, I''m heading to your officeter. Gonna install something on yourptop Real-time visual surveince software. The next time someone tries to breach the ck Ledger, it''ll grab their face and send it straight to me. No more guessing who the mole is."

"Perfect," I said, drumming my fingers against the armrest. "That just leaves Wes."

"Yeah," he muttered. "Wes."

We both went quiet.

"He''s different," I finally said.

"He''s dangerous," Non corrected. "But not reckless. That''s the part that bothers me."

I nodded slowly. "He hasn''t made a move yet, but I know it''sing."

Non finished the thought for me. "He''s probably nning something sick already."

I nodded, the gears grinding in my head, piecing together what our next move needed to be. "I want him watched. Every move. I want to know who he talks to, where he eats, if he scratches his fucking balls..."

Already on it. And I am afraid, Kes, what I found out isn''t so good.on said. Something in his tone snagged me and slowed the storm in my brain And for a moment, I got the same feeling I had this morning when i read Kex''s text.

I straightened slightly, narrowing my eyes. "What did you find out?"

"It''s about Nagel Vale." Non''s voice dropped even lower like the time itself carried rot. "I think not only is he alive, but he''s in touch with Alpha Wes."

The wheels in my head stopped spinning abruptly as if someone yanked the emergency brake mid-speed.

My chest tightened with that specific kind of panic that makes you feel like something''s reaching up through the floor and pulling your heart straight out of your ribs.

But I didn''t have the time to ponder over it when my phone started ringing.

I looked at the caller, and the blood in my veins turned to ash immediately..

It was Cole. The driver.

Something was fucking wrong.

I shut up from the couch, already headed for the door. It was a good thing I was

dressed enough to step out of the house.

I ignored Non, who called after me, wondering where I was rushing to.

I swiped and answered the phone immediately, pushing the front door open.

"Where is she sneered. And even

though the only thing I could hear at the moment was the sound of my blood boiting, bubbling, and rushing through my veins at an unnatural speed, the few words I could grasp clearly when Cole spoke destroyed me.  ?wnovel

"Shot. Kasmine. Hospital."

And. in that instant, the only thing my vision could see was red.