Page 106 of Crossing Lines

“No,” Zeki says, the denial immediate but strained. “It’s not like that. At all.” He takes a shaky breath, and for the first time, I see something raw, exposed in him. “For the past couple of weeks, Mert’s been relentless. He wanted to meet up and kept pushing. I talked it over with Nate, and he suggested I go along with it—wear a wire and get to the bottom of whatever he’s planning. Mert’s trying to turn me against you, Evren. He wanted me to feed him information about the Sentinels.”

The words twist like a knife in my gut. I try to mask the surge of betrayal, the disbelief that my brother could be dragged into this mess, but it’s Nina who steps into the silence, gaze narrowed and fierce. “And did you?” she demands. “Tell me you told him to fuck right off with that request.”

A muscle pulses in Zeki’s jaw. “I didn’t. I fed him false information, things that sound convincing but don’t add up. Nate and I are working with the lawyers to see if there’s enough to press charges. If not…I’ll meet with him again.”

The room seems to contract, the space too small to contain the maelstrom of emotions clawing inside me. He’s trying to help? To gather evidence against Mert?

“You’d do that?” My voice cracks, the vulnerability sharp and unfamiliar. “For me?”

Zeki’s expression softens. “Of course. You’re my brother. You’ve protected me my whole life, even when I didn’t deserve it. Now it’s my turn to protect you.”

The weight of his words sinks in, crashing over me with the force of a wave. Memories of sleepless nights worrying about him, arguments that cut deeper than they should have, moments of brotherly silence that spoke more than words ever could—they all rush back in a blinding torrent.

And I know, deep down, that he’s telling the truth. The resolute set of his jaw, the way he’s here, laying everything out in front of me without hesitation—this isn’t deceit. This is loyalty.

The tight band around my chest loosens slightly, and before I can stop myself, I step forward and pull him into a brief, fierce hug. Zeki stiffens at first, then relaxes. I hug Zeki, a real hug, for the first time.

“Thank you,” I say, holding him tight. “It’s an honor to call myself your brother. I know I don’t say this often, and I’m sorry for that, but I love you.”

Zeki’s arms tighten around me. “I love you, too.”

We stay like that for a few moments before Zeki pulls back and says, “Let’s take him down. Together.”

“Agreed,” Nina says, voice fierce and unyielding. “It’s time to end Mert.”

For the first time in days, I feel the spark of hope—fragile but real. And with Nina and Zeki by my side, I know we can weather whatever comes next.

The air in the bar crackles with tension as we step inside. Nate informed us that Mert’s in town and it’s time for some answers. Mert sits in the back corner, half hidden in the dim lighting, nursing a drink. His gaze widens when he spots Nina and me, but he doesn’t bolt. It’s almost like he’s been waiting for this. Nate thought it best if Zeki didn’t come, to not show his hand.

“Mert,” I say, my voice low and steady, masking the storm brewing inside me. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

He leans back, his posture casual, but I catch the tic of a muscle in his jaw. “Evren. Always a pleasure. Here for a drink or something more…personal?”

“Why are you here?” I ask.

He chuckles, a dry, humorless sound. “I didn’t realize my movements warranted such attention. What’s this, a reunion?” He sips his drink, gaze flitting between Nina and me with calculated boredom.

“Why?” It’s a simple question, but it holds the weight of weeks of sabotage, betrayal, and sleepless nights.

“Why what?” Mert asks.

“Whyeverything?” The words grind out of me,heavy with anger and disbelief. “The blackmail, the tampering, the rumors—was it all just to line your pockets?”

He scoffs, gaze narrowing with bitterness. “Debt, Evren. I was in debt, all right? But you wouldn’t understand that. With your perfect career and yourperfectteam, you think you deserve everything. News flash—I was the one who had the ideas back when we started. I just didn’t have the connections or the luck. You didn’t deserve it, I did.”

His voice rises, drawing a few curious glances from the other patrons. He doesn’t seem to care. He’s unraveling, the mask slipping to reveal the petulance underneath. He’s always reached for what others have achieved instead of creating anything himself.

I glance at Nina, whose expression is unreadable, her sharp gaze flickering over Mert like she’s dissecting every word, searching for cracks.

“And Quincy?” she asks. “Is that why you’re here now?”

“Perhaps.” Mert smirks. “You might have everyone fooled, but even you can’t stop someone from jumping ship. And once he’s gone, let’s see how the Sentinels hold up.”

I don’t bother to tell him about the NFL rules against such behavior; there’s no need to reveal my next steps or that he’s digging himself into a hole.

“Those rumors you started were quite clever,” Nina says casually.

I glance at her, not sure where she’s heading with this.

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