Chapter 750
Of course, Cole had a demand. That snake stunt and the address were just bait to pull me into his game. Classic Cole. Like father, like son—he’d mastered every dirty trick in the book.
“Why don’t you tell me what it is first?” No way was I letting him think he held all the cards. Cole knew I cared about Lena, but I wasn’t about to hand him that power on a silver platter.
“Hand over what Hayden gave you,” he said, cutting straight to the chase.
I let out a short laugh. “And if I told you he didn’t give me anything, would you believe me?”
Cole smirked. “Now that’s just boring.”
I leaned in, mirroring his smirk. “Look, I get it; you think I’m hiding something. But let me remind you of a little timeline. Back in Houston, you saw the mess Hayden and I were in. After that, I didn’t even get to see him before he was dragged off and cremated by your dear Aunt Yara. So, tell me, Cole—if I didn’t even get a goodbye, when exactly did he hand me something?”
Cole stroked his chin, his sharp gaze locked on me. I didn’t blink or flinch. Showing even a flicker of hesitation would be game over. “If you’re so convinced Hayden had something important, maybe you should take it up with your aunt. She was closer to him than anyone.”
The ball was back in the Drago family’s court, and that’s exactly where I wanted it. I didn’t know how deep Yara was in this, but it was better for her to take the heat than me.
“Don’t think I don’t see through your little game. You’re making Aunt Yara the scapegoat because you figure I wouldn’t dare touch her. Smart.”
“That’s between you and your aunt. But I’m telling you, I don’t have anything of Hayden’s. If you’re looking for something… well, the only thing he left me is this.”
I paused, tapping my chest. “Right here. Want me to grab a knife and cut it open so you can check?”
Cole’s eyes glinted with dark amusement. “Is that so? Honestly, I’d love to see that.”
Leaning closer, he added, “Keira, your silver tongue is as sharp as ever—marketing really is your calling. But no matter how smooth you talk, you won’t convince me to believe you.”
This wasn’t about calling me a liar; he was baiting me. But I wasn’t biting. Instead, I flipped the script. “If you’re so sure I have something, why don’t you search my home or office? Go ahead; if you find anything, it’s yours. Fair deal?”
I delivered the line with unwavering confidence, daring him to try.
Cole chuckled softly. “You’re not that stupid.”
I shrugged. “I’ve told you I don’t have anything, and I’ve even offered to let you search. If that’s not good enough, I have no idea what you want from me.”
“Let me spell it out for you, Keira. Hand over what I want, and your dear friend won’t have to worry about a thing. But if you don’t…”
He narrowed his eyes, their malice razor-sharp. “…then Dr. Lane might need to start looking for a new place to work.”
The threat hit me like a punch, fury surging through my veins. It wasn’t just Lena’s career he was threatening—it was her safety. His devilish smirk told me exactly what he meant by “work.” A demon in designer clothes, dragging everyone into his hell.
I shot to my feet, my hand moving before I could think. The slap landed with a crack, turning his head to the side. “Cole Drago, try laying a finger on Lena, and see what happens.”
His cheek burned red, but his eyes burned hotter. Gone was the smug playboy act—now, he looked ready to kill. I didn’t flinch. My face was stone, my voice steady. “You think you’re untouchable, but there’s always someone bigger, someone stronger. Don’t push your luck.”
Without waiting for a response, I turned and walked out, shaking my hand to dull the stinging. My arm was numb, but I didn’t regret a thing. This wasn’t just anger. It was a statement: ‘Keira Kay isn’t someone you can mess with.’
Still, I knew this wasn’t the end. As soon as I was outside, I pulled out my phone and dialed Yara.
“Hello?” she answered, her voice lazy and detached.
“Can we meet?” I asked, straight to the point.