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I lean forward into the shadows, my dark eyes tracking Nolan like a predator scope as he scans the floor, heading straight for the high-tier section assigned to Alexis.

I watch as he slides into the large plush booth, his brothers crowding in beside him. A few minutes pass like agonizing hours before Alexis finally approaches their table, a wide, luminous smile plastered across her face.

My knuckles turn bone-white against my glass. A dangerous, primal urge surges through me—a sudden, blinding impulse to storm across the floor, drag her away from that section, and tear this club apart brick by brick.

Then Nolan’s slimy voice comes through my earpiece, crisp and clear.

"Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes, beautiful?" he drawls, his eyes openly devouring her.

"Looking better every time we see you, sweetheart," one of his brothers chimes in, tossing a low whistle.

"Welcome, Nolan," Alexis's voice crackles smoothly into my ear, completely composed. "It's good to see you."

Nolan lets out a surprised chuckle. "Wow. I have to admit, I’m surprised you’re being so nice to me today, Alexis. You sent back my well-meant gift and usually I get the cold shoulder."

Alexis laughs—a light, melodic sound that makes my jaw clench so tight a muscle spasms in my cheek. "You know I can’t accept those kinds of presents, Nolan, we’ve already talked about it. Now, what can I get started for you boys tonight?"

"Actually," Nolan says, leaning back and resting his arm along the leather seat, "what I want is your exclusive time tonight. Right here at this table."

"Hmmm," Alexis hums playfully. "That’s not going to work, Nolan. I have other tables to cover."

"Why?" Nolan counters instantly. "I’ll drop a massive tip at the end of the night. Don't worry about the money."

There’s a small, deliberate beat of silence over the wire before Alexis replies, her tone turning smooth as velvet. "Fine... I belong to you tonight."

My blood turns into pure fire. My fury triples in a single heart-beat, an ugly, oppressive rage roaring in my ears so loud it almost drowns out the club's bass.

I grip the armrest so hard the leather groans under my weight, every instinct screaming at me to break Nolan’s jaw.

Nolan’s low laugh filters through the earpiece, dripping with satisfaction. "I like the sound of that."

I endure the rest of the night in absolute agony, forced to watch as Alexis carries tray after tray of drinks over to their booth. She engages them in smooth, effortless conversation, tossing her head back as she laughs at their jokes.

Then, she goes a step too far.

Nolan says something, and Alexis subtly leans across the table, laying her hand directly over his forearm to play along.

The sight snaps the final thread of my control. I forget where I am, forget that I'm supposed to be a silent observer in the dark.

"Can you fucking stop that?" I snap directly into the transmitter. My voice is a low, dangerous growl, laced with raw jealousy and pure venom. I’ve been dead silent all night, but she’s pushing every single boundary I have left.

Down on the floor, I watch Alexis flinch, her shoulders jumping slightly at the sudden sound of my voice vibrating in her earpiece.

Nolan instantly notices, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You okay, sweetheart?"

Alexis recovers in a split second, flashing him a soft, reassuring smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just felt a chill."

I shift in my booth, muscle by muscle, fully prepared to slide out of the shadows, grab her by the waist, and throw Nolan Devlin through the front window to end this farce once and for all.

Then, the break finally comes.

Nolan takes a heavy gulp from his glass, leaning closer to his brothers as he lowers his voice. The lapel mic on Alexis catches every single drop of audio as he shakes his head, gritting his teeth.

"As I was saying outside, we need to rebuild the relationships that damn marriage ruined before the end of the month," Nolan mutters, tapping his fingers against the table.

"I've got a meeting lined up with the guys connected to the docks in two days. If we can't secure those shipping lanes again, we're done."

Two days. The docks. Perfect.