Page 1 of High Reward

High Reward

Ivy Nelson

Chapter 1

Victor

TheAudi’sengineroarsas I push it past the speed limit, my grip white-knuckled on the steering wheel. Palm trees and neon blur past the windows. Vegas at night, a city that never sleeps, and is never not in motion.

Like me.

Like the thoughts racing in my head. Hunter’s ultimatum. Seven days, or he buries us. Prayers that Trinity will survive the bullet that was meant for Lili. Kara Lindon’s apparent grief turned vengeful. And my girls, sleeping peacefully at home,unaware they’re both targets now. Calling my father was a last resort, and now that I’ve done it, there is no taking it back. The Serranos are officially involved.

Something I never wanted to have happen. But desperation makes us all crawl back to things that are familiar.

“I’ll have someone dig into Draven, and if you need it, the Lindon woman too,” my father had said after I explained, his voice carrying that familiar note of smug satisfaction at my need for his help. “And I’ll send men to watch your house. No one touches what belongs to the Serranos.”

I hadn’t corrected him about Grace and Lili “belonging” to the family. Some battles aren’t worth fighting when you need someone’s resources. I may have an intense power exchange with Grace, and refer to her as my property, but no one owns either of my girls the way my father meant it.

The traffic light in front of me turns red. I slow just enough to ensure no cross traffic before accelerating through it. Seven days. Hunter gave me seven fucking days to dismantle a powerful man. A man whose wife I’ve fallen for. A man who, if I’m honest, I should have killed the moment I learned who he was.

Owen’s neighborhood is upscale but discreet, filled with modern homes with tasteful landscaping and security systems worth more than most people’s cars. There’s no doubt that Owen’s system rivals, and likely monitors, every other security system in the gated community. I park haphazardly, half on the pristine lawn, half on the driveway, and stride to the door.

The doorbell’s chime sounds hollow in the quiet night. Seconds pass. I press it again, longer this time.

The porch light flicks on, and Owen yanks the door open wearing nothing but sweatpants. His hair is mussed, face creased with sleep, but his eyes sharpen instantly when he sees me.

“Victor? What the fuck?”

“We need to talk.” I push past him into the house. “Now.”

He closes the door and follows me as I make my way to his kitchen. The space is all sleek countertops and stainless steel bathed in cool under-cabinet lighting that Owen triggers with a wave of his hand.

“It’s nearly three in the morning,” he says, moving to the coffee maker. “This better be good.”

“Hunter Novak called me tonight.”

Owen’s hand stills on the coffee canister. “And?”

“He gave me an ultimatum. Seven days to put Draven in the ground or a prison cell. If I don’t, he’s coming for all of us.”

“Fuck.” Owen abandons the coffee prep and braces both hands on the counter. “Did he call anyone else?”

“That’s what I’m here to find out. Has he contacted you?”

Owen shakes his head. “No. Nothing. Just the brief update I sent you about Trinity’s surgery.”

I pace the length of the kitchen, my reflection distorted in the glossy cabinets. “So, he’s isolating me. Making this my problem alone.”

“Or he assumes you’ll tell us, and he doesn’t need to make the same threat five times.” Owen grabs two glasses from a cabinet and pours two fingers of bourbon in each. He slides one across the counter to me. “What exactly did he say?”

I knock back the bourbon in one swallow, welcoming the burn. “That I brought this war to his door. Trinity might never walk again. That if she dies, he’ll dismantle everything we’ve built and put me in the ground next to Draven.” I set the glass down harder than necessary. “He also said he’d take Lili down with us if we fail. Called her Draven’s wife.”

Owen’s expression darkens. He doesn’t touch his drink. “And Grace?”

I snatch Owen’s untouched bourbon and laugh mirthlessly as I raise it to my lips. “Oh, he says Grace is innocent in all of this, but that won’t stop him from leaving her to mourn Lili and me.”

“Jesus.” Owen runs a hand through his hair. “I knew he was upset, but this is... Fuck, mate. I’m surprised I still have a job.”