Page 92 of Alpha-Ex Wedding Ruse
Cassius’ eyes went wide. “That’s—that’s a hundred and fifty grand. I—I can’t—”
“I offered you twice that,” I hissed, dragging him forward by the collar. “But you wanted more. You wanted to play me. Your mistake was thinking I was desperate.”
I pulled out my phone and turned the screen toward him. His eyes lit up at the sight of supplier manifests, payment ledgers, and smuggling routes traced over Manhattan’s subway grid. The cherry on top? Surveillance footage of his men unloading crates into Vaughn-owned docks.
Cassius paled like a man watching his own funeral.
“I just shared this data to every major law enforcement server,” Isaid, my grip tightening. “They’re all scheduled for release. Unless I cancel them.”
“You’re bluffing,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Am I?” I leaned in. “You think a man like me would walk in here without a kill switch?”
I shoved him down into the chair, both hands pinning him.
“My Mate has been paying for sins that were never hers,” I snarled. “That ends now.”
My wolf surged forward, just enough to show. My nails lengthened into curved claws. My eyes flared red. The room filled with the weight of my fury.
“You so much as breathe her name again,” I said low and lethal, “and I’ll tear your spine out and mount it on your fucking gates. Understood?”
He nodded frantically, sweat clinging to his brow.
“Use your words. Do. You. Understand?”
“Yes! Yes! I swear—”
I stepped back. Straightened my coat and ran a hand through my hair to tame the shift clawing up my spine.
“Delete the debt. Now. If I so much as hear a whisper of it again…” I leaned forward, and he flinched. “I’ll burn this entire syndicate to ash.”
Then I turned and walked out, leaving him exactly how I wanted him—shaking in his own fucking kingdom.
As I made my way toward the exit, I saw Blaze laughing in the corner. The sound of his laughter snapped something in me. I walked toward him and, without thinking, slammed my fist into his nose. The sound of bone cracking filled the air, and blood spilled instantly. A chorus of gasps followed. The entire room fell dead silent.
“That was for daring to lay your hands on Leila. And if you dare to lift any of your filthy fingers on her, I’ll cut them off one by one while you watch.”
I didn’t wait for a reply. I turned and walked out, fury lashing inside me. My wolf was livid. I was barely holding him back. I’d thoughtpunching Blaze would satisfy something in me. But all I felt was the rage beneath it. Raw. Unrelenting.
It was getting harder to pretend. Harder to leash the craving. My wolf wanted her—our Mate. And so did I. I didn’t care that she’d betrayed me. Didn’t care what the past said.
I just wanted her.
Chapter Twenty-One
Leila’s POV
Damn the universefor always finding ways to drag me back to Manhattan.
I pounded on the steel door of the syndicate’s lair, my patience already wearing thin. Their payment for the week was due. Elena had billed for the second installment for the job, and I wanted to pay two weeks ahead.
I’d tried transferring it to the usual account, only to find it had been shut down. I called Blaze—three times. But the piece of shit didn’t answer. The last thing I needed was for me or Ollie to get harassed because of their incompetence. So here I was. Again. Against my entire will.
The metal slot scraped open, and Blaze’s familiar eyes flashed through it. When he saw me, they narrowed to slits. He slammed it shut. A second later, the door swung open, and he stalked out holding a bottle of liquor in his hand.
“What the hell do you still want here?” he barked.
He was unusually furious today. I figured it had something to dowith the bandage strapped over his swollen nose. Someone must’ve clocked him good. Rattled his ego. Now he was looking for someone to bleed it out on.
