Wager of the Heart: The Rejected Mate

ande

. Her eyes, wide with something raw: anger, betrayal; locked on the tablet in her hand. My tablet. My gut twisted. She'd seen the email. Victor's taunting words, th

des, the crowd parting like they sensed a storm. He

wrapped in velvet. She thrust the tabl

ork's elite sniffing drama like sharks. Victor Lang lounged by t

d, keeping my voice low, steady.

sion? Where you play your games?" Her hands trembled, but

ee but followed, her heels clicking like a countdown. The night air hit us, cool and sharp

emanded, crossin

rival. A prick. He bet me I couldn't..." I hesitated, the words tasting like ash. "Couldn't get

. "You hired me to win a bet. My life, my fa

y, I won't lie. But you, Elena, you're not a game. Not anymore." My chest tightened, the

ling stopped her. "Don't you dare. You don't get

ached for her, but sh

s sick, my brother's barely holding it together, and I'm dodging loan sharks wh

oomed in my mind: his reach, his ruthlessness. Had he set her up even

make me owe you?" She shook her head, tears

to the floor. I grabbed her wrist, not thi

Alexander. You broke me." She yanked free, her

art pounding, but she was fast, slipping out a side exit. By the time I r

wall. Pain shot through my knuckles, grounding me

e drawled, sipping champagne.

f. "What did you do, Lang? You set her up,

without proof? Sloppy." He stepped closer, voice l

"To Brooklyn," I snapped, sliding into the car. Elena's address was in her file

to charm her, play the game, and win the merger. But somewhere between her sharp retorts and that spark in her

Her building was a crumbling walk-up, graffiti scarring the walls. I buzzed he

woman snapped. "Saw

ight. But I wasn't done. I'd find her, explain, make t

signature, but Victor's stench was all over it. My grip tightened, the screen

's moves: his contacts, his plans. If he was behind those loan sharks, I'd bury him, and Elena? I'd fight

e. I'd built my life on control, but Elena Vasquez had shattered it a