Deal Breaker

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Vale drives her Mustang toward Kayden’s house, her heart racing with a tumultuous mix of frustration and anger. The memory of Keith—the man she now despises—echoes in her mind, his dismissive tone still fresh. He had shattered their agreement with a careless flick of his wrist, and the weight of that betrayal fuels her fury.

“Argh!” she screams, pounding the steering wheel in exasperation. “Why does he think he can just do whatever he wants?”

The thought of Keith’s arrogance makes her blood boil. He’s a gang leader, wielding his power like a weapon. What a goddamn deal breaker! How could the other gang members still trust him after he so easily disregarded their pact? Did he always break his promises?

Vale scoffs bitterly. If she wanted to, she could confront him right now. But she won’t—she has to protect her family and friends, even if it means getting her hands dirty.

As she approaches Kayden’s house, her gaze falls on his car parked in the garage. Curiosity gnaws at her. “It’s only 8:15 PM,” she muses, glancing at her watch. He usually stumbles home late, especially after a night of drinking.

Stepping out of her car, she makes her way to the slightly open front door. Confusion furrows her brow. Why hadn’t he closed it?

Pushing the door open wider, she steps inside, her heart sinking at the sight of clothes strewn across the floor. A chill runs down her spine, and she grips the railing of the staircase for support, her pulse quickening.

Her hands tremble, and her throat tightens as she tiptoes toward their bedroom. The door is slightly ajar. She gulps, closing her eyes and inhaling deeply, trying to steady herself against the rising tide of dread.

Letting out a quiet whimper, she clenches her fists and peeks through the door’s crack. The scene before her is shattering: Kayden is on top of another woman, both of them naked. Her heart crumbles into dust as she hears Kayden’s words pierce the silence: “I love you, Mia! I love you more than her!!”

Vale’s world collapses around her. The revelation hits like a freight train, anger and heartbreak surging through her. She feels her breath catch, her chest tightening as if a vice were closing in. How could he do this? Rage boils over, and she storms out of the house, her hands shaking with disbelief.

As she drives back to Keith’s mansion, the rain starts to pour, mingling with her tears and amplifying her sense of betrayal. Each drop feels like a reminder of Kayden’s treachery.

The coldness sinks into her bones. She grips the steering wheel tightly, her vision blurred by tears. Other cars honk at her erratic driving, but she can barely focus, lost in her thoughts of betrayal.

How long had he been cheating on her? Why would he do this? Wasn’t she enough? “God damn it, Kayden!! You cheater!!” she screams, slamming her fist into the steering wheel, the pain a fleeting distraction from her heartache.

Memories of their arguments flood her mind, each one a painful reminder of the love she thought they shared. She thumps her chest with her fist, trying to ease the ache inside her, her heart bleeding with every recollection. She feels as if every laugh they shared, every tender moment, is now tainted with betrayal.

When she arrives at the mansion, she leaves her car running, trusting that Louis will handle it. The gate stands half-open, and she strides toward the mansion, ignoring the confused looks from the guards. She silently thanks the rain for hiding her tears; she doesn’t want to appear vulnerable in front of them.

Vale heads straight for the basement. Training or a stiff drink could help numb the ache. She desperately wants to forget what she’s just witnessed, but the image is seared into her mind.

Her vision remains blurry from tears as she stumbles into a wall, landing hard on her backside. “Ugh!” she whimpers, the impact jolting through her.

As she looks up, Keith stands before her, his expression shifting from anger to concern when he sees her tear-streaked face. “Hey! Are you okay?” he asks, his tone softening, an unexpected warmth in his eyes.

Vale slowly rises, turning her back to him, desperate to hide her vulnerability. She wipes her cheeks, hating that he caught her in such a fragile moment.

Ignoring him, she tries to walk past, but he grabs her arm, turning her to face him. She looks down, not wanting him to see how broken she feels. Fresh tears spill over, and he gently catches her chin, his warm fingers brushing away the tears.

Despite her efforts to remain composed, she can’t hold back the sorrow. Kayden’s betrayal has shattered her completely. She turns away and runs back toward the basement, stopping at the end of the hall, feeling the weight of her heartache.

Keith watches her go, confusion and concern flooding his thoughts. She’s never cried like this, not since the day he blackmailed her into this life. Whatever has happened must be devastating.

He thinks about how strong and beautiful she is, a force to be reckoned with. He feels a surge of pride for how well she does her job, taking down dangerous criminals and protecting her loved ones.

But it angers him to see other men look at Vale as if she’s just prey. No, she’s so much more than that. He’s always waited for the day she would break up with Kayden. After all, the attraction between them is undeniable, and he’s willing to bide his time.

“Hey,” he calls after her, but she’s already disappeared down the hallway.

Moments later, a loud bang from the basement reverberates through the mansion. Keith’s instincts kick in. “Oh shit!” If she’s trying to destroy the place, he’ll have to handle her anger later. He wouldn’t punish her for feeling pain, but he wouldn’t let her wreak havoc either.

Caleb, Jake, Brett, and Dylan approach, their expressions curious. “What happened with Hot Chick?” Jake asks, a teasing note in his voice.

Keith shoots him a warning glare. He hates it when others view Vale as just another pretty face. She’s so much more than that, and he’s the only one who should be able to appreciate her. Caleb, with his short dark hair and easy grin, shrugs, sensing Keith’s tension.

As the others join him, Keith’s thoughts race. He can’t let her spiral into this pain. She deserves better—better than Kayden and better than the life he’s forced upon her.

“Let’s check on her,” he finally says, resolve hardening in his chest. He won’t let Vale suffer alone.

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