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“And I know you think there’s no other way. That you’ll have to work with him.”

Steph closed his eyes and exhaled a shuddering breath. “We’re trying to figure out another way.”

“I know you, Steph.” I squeezed his hand. “You wouldn’t be able to live with yourself if you worked with that scumbag.”

“I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if he and Sean took over the clan, either,” he said. “Or if they tried to hurt you again. But we don’t have anything to offer Thames. I have my connections, but none of them are willing to dirty their hands with his business. Thames doesn’t need money, so we can’t just pay him off. Whatever Sean is offering him… It’s not something we can match. If it’s got Thames interested, I know it’s something sick. Something he couldn’t get anywhere else.”

My stomach turned. So if Stephdidhave to work with Thames to break the deal with Sean, it would be truly horrific. I knew it hurt him even more to know that Sean had already stooped that low.

I couldn’t let Steph do that. I just couldn’t. It’d break him—it’d breakus.

“I called Suri this afternoon,” I said.

“Suri? Your old dragon shifter boss?”

“He’s a friend,” I said. “He helped me with Dylan. Before I came here to Lakeview, he told me he came from a really big, powerful clan, and to call him if I needed anything.”

Steph paused. He rolled onto his side, propped up on his elbow, and peered down at me. “What clan?”

“I don’t know if you’ve heard of them,” I said. “Suri said they’re mostly on the west coast. The Vahdat clan?”

Steph’s eyes widened. “Suri’s a member of the Vahdat clan?”

“His dad’s the alpha.”

“His father is thealphaof theVahdat clan?”

“So you know them? Suri always said he had a lot of connections, but I never knew the details.”

“Harley, The Vahdat clan is one of the most powerful clans—if notthemost powerful clan—in the nation. And that’s just the US branch. They’re even stronger abroad. They’ve got more money than God. Suri can’t be the heir, can he? I would’ve heard his name.”

“No, he’s got a ton of siblings, and he’s a younger one,” I said. “He always said that’s why he moved. He wanted a little more freedom and didn’t have a major role in the clan.”

“But he’s still on good terms with them?”

“Yeah. He goes abroad for the holidays every year.”

“Holy shit, Harley,” Steph said, stunned. “So what exactly did you ask him?”

“I called in a favor,” I said.

“What kind of favor?”

I rolled onto my side and kissed his cheek. “You’re not in this alone,” I said. “I’m protecting my mate. My family. My clan.”

Steph shivered. My words affected him as much as a touch.

“I’m not going to let you stain your soul for me,” I continued. “The clan deserves better than that.Youdeserve better than that. So please, Steph. Let me help you.”

His expression softened. “I want to. So… Tell me the plan.”

43

ACE

Harley sat up against the pillows. “Suri said he could ask his father to contact Thames and tell him to break the partnership, and that Thames would listen to him. I don’t know if that’s true, but?—”

“It’s true,” I said. If Thames wanted to keep his businesses open, he couldn’t risk getting on the Vahdat clan’s bad side. They’d shut down everything he’d ever touched.