Prologue

I had no idea what was going on, but for some reason I was nervous as hell. Mac Collins, Axel Blaze’s boss, was in my house going through every room. I’d arrived home to find him standing on my front porch, arms crossed, with a look that scared the shit out of me. With Gareth Wolf being threatened while his rock band was touring, all of us were under scrutiny. I’d never hurt Gareth, though. He was so sweet and innocent.

When Axel Blaze had been assigned to protect Gareth, he’d questioned me and I almost shit my pants. Not because I’m guilty of anything, but because Axel could squish me in one ginormous hand. It was unsettling to know that someone hated Gareth enough to make attempts on his life.

“Stan?”

I glanced up to see Mac holding what looked like my running shoes.

“Yes?”

“When was the last time you wore these?”

“Um, about two months ago. I haven’t really had time to work out with everything that’s been going on.”

“These shoes have gasoline on them. I also found paper, scissors, and newspaper cuttings in your desk.”

I stood up then because I hadn’t done anything wrong, and the way Mac was eyeballing me made it clear he thought I had.

“Whoa, wait a second! I would never hurt Gareth!”

“I know that, Stan.”

“Then why did you just say that?”

“Because it’s true. You’re being framed for this.”

“By who?”

“Look, if I tell you what’s going on, you have to keep your mouth shut. Gareth’s life depends on it. I’m going to go back to Axel with this information and make it look like you are the person responsible.”

“But why?”

“Because Paul needs to think he’s in the clear.”

I blinked. “I’m sorry, could you repeat that?”

“Paul Vincent is the one threatening Gareth, Stan. This is what I need you to do. You’re going to become their new manager once we catch Paul and put him away.”

“Why me?”

“Because you’re already an intricate part of this team; it wouldn’t make sense to bring in an outsider.”

I shook my head violently. “I can’t do that! You don’t understand what could happen.”

“And what could happen, Jax?”

My mouth dropped open. “How…what did you just call me?”

“Jax. It is your name, isn’t it? Jax Jamison, born in New York to Nicole Jamison. Of course, she’s nowhere to be found. But I think that’s thanks to the cop you dated in New York. Neil Cambridge? Corrupt police officer and notorious low-life with mob connections.”

“How did you get that information? I was told no one would ever know about that! My friend lost his life making sure no one ever did!”

“Yes, Officer Calvalari died in the line of duty — or so people were led to believe. He actually died when his car was run off the road during a high-speed chase. The police department didn’t buy it, though, and my friend who works there said as much.”

“Jesus,” I whispered, dropping onto the couch. “I can’t be the manager, Mac. I can’t! If I’m caught on camera, or in the news, he’ll know where I am and who I am! Jax Jamison no longer exists.”

“Wouldn’t you like to be him again? Wouldn’t you like people to call you Jax instead of Stan? You don’t strike me as a Stan.”

I glared at Mac incredulously. “Do you think this is funny? I practically moved Earth to get a new name and out of New York. This guy Cambridge isn’t playing, Mac.”

“And we are? Do you have any idea what it is we do? We’re not sitting around knitting, Jax. We’re killers. It’s what we do. Now, I can have your back and you can help us out with Paul — or you can spend the rest of your life hiding. What’s it going to be?”

I contemplated that. Having Neil Cambridge know where I am is not an option. I’d lost so much because of him already. I’d left that life and everyone in it behind to protect them. Coming out into the open would ensure he got another shot at me.

I eyed Mac closely. His arms were folded across his massive chest and he was tapping a foot on my carpet. I couldn’t deny he was intimidating — but intimidating enough to ward off Neil?

That I didn’t know.

I’d tried everything after we’d broken up. He was controlling and scary as fuck. So, when I made the split, I thought things were going to be okay when he took it so well.

Oh, how naïve I’d been.

He had cops in his pocket — and God knew who else — and I learned the hard way never to fuck with Neil Cambridge. I’d finally gotten desperate and asked a friend since childhood to make me disappear. Deo Calvalari came to my rescue. I don’t know how he did it, but I do know he went through hell to get my name changed, and sent me off to the West coast. His Italian connections had gotten me a new ID and a place to live until I could get a job. Weeks later, when I realized that I hadn’t heard from him via our circuitous communication method, I found out what had happened.

It was that moment that I knew what Neil was capable of.

Tears sprang to my eyes and I wiped them away angrily.

“You know what you’re asking of me?” I snapped.

“Yeah. I do. We’ll keep a guy on the asshole in New York. I promise you, Jax. You help us, we help you. This won’t come near you.”

“It better not.”