Chapter 555
“Steve’s safe for now,” Jace said, leaving me puzzled. He explained, “Quartz Cue pretends to be just a cue sports club, but they’re deep in illegal betting. Their original plan was to take down Steve to keep their championship status and rake in the gambling profits.”
I’d heard rumors about underground betting, but snooker? Really?
“When they couldn’t get to Steve directly,” Jace continued, “they switched it up. They’re betting big on him, shifting the odds in his favor. If he wins, it looks like they lose—except they’re making secret deals to make way more on the backend.”
I shivered. Something as simple as Steve’s snooker career had turned into this dark web of schemes and shady money moves. Steve once told me he started playing because he loved it—genuinely loved it. He wanted to prove that someone from our country could go global. Knowing he was just a pawn now… I couldn’t imagine how crushed he’d feel.
“Does Steve have any clue about this?” I asked, feeling a weight in my chest.
“No. If he knew, he’d probably refuse to play,” Jace said, his eyes darkening. “But if he doesn’t play… he could lose a lot more than just a match.”
I froze, a wave of dread washing over me. Jace’s voice turned grim. “Rea, just because Hayden saved him once doesn’t mean Steve’s safe now. This whole thing was a setup from the start.”
My stomach did a nervous flip. Hayden hadn’t said anything about this. Did he even know?
“The match is in two days. They can’t afford any last-minute disruptions. But Bruno’s fans? Total loose cannons, out of Quartz Cue’s control. So, to keep everything smooth, they might come after you. They won’t hurt you, but they’ll want you as leverage.”
A knot tightened in my chest. “They’re worried Hayden might go after Quartz Cue again, aren’t they?”
Jace shook his head slightly. “You’re not just leverage against Hayden. You’re also a way to pressure Steve into playing.”
“But… but I…” I stammered, totally thrown. “Hayden and I aren’t even together anymore, and Steve is just a friend.”
Jace looked at me with an unreadable expression before letting out a low, amused laugh. I was baffled. “What’s so funny?”
“You’re still so… naive,” Jace replied, though his words felt more like a veiled criticism than a compliment.
I frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean? Just spit it out.”
He shrugged. “Just that even if he’s ‘just a friend,’ Steve would never abandon you if you were in real danger. And, for the record… you still call him your close friend.”
I opened my mouth to argue but stopped. He had a point. Jace was warning me: this was serious, and I’d somehow become a target. Whether it was Bruno’s fans or Quartz Cue, if they got to me, it wouldn’t just be bad for me—it’d drag Hayden and Steve right down with me.
I took a breath, realizing this wasn’t the time to be stubborn. “Alright. So, is Wayne’s place safer, or should I just head back home?”
“Wayne’s, hands down. You shouldn’t be moving around too much—anyone out there could be one of Bruno’s fans,” Jace said, pulling out his phone. He handed me his phone. “Look. This came from a contact. You’ve been posted in Bruno’s fan group. There’s a bounty on you. Three million dollars for anyone who brings you in.”
I stared at the screenshot, letting out a bitter laugh. “Wow. Didn’t know I was worth that much.”
Jace’s eyes darkened. “No one expected one person could stir up this kind of storm.”
I managed a wry smile. “Isn’t that a little dramatic?”
“You might not get it now, but you will,” he said, serious. “So… are you ready to come with me now?”