NovelBarChapter 555
"Steve's safe for now," Jace said, leavingpuzzled.
He explained, "Quartz Cue pretends to be just a cue sports club, but they're deep in illegal betting. Their original
plan was to take down Steve to keep their championship status and rake in the gambling profits."
I'd heard rumors about underground betting, but snooker? Really?
"When they couldn't get to Steve directly," Jace went on, "they switched it up. They're betting big on him,
shifting the odds in his favor. If he wins, it looks like they lose-except they're making secret deals to make way
more on the back end." | shivered. Something as simple as Steve's snooker career had turned into this dark web
of schemes and shady money moves.
Steve once toldhe started playing because he loved it-like, genuinely loved it. He wanted to prove that
someone from our country could go global. Knowing he was just a pawn now... | couldn't imagine
how crushed he'd feel.
"Does Steve have any clue about this?" | asked, feeling a weight in my chest.
"No. If he knew, he'd probably refuse to play," Jace said, eyes darkening. "But if he doesn't play... he could lose a
lot more than just a match."
| froze, a wave of dread washing over me. Jace's voice turned grim. "Rea, just because Hayden saved him once
doesn't mean Steve's safe now. This whole thing was a setup from the start."
My stomach did a nervous flip. Hayden hadn't said anything about this. Did he even know?
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"The match is in two days. They can't afford any last-minute disruptions. But Bruno's fans? Total loose cannons,
out of Quartz Cue's control. So, to keep everything smooth, they might cafter you. They won't hurt you, but
they'll want you as leverage." A knot tightened in my chest. "They're worried Hayden might go after Quartz Cue
again, aren't they?"
Jace shook his head slightly. "You're not just leverage against Hayden. You're also a way to pressure Steve into
playing."
"But... but I..." | stammered, totally thrown. "Hayden and | aren't even together anymore, and Steve is just a
friend."
Jace looked atwith this unreadable expression before letting out a low, amused laugh.
| was baffled. "What's so funny?"
"You're still so... naive," Jace replied, though his words felt more like a veiled criticism than a compliment.
| frowned. "What's that supposed to mean? Just spit it out."
He shrugged. "Just that even if he's ‘just a friend," Steve would never abandon you if you were in real danger.
And, for the record... you still call him your close friend."
| opened my mouth to argue but stopped. He had a point. Jace was warning me: this was serious, and I'd
somehow beca target. Whether it was Bruno's fans or Quartz Cue, if they got to me, it wouldn't just
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+25 BONUS
Chapter 555
be bad for me-it'd drag Hayden and Steve right down with me.
| took a breath, realizing this wasn't
the tto be SLR Aight Bo
SHandsoicEse er, or should |
just head back home?" The content is
on novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
"Wayne's, hands down. You shouldn't
be moving around too much-aniypne
out there could Np! Bruno's
find)! Jace said, pulling out his
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
phone. The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
He handedhis phone. "Look. This
cfrom a contact. Jouve Been
posted q Brupass Yah ls There's
albddnty on you. Three million dollars
for anyone who brings you in." The
content is on novelenglish.net! Read
the latest chapter there!
| stared at the screenshot, letting out a bitter laugh. "Wow. Didn't know | was worth that much."
Jace's eyes darkened. "No one expected one person could stir up this kind of storm."
| managed a wry smile. "Isn't that a little tic?"
"You might not get it now, but you will," he said, serious. "So... are you ready to cwithnow?"
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