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Frankly, I was lucky The Association didn’t connect me with Raya last time. We tried to be discreet. I used a fake name and only interacted with her a few times while wearing a disguise.

I continue, “They won’t suspect her at all because they won’t think you’ll hide her in plain sight. No one will believe Rex-a-Million the playboy will be involved in something so dangerous. When we get to Monaco, I’ll meet with your person and he’ll shuttle her to a safe house for a fresh start. Simple.”

My pulse quickens as I go over the encrypted details he sent me last week.

I know the woman’s new identity. Bree Williams, thirty-five, a graduate from Vassar, interior designer relocating to Monaco to work with the rich and famous. Based on what I’ve pieced together, she was a hacker who penetrated The Association’s firewalls. She’s on the run because of something she’s found, but I don’t know what.

It’s suspicious as fuck and I should think twice before jumping into this mess.

Elias redacted much of the information, but I’m not surprised. There’s a reason he’s dangerous and feared by the mafia, the Bratva, and other criminal organizations alike. It isn’t because he’s bloodthirsty or gory, but because he has something on everyone and no one knows when he’ll use their secrets against them.

I don’t know what beef he has with The Association or why he’s repeatedly tried to thwart them.

It doesn’t matter.

I think about the unspeakable assault they did to Taylor when she was sixteen in a member-initiation ceremony where people commit an atrocious crime to join their ranks. Then, there was Alexis’s coma for eight years, which wasn’t from an accident at all, and Ethan nearly drowning in the Hudson last year. All because they want our family to join them, to be part of their greed and power to take over the world.

The Association wants the Andersons to be involved with them? Well, they fucking got their wish.

Elias nods. “Good. I’ll be on the cruise at some point. That won’t be unusual since I usually man the personnel on the Rose floors anyway. Act normal and it should be smooth sailing.”

“A pun. You realized you just made a cruise pun?”

He ignores me. “Any questions before I bring her out so you can chat before the flight?”

At my silence, he turns and walks toward a nondescript door tucked in the back.

“What’s in it for you, Elias? What do you have against The Association?” I holler after him.

Curiosity killed the cat, and apparently, I have a death wish.

I know my reasons for risking my life.

But Elias? I’d think he’d want to join The Association, not go after them.

It makes no sense.

Elias stops, the next words coming out in a barely there whisper.

“Well, we all have our skeletons, don’t we?”

Chapter Nine

She’s beautiful.

I watch them from the corner of my eye in my spot at a small dinette in the jet. Rex is with a gorgeous woman—tall, statuesque, generous curves in all the right places, dark-chocolate-colored hair in a blunt bob only women with her bone structure can pull off. He snakes his arm around her waist, all the while balancing an air of intimacy with respectful distance at the same time.

They’re laughing. He doles out one of those infamous panty-melting grins as he whispers something in her ear. A faint flush creeps up her face, which seems to be the desired response, based on the satisfied glint in his eyes.

My stomach twists—damn, I’ve heard of seasick, not air sick. Is it because I forgot to grab dinner before coming aboard?

The woman giggles, and Rex kisses her cheek. I narrow my eyes and imagine him as a voodoo doll.

Womanizer.A pinprick.Someone who probably hasn’t worked hard for a day in his life.Another pinprick.Has had everything handed to him.Asshole. Hedonist. Makes selfish decisions without caring how they impact others.I chuck all my pins at the doll.

Your patient.

Blowing out a breath, I attempt to rationalize away my ridiculous thoughts.