Chapter 725

Wayne was behind his pain, and I made a mental note to remember it. I stopped, still pressed close to Hayden, catching my breath. Messing around with him like this felt… good, like we were back to normal. Then I remembered he was technically still supposed to be in a coma. “How long are you planning to keep up the act?” I asked.

“I’m done. I’m awake now, aren’t I?” he replied, grinning lazily.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re such a troll. You’re just messing with them for fun, aren’t you?”

Hayden’s expression darkened slightly. “If I didn’t have bigger priorities, I’d do more than mess with them. I’d make them pay.” His tone was casual, but the words carried a dangerous edge. He called it “messing,” but we both knew he was talking about risking everything—his life, no less. It wasn’t that different from what Demi had been through.

“I saw Demi…” I told him about her situation, sharing everything I’d learned. Hayden didn’t say a word, but I could see the weight of it in his eyes.

“Lena said she once treated girls with injuries like Demi’s. She thinks their stories are similar and offered to track them down to gather more evidence,” I added, hoping for a reaction. But Hayden stayed quiet.

“What’s wrong?” I waved a hand in front of his face.

“This isn’t just about trafficking women. It’s a whole black-market operation—bigger than you realize. They’re running an international network, not just local dirt,” he said finally.

That explained why DracoLux wasn’t just your typical shady nightclub. If all they did was sell sex, Hayden wouldn’t be in this deep—or faking his death.

“I don’t understand everything you’re dealing with, and I don’t want to. But you need to promise me one thing: keep yourself safe,” I said firmly. He had his responsibilities, and DracoLux had already hurt someone I cared about. I didn’t have the right to hold him back.

Hayden cupped my face, his touch soft but his voice heavy. “I didn’t want you involved. But here you are, tangled up in all of this. Promise me you’ll be careful—especially around Wayne.”

He was right. Wayne wasn’t the man he pretended to be; dangerous under the surface, no matter how harmless he seemed.

He claimed to love me, even worshipped me. But if he couldn’t have me, I had no doubt he’d destroy me instead. I didn’t tell Hayden that part. There was no point; it would only make him worry more. Hayden had always been my protector, but this time, I wanted to be the one shielding him.

“Tanya’s probably tied to DracoLux too,” I said, outlining my plan to use her as leverage. He nodded, his expression serious. “You know this could put you in the crosshairs, right?”

I laughed. “You think I’d be that reckless? The bar’s already signed over to Tanya—everything’s properly notarized. I made sure of that.”

“You’re not just rich—you’re getting sharp, too,” Hayden teased, though his tone carried a note of pride.

I shrugged. “Not sharp, just… practical. If I don’t take control, someone else will—and they’ll drag me somewhere worse.”

Hayden’s thumb brushed my cheek softly, a rare tenderness in his gaze. “You’ve grown up, Kiki.”

‘I’ve grown up so I can protect you.’ I didn’t say it out loud, but the thought stayed with me. Hayden had to go undercover at a place like DracoLux, and with his looks, there was no way he wouldn’t catch someone’s eye. It wasn’t jealousy—I trusted him. But I wasn’t naive. If Wayne suspected Hayden’s fake identity, the beating he gave him wouldn’t be the end of it. Wayne would escalate—use women to test him or worse, try to plant doubts in my mind.

“What are you thinking?” Hayden’s voice sliced through my thoughts, his usual accuracy making my stomach flip. “Worried Wayne might send women to test me?”

“Exactly,” I admitted. “If he sets you up to entertain some rich woman—drinks, maybe overnight—would you stay in character?” My voice stayed calm, but I wasn’t just asking. I was testing him too.

Hayden’s lips curved into a slow, teasing smirk. Instead of answering, he flipped the script. “What’s this? Jealous?”

“Jealous?” I scoffed, holding my chin high. “I don’t do jealous. If I want something, I take it.”

His gaze softened, so warm and full of affection it made my heart skip. Like he’d been waiting for me to say those words.

“Then please, Miss Benefactor, take good care of your investment.”