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A part of medidwant to see him hurt, but as soon as it happened, it made my stomach turn on itself. I know I was dick. Iwantedto be dick but God, I hate myself for it.

I stood over the sink and heaved for half an hour after he left, as if I could purge the memory from my body but no luck.

I always knew who Alex was, but I stuck around because within a second, he managed to do something no one else could, he made me want something other than being the Head of The Snake. It terrified me. How could one person be capable of changing everything I’ve ever believed and wanted?

And sure, initially it was all based on lust but I quickly fell for the way he laughed, the way he held onto me like I was the only thing that mattered.

I lied about not loving him. I so obviously did and admitting that felt like too big a loss this morning. He would have known what kind of power he held over me—stillholds over me. It’s too dangerous.

But it’s time I stop lying to myself.

I want him and I don’t think I’ve ever stopped.

Last night was an incredible act of self-control on my part. I don’t think I have it in me to deny him again.

A laugh ripples through the air, and I snap back to the present, burying all thoughts of Alex and focus on my brother. Blue Lily hums with music and whispered conversations, the pool outside shimmering under dim lights.

Xander lounges across from me, two companions clinging to him like accessories, a blond woman whose name I don’t remember nuzzling at his neck and a guy with bronze skin running a hand through his hair. Out of the three of us, Xander obviously has the most colourful tastes, whilst Hayden wouldn’t sexually touch a woman with a ten-foot pole. Before Alex, I always thought I was straight and then my eyes fell on him, and I was a goner.

I almost groan. Why does my mind keep drifting to him? I keep replaying last night in my mind, the way his skin felt under my hands, the way he pushed against me and—

“Are you okay?” Chelsea asks, holding my chin and making me look at her. “You seem a little distracted.”

Her long, pink nails dig into my skin, and she smells of something floral and sweet, something incredibly feminine that should make any man salivate, but somehow manages to make my stomach roll tonight.

“He has been weird, hasn’t he?” Xander chimes, eyes meeting mine. A smirk dances on his lips. “Everything okay, Ro?”

I ignore him and Chelsea, looking down at my watch.

Hayden is late.

“Where’s your brother?” I ask Xander.

He shrugs as the guy with him pulls his face into a deep kiss that is obnoxiously loud and sloppy. I openly roll my eyes and for a second, I consider getting out of here and heading to the townhouse to acquaint myself with another bottle of overpriced whisky.

But before I can extricate myself from Chelsea’s hold, Hayden appears. “Sorry,” he says, “Got held up.”

Xander frowns, pulling away from his friend. “With what?”

Hayden shrugs. “Nothing important,” he says, then looks at me. “You said you wanted to talk?”

“Excuse us a second?” I ask Chelsea.

She nods, slipping away without any question and going over to a group of girls I suppose are her friends. Xander glances at the two people touching him all over, and they get the message quickly enough. They are probably used to wordless dismissals.

“So, what’s going on?” Hayden asks, taking a seat, looking around the expanse of Blue Lily with that signature look of disgust. “And why couldn’t we do it elsewhere?”

It’s a wonder he manages our clubs and casinos.

“Because whoever is behind Haze is in The Snake and that could be anyone. I don’t want them to suspect anything,” I say. “This is neutral enough territory, and it wouldn’t raise any alarms amongst the men if all three of us are seen here together.”

Hayden and Xander give each other a look, but they can’t argue against my logic. Both Alex and I agree that whoever is behind this could be anyone in The Snake, including the guards. The only people I can trust are my brothers and begrudgingly Alex, too.

“Okay,” Xander says slowly. “What are you thinking?”

“How is Key doing?” I ask.

He shrugs. “He’s alive.”