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“Once you calm down, perhaps you can think clearly. I suspect your blood pressure is dangerously high. I don’t want to see you collapsing in my grandma’s shop. Do what you will, but we will defend the truth.” I stepped closer to her, my voice low but clear. “If you ruin my family’s business from hearsay, I’ll make sure you pay for the damages. Defamation is a different lawsuit.” Stepping back, I pointed to the cameras in the shop. “And we have proof of your ill intentions on record.”

“I could have died from that crap!” She swung an arm at the herbal tubes at a nearby display.

“Did anyone force you to buy it?”Cara asked.

“No.”

“Did anyone force you to drink it?” Yolanda asked.

Patricia opened her mouth, but I lifted my hand to stop her. “You’ve said enough already. Get. Out.”

Grandma, Yolanda, and Cara gestured to the door simultaneously.

“Youwillregret this,” she huffed.

“Don’t trip on your nasty personality,” Cara muttered. “That was probably what landed you in the hospital.”

Yolanda gave her the middle finger as Patricia disappeared from view. “Let me check in the system to see when she bought the herbs. That kind of concoction had to be purchased from the special sessions that required a registration.”

I placed a hand on my grandma’s shoulders. “Don’t worry. It’s going to be fine. I’m taking Patricia’s returned items for review.”

Grandma nodded. “Let me know if something is off.”

I hated that woman for placing doubts in Grandma’s mind.

While Yolanda searched the computer with Grandma, I sent my lawyer an email asking him to assist in this matter. Henry Traynor was a top-notch attorney, and his firm worked in various states. He wasn’t cheap, but I wanted the best for my family.

My phone rang just as I emailed.

“What’s up?” I asked Levi Dispenza, a friend I’d met at a business convention during medical school at Harvard University.

Levi was a wealthy man developing and selling computer software and now diving into AI. He was the other reason I was here in Texas. He had invited me to attend a banquet at the elusive club. It could be another angle to destroy The Trogyn.

This organization profited from human trafficking, gambling, selling drugs, racketeering, and other illegal activities at a level that involved the most powerful people across the world. We had to take it down before it destroyed us.

“Got some interesting updates. Let’s meet up tonight. How about seven at Taco Haven?”

“See you then,” I said, wondering what he’d discovered about the club.

CHAPTERFIVE

KIERA

I hopped into the back seat of the black Jeep, sitting next to Olivia Bauer. She had gorgeous curly blonde hair and a voluptuous body that made women envy her, including me. Bruno Barbosa slid into the driver’s side with Nate Ruggs in the front passenger seat. He was a preppy male model with short light brown hair, and he made suits look amazing.

“What are you guys in the mood for? Mexican food?” Bruno glanced back, meeting my gaze. “Italian? Chinese, Vietnamese, or Middle Eastern? They also have Ethiopian and Cajun.”

I studied his handsome face. But right now I wasn’t the least bit attracted to him. Not an ounce of attraction. I didn’t know what was wrong with me. The things that used to turn me on fell flat these days. It wasn’t just with men. My life seemed like it was missing something I didn’t understand.

I was a snake that had shed its skin, leaving the old me behind. And yet this new version of me made me feel both lost and excited, which didn’t make sense.

Olivia shrugged her shoulders. “I have no preference. Gotta watch my appetite because I need to squeeze into that tiny swimwear tomorrow.” She elbowed me. “Make sure to Photoshop any unnecessary excess out of my pics, please.”

“Trust me, you don’t have any excess,” I said.

I’d worked with Olivia on a few photo shoots before, and the camera loved her. At twenty-three, she was seven years younger than me. Olivia couldn’t resist the stunning male models and had developed several relationships with them, all of which ended in heartache.

I winced at the similar mistakes I’d made. External beauty could hypnotize, blind one to the truth. When I thought things were going well, the veil was lifted, and I was faced with the reality that I’d been cheated on. My sense of security and self-worth took a nosedive. Any woman would suffer from that. What everyone wanted was to be loved, safe, and happy, right? It was hard to find an honest and communicative relationship. Trust was rare these days. Did I have to go to a different planet to find it?