John had a rule.

  Never take the first deal.

  Because the first deal? That was always the trap.

  And right now, standing face to face with Aria in the dimly lit entrance of the Black Veil, John could feel the trap closing around him.

  "You stepped into Cain’s game," she had said. Like it was already decided.

  Like he didn’t have a choice.

  John clenched his jaw. "And what exactly is his game?"

  Aria smirked. The worst kind of smirk.

  The kind that said, You’re already playing. You just don’t know it yet.

  Aria let go of his wrist but didn’t step back.

  Instead, she leaned slightly closer. Lowered her voice.

  "You think Cain just started watching you?" she asked. "That this is all because of one job?"

  John’s gut twisted. She was right. It didn’t add up.

  He had spent his life being careful. Avoiding attention. Avoiding power.

  So why was Cain interested now?

  "Why don’t you just tell me what I’m missing?" John said evenly.

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  Aria exhaled. "You want the short version?"

  John nodded.

  "Fine," she said. "You’re a loose variable in Cain’s equation. And he doesn’t like variables."

  John frowned. "That’s vague as hell."

  Aria smirked. "Welcome to the world you just stepped into."

  John scowled. He hated cryptic answers.

  But before he could press her—

  A gunshot echoed from inside the club.

  John’s blood ran cold.

  Then—screaming.

  And just like that, the trap snapped shut.

  John didn’t hesitate. Didn’t think.

  He moved.

  The Black Veil, once a place of quiet murmurs and careful negotiations, was erupting into chaos.

  Tables overturned. People scrambled for cover. The guards at the entrance rushed inside, weapons drawn.

  John caught a glimpse of the shooter—a man in a dark coat, standing near the back of the club, gun still smoking.

  But that wasn’t the problem.

  The problem was the body on the floor.

  The man from the booth. One of the two who had been talking about Eli’s father.

  Dead. Executed.

  The second man—the one who had said Cain has another plan—was gone.

  John’s mind snapped into overdrive.

  "Move," Aria’s voice cut through the noise.

  John barely caught the warning before she grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the back exit.

  They slipped past the chaos, unseen in the confusion.

  Out into the alley. Into the night.

  John’s heart was pounding.

  That wasn’t just a random hit.

  That was a message.

  And he had a sinking feeling it was meant for him.

  John stopped the moment they were safely away from the club.

  "Talk," he ordered.

  Aria gave him a look. "Talk about what?"

  "Don’t play dumb. That wasn’t random."

  Aria exhaled. "No. It wasn’t."

  John clenched his fists. He needed answers. Now.

  "What was that guy going to tell me?"

  Aria hesitated.

  Then—"The truth about what Cain is really looking for."

  John’s stomach dropped.

  And for the first time since this started—he felt like he was in over his head.