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“Khalani, it’s not—”

“Mr. and Mrs. Davenhue, you need to come with us.” A deep voice cut through the tension, and several Dealers in sleek black gear formed a tight circle around them, blocking their escape.

Khalani’s eyes met Sylas, the Dealer they met in the casino, but his face was cold and impassive, like they’d never met before. He gripped her arm firmly, while two other guards restrained Takeshi, assuming he was the bigger threat.

Raziel was nowhere to be found, probably preening somewhere that his plan was a terrific success.

“What are you doing?” Takeshi growled. He viciously glared at the Dealer’s tight hold on Khalani, like he was one breath away from ripping it off.

He was a phenomenal actor.

“Let’s go,” Sylas snapped, ignoring Takeshi and pushing Khalani forward. She stumbled on her heels, but he dragged her across the floor.

Once the men and women in the club recognized the Dealers, everyone scrambled out of the way.

Sylas propelled her toward a nondescript backdoor exit. The moment he shoved her outside, the stench of rotting trash and cold metal hit her nose, and her heels slid on the slick alley pavement.

Sylas caught her elbow and abruptly slammed her against the brick wall.

Khalani grunted as Takeshi was shoved against the hard wall beside her. His muscles were clenched tight, his expression a mask of controlled rage. Takeshi turned his head, but Khalani refused to look at him.

All he ever did was make a fool of her. And she was done playing the pawn in his sick games.

In a twisted way, what Takeshi had done was beneficial. The Dealers wouldn’t question their story, and she could concentrate solely on the mission.

And once the week was over, she was severing ties with Takeshi Steele for good.

“We have them,” Sylas said into a small radio. “Bring the rail.”

She frowned as a Dealer approached, pulling something from his back pocket. Before she could react, he jabbed a long needle into her neck.

“Ow!” She flinched, placing a shaky hand to her neck. “What…the…”

She blinked rapidly, but the Dealers seemed to multiply.

Khalani turned to Takeshi, who slumped forward as another guard withdrew a syringe from his neck. Her pulse slowed, and she braced herself against the wall. Her heels melted into the concrete, dragging her down.

Further.

And further.

And further.

She thought she saw Takeshi’s hand reaching toward her, but in the next moment, everything went black.

***

“Hey.”

…

…

…

“Hey!”

Someone kicked her foot, and Khalani jolted awake, gasping. She glanced around, disoriented by the bright white light shining down on her.