The Triple Cross: Billionaire's Blood Debt

, Leo, we're going to end up in the

iding against the worn plastic as the old sedan chugged and wheezed like a dying animal. The hea

Mama," Leo whin

ad the same stubborn set to his jaw that I saw in my most beautiful nightmares. Every time he pouted,

Just a few more

into my teeth. White smoke began to billow from the edges of the hood, obscuring the winding mountain road. I

tic hammer in my throat, rhythmic and suffocating. I popped the hood, and a cloud of bitter, oily steam

c hum. It wasn't the wind. I

hat's th

ound beneath my boots. It was a rhythmic thunder, the soun

ane R

a bike forged in the depths of a furnace. The rider was a shadow against the setting s

on V

r in my blood. My stomach twisted into a hard, agonizing knot. Jaxson killed his engine, and the silence that followed was louder than the roar h

g way from th

nto my marrow. It was rougher than it had been, a

to sound defiant. My voice wa

n this road by ac

anite. The silver scar on his eyebrow stood out starkly against his tanned skin. He swung his leg over the bike and walked toward me. The scent of him-leath

asked, backing up until my spi

es away. The heat radiating from his body was immense. I could see the pulse jumping

sing through,

ear my face. I flinched, my heart leaping. His fingers d

Who is

eaked open. Leo stepped out

on f

looked at me. Then back at Leo. The boy walked closer, his small hand grabbing the hem of my shirt. He stared

big bike,"

ow. I saw his hands tremble-the Great Jaxson Vane, shaking. It was a sigh

tarted, my vo

," he

at eye level with the boy now. "What's your name, kid?

ied. "My mama says

, turbulent emotion-a mix of worship and a desire to burn the world down. He reached out, his large, calloused hand trembling as he b

someone I used to kn

ike me,"

a sob. He stood up slowly, and the tenderness evaporate

said. It wasn't a questio

"You weren't a father, Jaxson. You were a man wh

ce until his shadow swallowed me. "He belongs in a

ongs wi

ice dropping to a dangerous frequency. "And he's safer

oed through the pass. His head snapped to the side. Behind him, the Reapers shifted, hands moving

ered. "Give me a reason

y hand burned. I looked at Leo, who wa

," I said, though my h

poke to one of his men. "The car is scrap. The

ing anywher

S coordinates an hour ago. He told me exactly where you'd be. He sold you out, Elena. Just li

My client. The ten-million

toward a black SUV, but Jaxson's hand sho

y ear. His breath was cold, smelling of winter. "I want the truth. And th

final sound-I looked at my son, my heart breaking into a t

lutching my hand. "Are w

spered. "We're go

wallowed us. My phone buzzed. A text from

cold object. A hard drive. The very one I had stolen five years ag