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CONAN

“ Y ou look like shit, Con,” Finn says.

I toss my phone on the counter and stifle a yawn, slumping onto the barstool while he messes with the coffee machine.

“Nice to see you too, brother. And why the hell are you in my cabin?”

He pours the coffee into a chipped mug and turns to face me.

“Did you sleep? You’ve got your big fight coming up.”

I roll my eyes and grab the mug.

“I’m well aware. I don’t need babysitting.”

He chuckles, pulling a packet of cigarettes from his back pocket.

“No. But you’re my little brother, and I know this week’s always rough. Normally I hear the axe throwing before dawn. Today? Silence. Figured I’d check in.”

I sigh and light a smoke. Axe throwing does sound fun, actually.

“Why doesn’t it get easier, Finn?”

I rub the pressure building in my chest.

“Because we loved Mom to fucking death, that’s why. You probably more than all of us. It’ll always hurt. You just… learn to live around it.”

I nod, my throat thick.

She’d know what to do about Hallie. She’d see right through me, too. I drove to her house last night. I wanted to just see her. But she wasn’t in.

Finn’s stare sharpens.

“Why did you turn up at my hospital last night?”

“I—uh…”

Shit. Nothing good’s coming to mind fast enough.

“Well?”

“I was looking for Hallie. My wound hurts.”

He arches a brow. Then frowns.

“It… hurts?”

“Yeah. A lot.”

He glares like Dad used to when he knew I was full of shit.

“Don’t lie to me. You know better than that.”

I run a hand over my jaw.

What do I even say? That her psycho ex is using a fake name and runs a strip club? That Declan’s got me the dirt, and now I’ve got a death wish with Ben’s name on it?

Wait.

“Look. That night she patched me up, she caught her ex cheating. We went back to her place to get rid of the prick.”

Finn pinches the bridge of his nose.

“Tell me you didn’t fuck her.”

I blink, stunned. Fury floods my veins. I stand up.

“No. I didn’t. But her ex threatened her. I didn’t like that, so Declan did some digging.”

I pull up the email and slide my phone across the counter.

“Read it. I’m worried.”

He reads in silence, jaw tightening.

“So who is he?”

“No clue. But I’m gonna find out. I went to her house last night too, and she wasn’t home.”

Finn taps his ringed fingers against the marble.

“I’ll send Reg and Rowan to check out that club. If it’s legit, we’ll know. Keep an eye on her. I’ll track what I can from the hospital side. No need to pull Enzo in. Yet.”

I scratch my stubble.

“You’ll never trust him, will you?”

He glares.

“You don’t let the devil in the door, Con.”

I like Enzo. Guy’s useful. And fast. There’s nothing he can’t hack. But Finn’s not wrong—everything in our world comes with a price.

Right now, we’re paying ours by running the Decadence games.

Last week, the idea of chasing girls through the woods would’ve gotten me hard.

Now? I couldn’t care less.

Hallie’s in my fucking head.

“You have Hallie’s number?” Finn asks.

“Yeah. I do.”

“Good. Don’t scare her off. Keep it light. From a distance. If it turns bad, I’ll clean it up.”

His grey eyes flash. That gleam—cold, clinical—means only one thing.

Finn’s version of “cleaning up” is the kind that ends lives and erases the mess without a trace.

Me? I’m the brutal kind. Smash the skull, leave the body. Let people remember.

Like James Bowen. Front row execution.

“You coming to my fight?” I ask.

“Wouldn’t miss it. In case you need backup.”

“I’m getting better. This is pro fighting, not underground anymore. I can’t lose my head. Don’t wanna rot in jail.”

He chuckles.

“Right. Staying on the right side of the law. How many people have you killed since James? Outside of the cage?”

I smirk.

“Still less than you, psycho.”

“That’s not a brag, Conan.”

I pause.

“Is Hallie working today?”

He checks his watch.

“Yeah. For another hour, I think.”

I push up from the stool. I know where I’m going before I hit the gym.

Jogging through the hospital corridor, I glance at the clock.

Twenty minutes left on her shift.

The nurse behind the front desk watches me like I’m a walking, talking fantasy.

“Hey. I’m here to see Hallie. Dr. Quinn sent me.”

Name drop my brother. Instant access.

She taps her keyboard, clicking her pen.

“Sorry, sir. You just missed her. Finished ten minutes ago.”

“Fuck,” I mutter, clenching my fists.

Guess I’m heading to her house next.

“Was it medical or personal?” she asks.

“Personal. It’s important.”

She leans across the desk, lips brushing my ear like we’re in some kind of fucking movie.

“She probably went to her exercise class. Up the road. Elites. She’s there every Friday.”

I pull back, eyebrow raised.

“Cool. Thanks.”

I head back to the McLaren and hit the dial on Finn’s number. He answers instantly.

“Security. Tighten it. A redheaded nurse just told me where Hallie is. Didn’t even push her.”

“I’ll have a word,” he says, voice clipped.

“Cool. Speak later.”

Reg and Rowan are headed to Starlight, Ben’s sleazy little kingdom. I’ll probably join them.

I pull into the parking lot and spot her Shelby.

My cock twitches.

Not sure if it’s her or the damn car—or the image of her behind the wheel, legs spread, eyes wild.

Inside, the place smells like roses and estrogen. The women behind the desk stop talking and stare.

“Are you lost, sir?” the blonde asks.

“Don’t think so.” I grin. “I’m here for…” I scan the posters on the wall. “Pilates?”

They look at each other, barely holding in their laughter.

The blonde pouts, clearly amused.

“Sir, have you done a Pilates class before?”

I frown. Not once. I only recognize the name because I remember Hallie talking about it the first night we met.

“Nope. First time for everything, right?”

She laughs and shakes her head.

“Take it easy in there, big man.”

“I work out every day. I’m a cage fighter, I’ll survive.”

I slide her a twenty.

They giggle like I’ve just walked into a lion’s den naked.

“What?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.

“Nothing. Have fun. First door on the right. Grab a mat from the hallway.”

I shake my head and smirk.

I’m not here for Pilates.

I’m here to see her.

To make sure she’s safe.

And if I get to watch her ass wiggle in those tight workout leggings?

Well, that’s just a bonus.