Chapter 730

I’d barely stepped into the hospital when Hayden called. “Where are you?” he asked. I checked the time—three hours since we’d last seen each other. “What, miss me already?”

Flirty banter came easy with Hayden. He soaked it up, and honestly, I loved that. Back with Jace? Yeah, not so much. He’d always been so… distant. Funny how you don’t know what’s missing until you find something better. With Hayden, love actually felt real.

“Yeah, I miss you,” he said, no hesitation. I laughed. “Ten minutes. That’s all it’ll take.” “You’re already at the hospital?” he guessed.

Before I could confirm, he dropped the real bomb. “Wayne was here. He knows who I am—and that I’ve been collecting evidence. Now he’s pressuring me to hand it over.”

Great. I knew what that meant. “So, he’s gonna think you left the evidence with me. He’ll come looking, won’t he?” “Exactly,” Hayden said, his voice edged with worry. “Be careful, okay?”

My stomach tightened, but I nodded like he could see me. “Got it. I’ll stay sharp.” This evidence must’ve been the smoking gun on Wayne and whoever else was pulling the strings. The final boss fight.

“Be careful too,” Hayden added, softer now. “I never wanted you caught up in this.” He had pushed me away in the past to protect me, but in the end, neither of us could escape the storm.

“Not like we had a choice,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “I’m not going down without a fight. Trust me.” When I thought he’d died, I swore I’d do whatever it took to end this. I wasn’t the fragile girl who needed saving anymore.

“Alright,” he sighed. “Come back soon.”

After we hung up, I sat in the car a minute longer, piecing things together. Then I headed inside. The elevator doors opened, and there he was—Wayne. Waiting for me.

Chapter 730 +25 BONUS

In the past, I might have maintained polite pretenses with him, but ever since the incident where he tried to force himself on me, I saw no reason to hide my feelings.

“Rea, can we talk?” he asked, his voice oddly calm. “Talk about what?” I deadpanned, already over it. “Xander…” He stopped, corrected himself. “Hayden. The car crash—it wasn’t me.”

I crossed my arms. “Then who was it?” “Someone used me to test him,” Wayne said, all cryptic and dramatic.

Only one name popped into my head: Cole Drago. I let out a dry laugh. “Wow. Cannibalizing your own team. Love that for you.”

Wayne flinched at my harsh words but kept going. “Rea, I know I was out of line before, but…” “Don’t. Just don’t.” My voice was ice.

He fell silent for a beat, then said, “Hayden’s in danger. While everyone thought he was dead, he gathered critical evidence. His only chance now is handing it over.”

Just like Hayden predicted. I kept my expression blank. “So, what? You want me to talk him into it?”

Wayne’s gaze drilled into me. “I think you know exactly what I mean. If he left the evidence with you, it’d be safer in my hands.”

I raised a brow, playing dumb. “And what makes you think he left it with me? Did Hayden tell you that?”

Chapter 731