Chapter 3

"Tracy, you'll regret this."

I stood up and, without another word, went upstairs, grabbed a few clothes, and left.

I went to a bar on Omalin Street. I knew Josh was a regular there.

Painting wasn't his only gig. He also dealt in illicit goods, selling them to the rich kids who hung out there.

I spotted him in a booth in the corner.

Less than two hours after leaving my house, he had changed clothes. A thick gold chain hung around his neck, and two women sat beside him.

A guy with bleached-blond hair handed him a cigarette. "Josh, I heard you landed yourself a sugar mama?"

Josh took a drag and blew out a smoke ring. "Sugar mama? She's just an old hag who's never been with a man. Tracy Weaver looks ice-cold, but she's actually dumb as a rock.

"I fed her some crap about 'the earthly world' and 'karmic debt,' and she bought it. Now she's set on saving me."

"Damn, Josh, you're a legend! So all her family's money is basically yours?"

"It's only a matter of time. That useless husband of hers is about to get kicked out. Once I get the money, I'm taking you guys to Las Vegas to party it up!"

I was sitting at the next table. I stopped the recording on my phone.

This wasn't enough.

Knowing how Tracy's mind worked, she'd just think I faked it, or that Josh was only talking big in front of his friends.

I needed her to see it with her own eyes.

A girl in a leather jacket walked over. It was Harper Knight, the eldest daughter of the Knight family. She had a fiery temper and was a regular here.

"Josh, where's my stuff?"

Harper kicked the table, and liquor bottles shattered all over the floor.

Josh went pale and quickly forced a smile. "Ms. Knight, it's not time yet."

"Cut the crap! I already paid you. If you can't hand it over today, I'll break your leg!"

I seized my chance and sent Tracy my location with a message: [Your pure little darling is about to get beaten to death.]

Then I grabbed a bottle and walked over. "Stop!"

I planted myself in front of Josh.

Josh froze for a second when he saw me, then instantly put on a pitiful look. "Old man! Help me! This crazy woman is trying to force me to use that stuff. I said no, so she's going to beat me up!"

He was falsely accusing her instead.

Harper laughed out of sheer outrage. "Huh? You sell fakes, and now you're playing innocent?"

"Who sells fakes? I'm an artist!" Josh hid behind me.

Harper didn't bother arguing. She waved at the people behind her. "Get him! Beat up this busybody too!"

I had only meant to set a trap. I hadn't expected Harper's men to hit so hard.

To make it convincing, I took several blows head-on while shielding Josh and backing toward the door.

A beer bottle smashed against my head. Blood ran down my forehead and blurred my vision.

Someone kicked the bar door open. Tracy stormed in with a group of bodyguards. "Who dares touch him?"

In one glance, she took in Josh, unharmed behind me, and me, my head covered in blood.

I thought she would at least ask if I was hurt.

Instead, she rushed over, shoved me aside, and pulled Josh into her arms. "Josh, you scared me to death! It's okay. I'm here."

The push knocked me to the floor, and my hand landed right on a patch of broken glass.

"Tracy! It was him! He's the one who brought me here!"