Page 200 of The Owner's Temptation

He shrugs, grinning. “Because I wasn’t always rich. Used to live for the free samples at the grocery store. Didn’t realize till later that was how my mom was feeding me dinner some nights.”

That sobers the air for a beat. But Jaxon just throws his towel over his shoulder and heads for the bench like nothing happened. He’s always been good at tossing out pieces of his past and pretending they don’t sting.

His phone chimes as he grabs it from his duffel. “Scan’s done,” he mutters, unlocking it and squinting at the code.

Right then, the gym door swings open and Eve barrels in, her arms loaded with branded takeout bags and one dangerously overfilled coffee tray.

“Delivery service with better heels and more attitude,” she calls, kicking the door closed with one stilettoed foot. “Somebody better clear space before I drop this on the floor and cry.”

“Is that from Elena’s?” Killian perks up like a golden retriever.

“With extra sugar and shame,” Eve confirms, already setting the bags on the bench. “Lucian, I brought you black with a splash of spite. Just how you like it.”

I arch a brow as I take the cup. “Cheesecake?”

She grins. “Lemon. I figured you could use something sweet since your mood’s been sour as hell.”

Jaxon whistles low. “And here I thoughtIwas the emotional one.”

I ignore them all, sipping the coffee and watching Jaxon’s face tighten as he scrolls through the final scan.

“Something?” I ask.

He nods once, serious now. “Maybe. I need ten minutes to verify the path, but there’s a fingerprint on the server. And it doesn’t belong to any of your registered users.”

That’s all I need to hear.

The playfulness drains from the room as I set my coffee down and crack my knuckles.

About fucking time, I catch a break with this asshole.

For more than ten minutes, Eve won’t leave me the hell alone until I try the damn cheesecake.

“It’s from my bestie,” she insists, nudging the box closer like it’s a peace offering. “At least pretend you’re human for five seconds and take a bite.”

I sigh, take the smallest forkful I can manage, and give in. The moment it hits my tongue, I know I’ve been manipulated.

It’s perfect.

Tart lemon, buttery graham crust, and some kind of whipped cream topping that practically evaporates.

Of course it’s delicious. Elena made it.

But I can’t enjoy it.

Not when Jaxon hasn’t looked up from his phone in fifteen minutes and that scowl on his face is digging deeper by the second. I can tell he’s close to finding something. His thumbs move fast. His brow furrows. His jaw ticks.

“How the fuck did he get in?” I mutter.

No one answers. But we all know I mean Lorenzo.

The bastard slithered into my club like a snake through a crack in the foundation. I need to know how. I need to know who helped him. Because if there's a rat in my empire, they’re already dead—they just don’t know it yet.

Killian lounges back, sipping his coffee like he’s got all the time in the world. Eve is daintily picking at another slice of cheesecake, making soft noises of appreciation as if we aren’t quietly orchestrating the end of a war.

Her words land like a fucking bomb in my mind.

Casual. Light. Like she’s talking about the weather.

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