Chapter 738

Hayden bopped me on the nose—twice. “Can’t you just, I don’t know, play dumb for once?”

I gave him a hard no, shaking my head. “Don’t dodge. Spill the truth.”

Before I could shake my head off my shoulders, he cupped my face, steadying me. “Stop. You’ll make yourself dizzy.”

“Then stop stalling and give me the real reason,” I shot back, locking eyes with him.

Here’s the thing about Hayden: when he lies, his eyes go flat, like a bad lightbulb. Back when he told me he didn’t love me? Yeah, totally missed it then. But now? Not a chance.

“You’ve figured out who was behind the car crash, haven’t you?” he asked, casually brushing my lashes.

So, he did know.

“Your lashes are so long. Just like when you were a kid,” he added, clearly trying to derail me.

Cute, but not happening. I pushed forward. “So basically, you got hurt on purpose. It was all for Cole, wasn’t it?”

“,” he admitted. “I couldn’t let Cole think I wasn’t the real Xander.”

“Wayne already knows,” I countered. But then it hit me: Wayne and Cole might be bros in crime, but they weren’t exactly besties. Wayne knowing didn’t mean he’d tell Cole.

“So who is Xander Zane (the identity Hayden is using now), really?” I asked. This wasn’t the first time his name had popped up, but I hadn’t pushed before. Now, I couldn’t ignore it.

“A pimp. You know what that means, right?”

I froze. Oh, I knew. I just wasn’t ready for that answer. Hayden, playing pretend as a pimp? Wild. But, no wonder he cracked Demi’s DracoLux nightmare so fast.

“I thought Xander was just some male escort,” I muttered, still trying to process. “I didn’t realize he had a major role behind all this filth.”

Hayden’s face darkened. “He’s not the top guy. There’s someone above him—a real kingpin. This guy’s reach spans dozens of countries, and his network runs deep.”

A multinational crime ring? Seriously? It was mind-blowing and flat-out terrifying. The world was supposed to be beautiful, but nope—parasites like this never quit ruining it.

I glanced at Hayden, and a cold shiver hit me. Not because of him—but his face.

Hayden, the guy I admired and loved, had a doppelgänger out there destroying lives, especially women’s. The thought alone made my stomach twist.

He caught the shift in my expression instantly. “What’s wrong?”

I shook my head, barely. “Keep going.”

“Are you scared?” he asked, proving yet again he could read me like a book.

It wasn’t fear, though—it was shock, horror, helplessness, all wrapped in a giant, awful bow. If Hayden hadn’t told me, I never would’ve guessed such darkness simmered under what seemed like an ordinary world.

I shifted, resting my head against his chest. He pulled me closer. “Xander came to DracoLux pretending to scout talent. Officially, he’s just a ‘male model,’ but behind the scenes? He’s handpicking people.”

This was the first I’d heard of such a grotesque “selection process.” I scoffed before I could stop it. “So, what? They only take the pretty ones?”

“Exactly.”

That one word hit me harder than it should have.

He kept going. “They’re running high-end trafficking. The better someone looks, the higher the price. And focusing on ‘premium goods’ lowers their risks.”

It was like selling luxury items—but with people. The thought made me want to scream. Shock, outrage, and a gut-wrenching sadness tangled inside me, leaving me speechless.