Page 53 of Shadowed Sins: Nitro

I've been helping him win.

"Your heart rate just jumped again," Jax's voice comes through the comm, controlled but concerned. "Whatever he just told you has you rattled."

At least he's real. At least his feelings aren't manufactured.

The thought brings unexpected comfort. In a world where everything I thought I controlled was actually controlled by someone else, Jax's genuine concern feels like the only truth left.

"So, this isn't about killing him. He's prepared for psychological warfare."

"Smart girl. You're finally seeing the bigger picture."

Sasha's expression remains neutral. "He's studied every move you've made, every relationship you've formed. He knows exactly how to break you down."

Every relationship. Including this one.

The protective fury in Jax's eyes when he looks at me, the way he gets physically tense when I'm in danger. That's real. That's mine.

But he can only watch from outside. He can't know how deep this goes.

"There's one more thing you need to understand, little star."

Sasha's voice drops to barely above a whisper, forcing me to lean forward.

"Alexei's people are already watching your team. He knows about your protective teammate and his instincts."

"How long have we been under surveillance?"

"Long enough to know he drives a red Mercedes, lives for speed, and would burn down half of California to keep you safe."

He sees the surface. But he can't feel what I feel when Jax looks at me.

I take a careful sip of wine, buying time to think as the earpiece carries sound. Jax's voice, tense.

"Mira, we've got multiple contacts positioning around restaurant perimeter. Time frame just got compressed."

Even through the tiny speaker, hearing him coordinate my safety makes heat spike through my chest. His voice wraps around me like armor, protective and claiming.

That reaction. Alexei could never predict that. Never plan for it.

"Your boy is good," Sasha observes, watching my micro-expressions.

Stop talking about him.

"The racing operations connect to your parents' murder. Follow the money trail through Gideon Lynch."

The words hit hard. Lynch was involved. When my world ended, he was part of the machine that destroyed it.

"Lynch laundered the payment for their deaths through racing circuits. Alexei's been using the same routes for seven years."

My hand moves toward where my knife rests against my thigh through the slit in my dress. The familiar weight centers me, reminds me what I am.

A killer. And right now, that's exactly what this situation needs.

"Side exit is compromised." Asher's voice joins the tactical chatter in my ear. "Kitchen access remains clean. Suggest immediate extraction."

The coordination between them makes something twist in my chest. They're protecting me like I matter. Like losing me would cost them something precious.

When did I start wanting to be worth protecting?