Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right by Rosie Steppe

Chapter 725

Wayne was behind his pain, and I made a mental note to remember it.

1 stopped, still pressed close to Hayden, catching my breath. Messing around with him like this felt... good, like we were back to normal.

Then I remembered he was technically still supposed to be in a coma. "How long are you planning to keep up the act?" I asked. "I'm done. I'm awake now, aren't I?" he replied, grinning lazily.

I couldn't help but laugh. "You're such a troll. You're just messing with them for fun, aren't you?"

Hayden's expression darkened slightly. "If I didn't have bigger priorities, I'd do more than mess with them. I'd make them pay.

His tone was casual, but the words carried a dangerous edge.

He called it "messing," but we both knew he was talking about risking everything-his life, no less. It wasn't that different from what Demi had been through.

"I saw Demi..." I told him about her situation, sharing everything I'd learned. Hayden didn't say a word, but I could see the weight of it in his eyes.

"Lena said she once treated girls with injuries like Demi's. She thinks their stories are similar and offered to track them down to gather more evidence," I added, hoping for a reaction. But Hayden stayed quiet. "What's wrong?" I waved a hand in front of his face.

black-market operation-bigger than you realize.

typical shady nightclub. If all they did was sell sex, Hayden wouldn't

and I don't want to. But you need to promise me one thing: keep yourself safe," I

had already hurt someone I cared about. I didn't have the right to hold him

"I didn't want you involved. But here you are, tangled up in all of this. Promise me you'll

he pretended to

+25 BONUS

Chapter 725

how hannless he

claimed to love me, even worshipped me. But if he couldn't have me, I had no doubt

tell Hayden that part. There was no point it

this time, I wanted to be the one shielding him. "Tanya's probably

expression serious. "You know this could put you in

that reckless? The bar's already signed over to

teased, though

shrugged. "Not sharp, just-practical. If I don't take control, someone else will-and

my cheek softly, a rare tenderness in his gaze.