Chapter 659

So, who could I actually turn to for help in exposing the Drago family’s shady business? Yara came to mind first, but she was a Drago. She had a strong sense of justice and used to work alongside Hayden, but with him gone, I doubted she’d lift a finger to help me now. The Drago family was her bloodline, her safety net. I couldn’t see her betraying them, no matter how noble she once seemed.

Then there was Sasha. She’d told me before how much she hated Thorsten, but after the way she stabbed me in the back last time, trusting her again would be delusional. If anything, she’d sell me out before I got a word in.

After running through every option, I came up empty. But the Drago family’s operation needed to be stopped. This wasn’t just about avenging my parents anymore—it was about saving the countless women they’d exploited and destroyed.

Demi’s story hadn’t been detailed, but it was enough to reveal a twisted pattern. The Dragos had created an insidious network. They groomed men like Demi’s ex-boyfriend, Jorian, to seduce women, pretending to love them. Once these women were hooked, they’d be manipulated into taking out loans, sinking into debt they couldn’t repay. That’s when the Dragos swooped in, forcing them into “special services” to settle up.

And this was just the surface. Their black market schemes probably went deeper than I could imagine.

I tossed and turned all night, my thoughts too loud to let me sleep. But no matter how impossible this seemed, I wasn’t giving up. By dawn, I gave up on sleep altogether and decided to go for a run. They say exercise clears your mind, right?

But as I stepped outside, I spotted Jace. There was a pile of cigarette butts on the ground near his car. His hair was a mess, and his hollow eyes told me he hadn’t slept either. Had he been here all night? Watching to make sure Wayne didn’t show up? Or…was it something else?

“Breakfast?” His voice was hoarse, almost strained.

“No thanks. Just get to the point,” I replied, brushing him off.

The dim light in Jace’s eyes flickered out completely. For a few seconds, he just stood there, silent, before finally speaking, his voice heavy. “Can you stop messing around?”

I didn’t reply. He took a step closer, his face tight with desperation. “I’m begging you. Please—just stop.”

The answer was still no. If this was only about getting back at the Johnstons, I might’ve found another way. But now that Wayne might be tied to the Drago family’s crimes—and my only lead—I couldn’t back down.

“Jace,” I said evenly, “we’ve already been over this. Who I’m with, what I do—it’s my call. Not yours.”

“Not Wayne,” he said, his voice cracking. “Anyone but Wayne. I didn’t say a word when you were with Hayden. But not him.”

“Why? Is it just about your bruised ego? Because I remember you once said my being with Wayne humiliated you.”

He held my gaze. “Stay away from him. He’s not who you think he is.”

That hit somewhere deep, sending a ripple of unease through me. Did Jace know something about Wayne I didn’t?

“What’s wrong with him?” I pushed.

Jace’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t answer. His silence confirmed it. He knew. And whatever it was, he wasn’t planning on telling me.

Fine. I wasn’t going to push further.

“I’m an adult, Jace,” I said. “I know what I’m doing. And you’re my ex. From one boyfriend ago. Even if my parents were alive, they wouldn’t have the right to control me.”

His face hardened, the frustration in his eyes obvious.

“Oh, and by the way,” I added, switching gears. “I ran into Tanya. She’s working as a hostess now, at some bar. Not looking too great. If you’re that bored, why not let her…take care of you…?”

I trailed off, though, as something clicked in my mind.