~LAYLA~
The next evening, I stood in front of our car, the diamond bracelet cold against my wrist. Axel was beside me; his jaw was tight, and his hands were clenched at his sides.
"If I could," he said quietly, "I wouldn't let you do this. I'd lock you in the house and deal with Marco myself."
"I know." I touched his face gently. "But we have little to no choice. This is our best shot."
"Tye's got you covered," he said, though it sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than me. "Four men in your security detail, all armed. Tye himself will be inside. And I'll be monitoring everything from the van outside."
"I'll be fine."
"You better be." He pulled me into his arms, holding me so tight I could barely breathe. "Because if anything happens to you, if Marco even looks at you wrong…"
"He won't. He wants something from me, which means he needs me alive and cooperative." I pulled back to look at him. "I can do this, Axel. I have to."
