The moment Rook left, I let out a long breath, leaning back against the workbench and closing my eyes. My thoughts were a wild swing from work to Evie. I couldn’t control her, but I hadalwayscontrolled my own actions. I couldn’t even trust myself with that now, either. I wasn’t sure I even wanted to control it anymore, but I had to find a way to pull it all back and hide it again.
I couldn’t have her.
That’s all there was to it.
I took one more deep breath, thinking I might have a chance to get my thoughts under control, until the door to the garage pushed open.
Evie stormed in, her eyebrow arching once as she looked me over.
“You look like you had a rough night,” she said, her lips tipping up as she went past me toward her office.
“Something like that.”
“I heard we are making it two in a row.”
Did she know I had been up all night thinking about her? Or was she simply happy I was miserable?
“Nothing more than another night of work.”
“We are going to a club. Are you really not planning any time for fun?”
“Is it any of your business if I am? You would have no part of it,” I snapped, regretting my words, but not taking them back.
“Really? I thought we had some unfinished business.”
“No, we don’t.”
She stepped even closer, her voice dropping low, trying to unravel the last threads of my willpower. “We definitely have some unfinished business, and I’m not moving on until it’s finished.”
My chest tightened—the guilt felt like a weight, pressing harder with every thought of her. I wanted to give in, to touch her again and silence that fire she kept stoking. But I knew where this would lead, and it wouldn’t be anywhere good.
“What are you talking about?”
“The blackmail. Obviously.” She gave me a sweet grin. “Maybe a few things we had to skip last night.”
“Evie,” I warned, my voice rough. “This isn’t actually a game. This is my life, and I am not risking it because you are bored.”
“I’m not playing games,” she shot back, her eyes blazing.
I stood up, towering over her now as I glared down. “You are. You’re bored and think this is a fun little side game with your blackmail—with making me insane—but what happens when we get caught, not if... when.I lose everything and you run back to your room until your next victim comes around.”
The words were like a mantra now, a bleak reminder that ifRook found out, I would lose my home, my family, my entire life, but the desire for her pulled me in just as hard.
“Rook is protective, but he isn’t dumb. You’re his best friend and best asset, he wouldn’t get rid of you just because of me.”
“You need to stop.” My voice was tight, knowing better. “Stop pushing this. Stop with blackmail threats. Stop with flirting and trying to get my attention. Find a new game with a new player.”
She shook her head, a dark smile tugging at her lips. “Not a chance. You’re too fun, Ace. And if you wanted me to stop, you should have thought about that before playing at all.”
“I’m not doing this with you again,” I said, but even as the words left my mouth, I knew they were a lie. “The blackmail. It’s over.”
She stepped even closer, her breath hot against my neck. “No, it’s not. I’m on a lead and I think I will need your second favor soon. And yes, you are. Because I have a strong suspicion that you can’t resist it now.”
The weight of her words hung in the air between us, thick with tension, and I knew I was screwed. There was no way out of this.
“Tonight,” I demanded. “We are going to the Vault. We have to see what information we can find out about these threats. No partying, nothing but business. Andnothingto do with us. Shouldn’t you head home to get ready?”
“First, I’m glad to know there’s an us, and second, it’s noon.”
