bChapter /bb206 /b

    Ste held out her hands. “I came alone. Check my phone, no calls, no backup. Even if you let her gob, /bwhat’s one woman bgoing /bto bdo /bbagain /byou?b” /b

    Hasan set down his fork, studying her. “You’ve changed. Back when you were a kid trailing after your family, I never paid byou /bbany /battention But now?b” /b

    He tilted his head. “I’ll admit, you’ve got spine. Too bad I don’t trust a word you say. She stays until I get what I want.”

    Ste met his gaze, unflinching. “Then why should I believe you won’t betray me the second I agree?”

    “Christ, Ste,” Hasan barked augh. “You don’t act like any 21–year–old I’ve ever met. Too damn sharp for your own good. But if we’re breally /bat this trust impasse, then I guess we’re done talking.”

    She studied him for a long beat before shrugging. “Fine. No negotiations. Kill me if you want. Just let her go first.”

    Hasan closed the distance between them in three strides. “You know what happened to my son.”

    “Whether I do or don’t, what’s it to you?”

    Every visit to the Quinn estate shed through her mind, how Lionel’s parents had always looked through her like window ss.

    Anna was their golden child, the one swaddled in family adoration, while Ste might as well have been furniture. When Lionel was present, they’d merely ignored her; in his absence, the insults flowed freely.

    This was a high–stakes poker game now. Time to see who’d blink first.

    “I’ll admit,” Hasan said, thumbing his lip, “I never saw you as anything but Hayes family trash. Yet here you are, the one who wed her way up. Here’s the deal: get me 300 million, and you both walk out untouched.”

    A suddenugh burst from Ste’s throat. Hasan’s eyes narrowed. ‘Who the hellughs at gunpoint?‘

    “You’re hrious.” She wiped mock tears. “Your son begged me for 150 million to cover his 90–million debt. Now you’re asking for 300 million? We both know I don’t have that liquid.”

    “Bullshit.” He kicked a metal chair, sending it screeching across concrete. “Jordan would wire it in a heartbeat. Hell, that simp Kevin would mortgage his whole tech empire for you.”

    “Why would I ask them?”

    Hasan jerked his chin toward N, still gagged. “Because I own your secretary’s heartbeat.”

    Ste rolled her eyes. “Seriously? You kidnapped an administrative assistant and think that’s leverage? If you’d taken Kevin or Jordan, maybe we’d be talking. But N?” She snorted. “Her family would throw a parade if I handed them a 1.5–million–dor condolence checkb./bb” /b

    Hasan’s face turned purple.

    “I know exactly how desperate the Quinns are,” Ste continued, stepping closer. “Your family’s been circling the drain for years, and iyour /iidiot son just kicked thedder out from under you. But 300 million?” She smiled sweetly. “Not happening.”

    Hasan seized her cor, whiskey breath hot on her face. “Maybe I can’t snatch your precious men, but you’re right here. Call them yourself, and I’ll make it quick, If I have to dial?” His grip tightened. “You’ll beg me to-”

    “Beg who, exactly?” Ste whipped the chemical vial from her sleeve and smashed it across his eyes.

    “Goddammit!” Hasan recoiled, hands flying to his eyes as he staggered back. Around themb, /bhisckeys lurched bforward/bb, /bbbut /bSte was already ready. She whipped out a small spray bottle, its contents glinting ominously.

    to

    “Back off,” she warned, voice icy. “You saw what just happened. I aced chemistry in school–spent half my life in bbs/b. This inttle cocktail? ips more than enough to ruin your day. Try me.”

    She edged toward N, a pair of scissors now in her other hand. The ropes were tough, but she worked fast, sawing at the fibers.

    Hasan, wiping furiously at his face, barked at his men. “What the hell are you waiting for? Grab them!”

    The thugs charged. Ste didn’t hesitate; she sprayed. The liquid hit skin, and instantly, the men howled, wing at burning patches. The

    others froze.

    Behind her, N wrenched free from thest of the ropes, ducking close,

    Hasan’s jaw tightened. He’d nned to bring a gun, but guns were hard toe by these days. ‘Two unarmed girls should’ve been beasy/b. How did she-?‘

    Hasan snarled, “Anyone who catches them gets a bonus!”

    The men, desperate for cash, immediately lunged toward Ste and N.

    “Stay behind me,” Ste ordered, shielding N with her body. “You really wanna try me again? Go ahead. But let’s be real. This guy’s broke. You think he’s gonna pay you? A few hundred bucks at best? Don’t be idiots. He’s ying you.”

    The men hesitated, ncing between Hasan and Ste, unsure who to trust.

    Ste was bluffing, but she knew exactly what she was doing. These weren’t Hasan’s loyal followers. Those guys had ditched bhim /bthe second the money dried up. These were just hired hands, mercenaries with no real loyalty. And she was about to exploit that.

    She tightened her grip on the spray bottle. “One step closer, and I’ll make sure you regret it.”

    Then, she yed her final card. “Here’s a better deal: I’ll Cash App each of you three grand right now. Let us walk away, and the money’s yours. Refuse, and you get nothing.”

    The men’s eyes lit up. “Three grand?” One of them muttered. Deal.”

    N stared at Ste in disbelief. ‘Who negotiates with kidnappers like this?‘

    Ste pulled out her phone, created a group chat, and sent the payments. The instant sounds of notifications made the men grin.

    “Ladies,” one of them said, suddenly polite, “you’re free to go. We’ll make sure Hasan doesn’t bother you.”

    bAD /b

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