Flawless Prize

He appears in the living room, dressed down in a T-shirt and jeans, cool as ever—even when I raise the gun and point it right at him.

“I got your message,” I say, heart pounding with anger. “So here’s my reply.”

I don’t know what I was expecting. Contrition, maybe, even fear. But instead, Nero seems entirely unmoved. His lips even curl into a smile. “Nice to see you, Sterling. But message? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t fuck around with me,” I demand, anger boiling over into white-hot rage. “You nearly fucking killed her.”

Nero looks puzzled. “Who?”

“You know who! Juliet.” My voice cracks on her name. I take another step closer, aiming right at his head. “You ran her off the road and left her for dead.”

“I’m sorry to hear your girl ran into some… Difficulty,” Nero says, with a smirk. “But I can assure you, it wasn’t at my hand.”

“How am I supposed to believe that?” I exclaimed.

“Because if I wanted her dead, she would be.”

Nero’s reply chills me to the core, and makes me pause, just for a moment. Is he fucking with me? Or is he telling the truth?

Before I can decide, I hear the telltale CLICK of a gun being cocked behind me.

“Drop the weapon.”

I turn. It’s her, the dark-haired woman I assumed was Nero’s latest squeeze, but she’s holding a handgun in a confident grip, aiming right at me. “Go on, put it on the table. Slowly. Before I blow away your precious jewels.”

I can tell from the steel in her eyes, she’s not bluffing.

And I can tell from the steady grip, she wouldn’t miss.

Nero chuckles. “Now, isn’t this fun? Caleb, meet Avery.”

Fuck.

I pause, trying to figure a way out of this with my brains—and balls—intact. “Just admit you’ve been harassing her,” I demand.

“Not my style, Sterling.” Nero shrugs. “I don’t need to play games like that. Believe me, when I’m coming for you… You’ll know it.”

“You’re lying!” I yell, anger taking me over again. When I remember Juliet in that hospital bed… When I think of her laying, crumpled in the car wreck… “I swear to God, Barretti, I’m going to destroy you for what you’ve done—” I move forward, past reason now, but before I can take another step, there’s a noise in the open doorway of the apartment.

“And then there were three.”

It’s Logan—with his gun to the back of Avery’s head.

Thank fuck. I’ve never been so happy to see my friend in my life.

“Anyone want to do the math on their chances here?” Logan asks, sounding casual, but I can tell from the tension in his jaw, it’s just for show. “Or perhaps we all pack up, and I take my friend here to go blow off some steam.”

There’s a long pause, as Nero looks between us, running mental calculations. Then he nods. “Avery,” he says, an order in his voice.

She gives a reluctant sigh, and then slowly lowers her weapon.

I do the same—but Logan keeps his steady as he gestures me to get out of there.

I give Nero a warning look as I head for the door. “Don’t fuck with Juliet again.”

“As I said, I’m not the guy you’re looking for. But now that I know how much she means to you…” he gives a cruel smirk. “Pay me what I’m owed. Or maybe I will pay your sweet Juliet a visit, after all.”

I growl, about to go choke him out, when Logan grips my arm and yanks me away. “Always a pleasure,” he calls behind us, as he hustles me into the elevator.