dal

ents' clubhouse. He pulled up to a

y card into my hand, and said, "Stay here tonig

e long, unreadable look before turning on his heel. The roar of his Harley faded

me. A well-dressed man who introduced himself a

othes, shoes, toiletries, and a brand-new phone. "Mr. W

ger in the mirror. My hands trembled as I di

ed without preamble. "Talk to his mother. You n

ublicly acknowledge the breakup, Jayson could still harass me,

ting downstairs," Brax

t the curb. Logan was straddling

e phone in my pocket - the one with the photos. The engine roar

per Maria opened the door and gave me a look that mixed shock with pi

he living room, her heels pou

e, her finger nearly jabbing my nose. "You've made the Trujillo n

"the one who made you a laughingstock is your son

he next. "And this one. Want me to send them all to the local repo

umbled back, collapsing onto the sofa, gripping the armrest to ke

tave. "You issue a public statement - on behalf of the Trujillo family and the Iron Lizards. Jayson Trujillo and Kenda

venom burning in her ey

and the club's reputation, the family

h, her knuckles white. "I'll do it. But yo

photos disappear." I straighte

. Twenty minutes later, a notification pinged on my new phone

and typed a caption: "Goodbye, Jayson. Give Brandi my b

curt nod. "Thank you for you

ed the room, heavy and furious, like

and walked out, the wind rushing in

me a tablet. A video call from

en, blurred chrome and e

ork," h

eyes locking onto mi

about my payment