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CONAN

“ W hy so glum, brother?” Declan asks, already pouring me a whiskey.

I take it and knock it back in one gulp.

“I feel like shit,” I mutter, sinking into the chair opposite him.

“You get injured in the fight?”

I run a hand over my face. If anyone can understand, it’s my madly-in-love brother.

“No. I just had to lie to Hallie about the Chase. And I can’t see her all week.” I sigh, heavy and hollow.

Declan chews on his lip, reading me.

“You know we can’t call the games off now. It’s too late. But this can be the last year, you know…if you and her end up together. If that’s what you want.”

I snatch the bottle of Dad’s whiskey and take another swig straight from the neck. I know exactly what he and Mom would’ve said. Mom would’ve loved Hallie. She’s a good girl. Good for me.

“Yeah. That’s what I want. But if she ever finds out the truth about me—or this whole fucking thing—” I throw my arms up, gesturing to the goddamn sex club we own. “She’ll run for the hills. And that’s not the Chase I want.”

I drag my hands down my face, the dread sitting deep in my gut, gnawing. Declan’s right—we can’t afford to lose Enzo or our position in this world. We’ve bled too much for it.

“She might not,” Declan says quietly. “I saw how she was watching you fight, Con. You know what she did do, though? Something none of us have been able to do. Not even Mom…”

My head snaps up. “What did she do?”

Declan’s lips curl around his glass, a slow, knowing grin spreading across his face.

“She tamed the beast in you.”

I frown. “Tamed me? How?”

He rolls his eyes and throws back the rest of his whiskey.

“Fuck me, do I really have to spell this out for you? Last night. In the cage. You lost it. Mentally tapped out. You were about to kill that guy. Am I right?”

The knot in my chest tightens. My throat closes.

“Yeah. But I didn’t kill him.”

Declan taps the side of his head.

“Because…”

I close my eyes and drag myself back to the fight. It’s a blur, just like every other time rage hijacks my brain. But then…

That flash.

Locking eyes with Hallie.

I didn’t want her to look at me like I was a monster. I wanted her to be proud of me. Not terrified. Not running.

“Fuck,” I whisper.

“Fuck indeed, little bro. She’s the one.”

I slide my glass away and pour more whiskey. Let the burn anchor me.

“What do I do, Declan? I’ve never?—”

“Had a relationship longer than one night?” he finishes for me.

I nod. Not quite how I would’ve phrased it, but he’s not wrong.

Until Hallie, I never let anyone get close enough to matter. I’ve always been better alone.

But now?

Picturing a future without her in it?

Unthinkable.

“You do the Decadence Chase. One last time,” he says.

“And then you follow your heart. You don’t let her get away.

The games start Monday. It’ll be a few days, max.

Then you’re done. We’ll find replacements.

No issue. Rowan and Reggie have been frothing at the mouth for a chance to host. They’ll make good Masters of Inferno. ”

My stomach turns. It’s real now.

And she’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to fight for.

“I can’t let her go,” I say, my voice hoarse. “She’s mine.”

She’s not just a woman.

She’s an obsession.

A fire under my skin I’ll never be free of.

One last Chase.

That’s all that stands in my way.