**Chapter Nine** **Jericho** Trouble seems to have a knack for finding me. If I had any inkling of burying the memories of my stunning ex, kissing her was a colossal mistake. And then there was the auction – I might as well have claimed her all over again by throwing down my money like a reckless romantic. A better man would have simply cut her a check and walked away, content to forget the dates promised in return. That thought flickered through my mind, but each time I considered leaving her alone, I was ensnared by the lingering taste of her lips and the haunting sight of her that night on stage, scantily clad, with all eyes in the room glued to her. The girl who once belonged to me now danced at the center of a sordid spectacle, and it gnawed at me. Now, with the idea of having her for the next two days racing through my head, a wicked warmth unfurled within me, dragging my thoughts down a perilous path. River had decided to keep her secrets, unwilling to divulge anything, and the moment I returned home last night, I dove back into my investigation. I kicked myself for not exploring this sooner, knowing now that River's financial troubles ran far deeper than her aloof explanation of merely handling a few bills. The revelation hit me like a sledgehammer; it was her Aunt Gina who was mired in debt. I had initially suspected her father would be the one needing help, but it was Gina, and as I sat in my tattoo shop, poring over the last piece of intel on her financial plight, the gravity of the situation settled in. It turned out Gina was buried under a mountain of debt. Cursing myself for not digging deeper sooner, I unearthed the shocking truth about Gina’s health. Just a few months back, she had suffered a stroke that followed extensive heart complications. The shadows of those dark days played heavily on my mind, for I was aware of the lineage: River’s mother had fallen victim to a heart attack. I could only imagine River's dread intensifying with every passing day. The tangles of financial despair began to unravel before me. Gina had drained every ounce of savings and income from her business to satisfy loans—both from a bank and a dangerous loan shark—transferring a staggering half million dollars into an offshore account in Kazakhstan. The date of that transaction aligned alarmingly well with River’s return to New York. It was then that I pieced together the real possibility that something unspeakable had occurred during River’s time in Russia. As for her fiancé, my instincts screamed that he was at the sinister heart of it all, yet I still lacked concrete details. A man from the underground would have to do—the kind of shadowy figure I turned to when I had my back against the wall, and I sent him an unexpected request: uncover River's fiancé's true identity. With my shoulders slumping, fatigue clawed at my mind as my fingers touched my temples. I grappled with the repeated question: What am I doing? I wanted to be noble, to rise above my past, yet here I was, throwing myself back into River's chaotic life. Saturdays were usually dedicated to my tattoo parlor, but today, that routine escaped me as I tumbled further into River's world. Tattooing was my clandestine escapism—my sanctuary while my brother Knight crafted masterpieces of ink like our mother once did. In our youth, we owned this shop before parting ways for college; I’d reclaimed it five months ago and refurbished it, making it a shared space for two other artists. I had meant to spend the day inking away, with clients awaiting my needle's embrace. Yet, the revelations about Gina's financial dealings had derailed my plans completely. Now, with this knowledge weighing heavily, I stood at a moral crossroads, questioning whether to intervene or let the currents flow as they were. Last night’s ill-fated date with Celeste seemed to be crumbling too. Her incessant texts inquiring about our next rendezvous piled onto my anxiety. That chapter was closed, yet nine others still loomed on my list. “Did you bid on her?” Luc’s voice jolted me from my reverie. I turned to find him framed in the doorway, a smug grin illuminating his face. I should have anticipated him, especially after his heads-up about the auction. “Come to gloat?” I shot back, irritation thrumming through me, though I could hardly be mad. If he had concealed the event, I might have been more livid. “Just a little. Don’t worry. I’m on my way to the airport, but I thought I’d stop by—got a call from the lovely Celeste.” His smirk deepened as he crossed the room. “She called you?” I raised an eyebrow. “Of course! Women like that don’t take kindly to rejection. It’s practically a scandal when they do!” He rolled his eyes dramatically. “First time for everything,” I muttered, thinking of how lifeless our date had been. “She’s worried she messed up. Said you looked rattled when she mentioned kids. She’s willing to drop the whole ‘baby’ thing if you’ll accept her.” I grimaced; the very idea irritated me. “No way.” “Oh? Enlighten me,” he pressed, leaning forward, curiosity dancing in his gaze. “For one, she waxed poetic about having kids. I won’t trust a woman like that to change her mind so easily. It reeks of manipulation.” “Manipulation?” Luc quirked a brow. “Like Porter Coleman’s wife, who drugged him into parenthood when he uttered the word ‘divorce.’ You remember that debacle from summer?” “Vividly.” He chuckled, nodding. “Also, the fact that Celeste is willing to negotiate parenthood with cash puts her in a sinister light. Kids aren’t currency; they’re lives.” I refused to become my father, nor would I obstruct someone who craved parenthood. Celeste wasn’t destitute; she’d surely find another upscale suitor to fill that role. It simply wouldn’t be me. “Wise words, Grayson. I’m with you there,” Luc replied, his tone shifting toward more serious territory. “But what’s the scoop on River? You just mentioned her working at a club to settle bills. Clearly, the auction suggests she’s in deeper.” “Her aunt's in dire straits,” I admitted, my voice tightening. “Gina had a stroke. She’s battling heart issues, and River has deep ties to her; she once confided that Gina’s been like a mother to her.” The gravity weighed heavier on us both. Luc, having experienced the absence of parental figures, nodded solemnly. He was raised by his uncle after losing his parents in a tragic accident. The bond shared among those who had faced such losses created an unspoken understanding between us. “Will the auction money clear any of Gina's debts?” he asked, concern etching his features. “Not even close.” I could calculate the debt owed to that loan shark in my sleep. While Luc’s worry couldn't hide behind a grin any longer, a mischievous spark danced in his eyes. “You planning to help River, then?” “She refuses my assistance.” “And you’ll let that stand?” His eyebrows shot up in challenge. “I can’t force her to accept my money,” I countered, recalling the mortification in her eyes when I offered her help at the café. “Come on! You just bought her at an auction. Men like us always find ways to get what we want; we simply have to determine the right price.” “There’s a reason they say to let sleeping dogs lie,” I replied, attempting to veil my concern with bravado. “Sure, but River’s that girl who slipped through your fingers—and you know it.” Luc’s certainty rang true, as did the bitterness in my throat when I recalled the fall. “You know how things went down,” I responded, my frustration bubbling under the surface. “You thought I was too harsh, but I can’t shake the guilt. I didn’t deserve her then, and I feel no different now.” “It’s been eight years, Jericho,” Luc pressed gently. “Your ex is utterly stunning, and she needs you. That’s more than enough reason to step back into her life. The past doesn’t bar you from being there for her again.” “Do it for yourself—enjoy the next two nights! Even if that’s all there is.” He raised an eyebrow, snickering at my grim demeanor. “Fine. Let’s put business back on the table,” I shifted, relieved by the detour. "How’s the list of backup girls coming along?" “Ten more are on standby, waiting for their NDAs. You’re gonna love them.” He grinned before glancing at his watch. “I’d better get moving.” “See you at the game next week in Arizona?” I called after him. “Definitely.” Once he departed and the door flopped shut, I returned my gaze to the screen, letting the tumult of thoughts about River consume me. Tonight, I can at least be decent. I should meet River, relish the art show and the dinner to come. Perhaps, I could once again offer to assist her with Gina’s debts, if she’d allow it. If not, tomorrow could serve as a fallback plan; my mind detached from anything beyond that. The night cloaked me as I arrived at the Artisan, but the moment my eyes found her on the terrace, dressed simply in a black mid-length dress—straps skimpy against her supple skin—it stole my breath away. The dress hugged her curves perfectly, and her fiery red hair shimmered against the evening’s shade. She hadn’t changed much over time; an innocent gaze still lingered in her eyes, blissfully unaware of how mesmerizing she was. Some inner demon whispered to me; it had corrupted her light before, and now it reignited that dark desire. She was mine—at least for the next two nights.