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“It’s nothing,” I say distractedly.

The last thing I need is Hayden finding out I met up with Alex. He’d rat me out to Xander, and there’s no telling what Xander would do if he found out. I had to beg my brothers not to slit Alex’s throat.

“Whatever,” he mutters. “So, can you do it before this gets out of hand? If it is Moreau or someone in his crew, we need to stop it fast.” His eyes carry concern I’m not accustomed to.

I nod, stealing another glance at the dead girl, then at Ramos, who is still sitting there wide-eyed and terrified.

“Yeah, I’ll let you know what I find out.”

Hayden visibly deflates and runs a hand through his hair. “Thanks.”

“What will you do after you find out who it is?” I ask.

He shrugs, shoving his hands in his pockets. “If it’s some small-time player, then Xander can deal with it,” he says. “If it is Moreau, and he’s gearing up for a war, then…”

We cross that bridge when we get there, I think.

I let myself look at the girl one last time and my stomach rolls. “Scrub this place top-to-bottom today,” I say to Smith. “And make sure they burn that jacket. There should be no evidence she ever stepped into Summit.”

“Yes, Sir,” Smith says and then I’m out of there.

By the time I get back to my apartment, it’s nearly six in the morning, but Chelsea is gone, leaving no trace of her as if she was never there in the first place. It’s easy with her. We both know we mean nothing to each other, and it’s just a bit of fun. Soon, her father will auction her off to highest bidder and she’ll be stuck in a mansion pumping out kids. Fucking me and having her picture taken whilst she’s snorting up the latest fashionable powder is her way of pissing off her parents, and I can’t fault her for it.

Outside, the October morning is gloomy and cold, but at least it’s dry. I sip on a cup of coffee, looking out the window and out at the city that stretches out for miles. Lush greenery and the mostly historical architecture of Queen’s Peak sits directly in front of me, contrasting the modernity of Flower District a few miles ahead.

After everything that happened with Alex, my mother deflected most of the responsibility to my brothers. Hayden runs the clubs, Xander controls the men whilst she oversees the rest of the clan.

I’m not humble enough to say I don’t want the respect they command. For years, I’ve been the fuck up son, the stain and weakness on my mother’s otherwise flawless but chilling reputation.

Finding out who is behind Haze and stopping a war before it begins would get me back in my mother’s good graces and put me back on track to take over after her. In The Snake, it does not matter if you’re the first son or the last daughter—your place is earned. Amongst five siblings, my mother rose to the top as a fourth child.

I know I can do it too.

I pull out my phone and click on a number I never thought I’d call in a million years.

“Hello? Rowan?” Alex answers, almost immediately.

He sounds breathless, like he’s been running. I picture his sweat-sheened body and something bitter taints my mouth.

“Hello?” he says again.

“Can we meet?” I ask, bypassing the unnecessary niceties.

He pauses for a long moment. “W-why?”

I roll my eyes. “It’s about Haze.”

He goes quiet and I tap my fingers on the counter impatiently.

“Did you know who is behind it?” he asks.

“No,” I say simply.

“Rowan—”

“I don’t know who is behind it, but I think you can help me find out who is.”

He is quiet for a second. “H-how?”