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I'm too busy sorting through numerous reports that I don't hear Delano enter my study. He clears his throat, his tall frame leaning casually against the doorframe. A manilla folder is in one of his hands, and I assume it's filled with the information he claimed was important enough to only speak about in person. I should be thrilled he might have a lead on Rafino, but all I feel is cold. Lifeless. An empty-shelled version of myself.

"Drinking before noon?" Delano stares pointedly at the glass filled with amber liquid beside me.

"Is that a crime?" Picking up my third glass of the day, I take a long drag and cherish the burn it brings. "What's in the folder?"

Delano narrows his eyes, but thankfully, he doesn't ask further questions. He sits down in the chair adjacent to my desk, crossing one leg over the other. "It seems Rafino has decided to dabble in another atrocity on the black market. I was able to meet with Jesse, and he gave me a flash drive with these images. It just wasn't what I was expecting."

I arch a brow. "In what way?"

He shakes his head, eyes growing vacant. "Just open the folder."

I'm not sure what I was expecting to find inside, but it certainly wasn't brutalized images of multiple women. Some are coated in dirt, others are chained to walls... The photos turn my stomach, but I force myself to look at every single one. This is what Rafino is doing to the city. What started as a drug operation is now bleeding into human trafficking, and although these photos are sickening, it fuels my motivation to track this fucker down and end his rein once and for all.

My eyes flick to Delano's. "Did Jesse witness this first hand? Is he with these women now?" Jesse is the one insider we've managed to sneak into Rafino's inner circle. Our contact with him is limited, but Jesse ensures we get updates every few months pertaining any information that could help further our mission. If Rafino put Jesse in charge of these women, at least they'll have an ally until we can find a way to free them, even if they may not realize it yet.

"No. Even though he's connected with Rafino, he's not privy to his whereabouts. He found these images after hacking into Rafino's system and was able to put them on the flash drive for me. He's trying to find Rafino and these women's location, but his efforts have been fruitless so far. If he reaches back out with anything, I'll let you know. Until then, I'll be spending some time in the city to try and gather any information about the women I can. Four disappearances have been reported by the police in the past month, and we all know how serious the police take these cases. They'll give up after another week, so I'm taking it upon myself to do their fucking job."

I lean back in my chair, folding my hands across my stomach. "We can rent a townhouse on the Upper East Side. I need to stay in the city for the next few months as well."

Delano forms his lips in a thin line. "Because of the woman who was here last night? She got home safely this morning, in case you wanted to know. I had Landon drop her off."

I wish my reason for going into the city was to see Hadari, but she made it clear what her choice was, and I'm not going to try and persuade her to see things differently when it's the safest option to stay away from me. I knew when I took over this operation to bring Rafino down what it would mean for my personal life. Getting close to someone is something I can't afford.

"It's pertaining to the note attached to Lyonel's body." Rafino threatened my family's safety, and that's something I don't take lightly. Plus, my little brother seems to be royally fucking me over by attempting to save our father's fake company that has been burning into the ground since his passing. A headline was released this morning that Sienna Stone, the woman who runs the largest marketing company on the East Coast, has signed on to partner with Nash Enterprises. How he was able to afford her is beyond me, but I'm going to do whatever possible to meddle with his plans. I've been trying to get my portion of the company shares for years, but my mother has been stingy, and with Lincoln being in charge, there's no way in hell I'll get my hands on my share. Unless, however, he sells the company, which I thought was imminent given how poorly the company has been doing.

My portion of the company shares would allow me to use that money to my advantage here and further this operation. We could buy out people we need to for pertinent intel on Rafino's location. I have more than enough money to know what to do with, but I'm not stupid enough to throw it away and go bankrupt. I need these company shares to use as my throw away money.

Sienna Stone is a threat to me obtaining them. A threat I need to take care of.

"Who's going to run things here?" Delano asks.

"Leon is capable, no?" I'm confident my head of security can assume the task of protecting the warehouse. He's discreet to the point I rarely see him myself, but the few times I have been in his presence, they're enough to not question his abilities.

"I suppose." Delano tilts his head, deep in thought. "I spoke with him this morning about providing your guest with guards, but I'll reach back out to him for you about taking over things here for the time being."

"Did he provide her with the best?"

"Aside from your security, yes."

"Switch them."

Delano can't hide the shock in his features. "With all due respect, Tobias and Wren have been your security since you took over, sir. We can't afford for you to drop down to the next best option. Especially after that threat with a promise to harm your family."

Leaning forward on my elbows, I keep my eyes focused on him, letting the lethal killer that lies beneath come out to play. "She is going to be the most sought after target until Rafino no longer believes he has reason. If he wants to get to me, he'll have someone attack her just as he did last night, and I refuse to allow her to get in harm's way because my cock got the best of me. Switch them. I know how to defend myself, but she does—"

Well, I can't say Hadari doesn't know how to protect herself when I witnessed her put one of Rafino's goons out cold. She put him in a goddamn headlock for Christ's sake. I'm used to coming to a woman's defense. I enjoy being Prince Charming. Hadari, however, didn't need a savior, and that seemed to turn me on more than I thought it would.

A woman who is confident, independent, and strong. She's as intriguing to watch on the pole as she is to hold a conversation with. Her beauty is one thing, but her mind is something entirely different.

Delano continues to stare at me with his brows raised to his hairline, and I don't realize until now that I never finished my sentence.

"You know, if your guest is important, we would find a way to make it work, right? I didn't realize she made that much of an impression on you, but—"

"But nothing." I drain the rest of my whiskey and thunk it down onto the desk. "You've lived this lifestyle longer than me, Delano, so you know the sacrifices we're forced to make. She's safer away from me. I'm not going to fight for something that could never be serious and wouldn't thrive in the real world. It's pointless."

Delano holds my stare, and although he wants to say more, he thinks better of it. He knows as well as I do that getting involved with anyone is a bad idea. We just found Lyonel dead, and that affected me enough. I wasn't close with him because I hold everyone at arm's length, so if I started fucking Hadari and something happened to her? I can only imagine the toll it'd have on me. I refuse to take that risk.

"Switch them," I repeat, "and bring her security up to speed on my specifications before they start. In the meantime, I'll research townhomes and send photos to you for approval later this afternoon. I'm hoping to be moved within the week."

Sensing he's been dismissed, Delano rises from the chair and dips his chin in acknowledgment. "As you wish." He pauses by the doorway before he asks, "Do you want updates on her from security?"

Fuck, do I ever. Not knowing what she's up to... Not being able to watch her in her element at the club and engage in stimulating conversation is going to be the worst form of torment. However, I told her I'd respect her decision, and I meant it. I'm not the kind of man who goes back on his word, no matter how much I may want to.

"No." I reach for the bottle of whiskey and pour another glass. "Unless she's in danger, I want to know nothing."