Chapter 582

Hayden looked at me, his expression unreadable. Then he turned to Jace. “Take her away.”

Those three words snapped me back to reality. What was I doing? Was I really letting a few words from him mess with my head?

My god loosened, and Hayden glanced at me once before striding off without another word. Jace tugged my arm. “Come on, let’s go.”

Though my train of thought was still reeling, I realized the whole takedown of Herman had been part of a plan—something Hayden and Jace had set up well in advance.

Apparently, I was the only one who hadn’t been told.

“When did you set all this up?” asked Jace.

He hesitated. “After I got back from Houston last time.”

It was right after that trip that Hayden broke up with me. Heman was telling the truth?

I didn’t have time to fully process it, so I pressed Jace. “Why didn’t any of you tell me?”

He looked conflicted, like he didn’t want to answer.

I pieced it together myself. “This was Hayden’s idea, wasn’t it?”

“He didn’t want to drag you into this mess. It was his way of protecting you,” Jace explained, speaking for Hayden.

It was almost funny. They’d been rivals once, and now here they were, teaming up.

“Even breaking up with me…that was for protection too, wasn’t it?” I asked, needing to know. Hayden’s abrupt breakup had been something I’d never fully accepted.

Jace gave a strained smile. “Maybe it’s better if you let Hayden explain that himself. Your relationship with him…that’s not my place to comment on.”

He was right about that.

“Kers,” he added, “whether it’s Hayden, me, or even Steve—we’re all just trying to protect you.”

This wasn’t the same Jace I used to know. Now, even while looking out for himself, he was actually giving credit to others for stepping up to protect me, too.

They all wanted to protect me. They weren’t wrong.

“I’ll take you to Wayne’s place—a villa this time, not the apartment. Safer,” Jace said, guiding me to the car. “Stay there until things settle. We’ll come get you when it’s safe.”

They had this whole plan and kept me in the dark. Now, even in the middle of all this chaos, they were still trying to keep me safe. I realized to them, I was more of a liability—a burden. Leaving would make things easier, so I agreed.

Chapter 583