Lena Hayes wasn't the type to run from a fight.
And if Ryan Kingston wanted to play dirty, fine.
She could play dirtier.
The morning sun was brutal as she stepped through the gates of Empire Stadium. Her bag was slung over her shoulder, her AirPods in, and her playlist on full blast.
She was early.
Because if there was one thing Lena knew about power it was that showing up first was how you took control of the room.
She cut through the underground tunnel toward the training court, sneakers squeaking softly against the smooth concrete.
A figure was already standing at half-court when she pushed open the doors.
Jaxon Cole.
His back was to her, hands resting on his hips. He was wearing dark athletic shorts and a fitted black shirt that clung to his frame in ways Lena was trying very hard not to notice. His blonde hair was messy, strands falling over his forehead as he stared toward the hoop with quiet intensity.
He hadn't seen her yet.
Good.
She wanted the advantage.
Lena crossed the court silently, moving toward him with the same predatory grace she used on the court.
Jaxon turned just as she reached him.
"You're early," he said, a smile flicking at the corner of his mouth.
"You're predictable."
Jaxon's gaze sharpened. "Am I?"
Lena pulled a ball from the rack at the edge of the court and spun it between her fingertips. "If you're here to flirt, save it."
Jaxon's smile deepened. "Who said I was flirting?"
Lena shot him a flat look. "You."
Jaxon's gaze flicked over her bare legs, the smooth line of muscle beneath her shorts before sliding back up.
"Maybe."
Lena's jaw tightened. "We're not here for that."
Jaxon took a step toward her. "Then why are we here, Hayes?"
Lena bounced the ball once. "Strategy."
Jaxon's smile sharpened. "Good."
Lena squared her shoulders. "But first we need to talk about Kingston."
Jaxon's smile faded. "What about him?"
Lena's eyes darkened. "I saw the article."
"Ah." Jaxon's mouth tightened. "That."
"You don't sound surprised."
"I'm not."
Lena's brows furrowed. "And why's that?"
Jaxon's jaw flexed. "Because Kingston doesn't play clean. And neither does my father."
Lena's chest tightened. "So what's the play?"
Jaxon's gaze sharpened. "We make them think you're a threat."
Lena's lips parted. "I already am a threat."
Jaxon's mouth curved. "Exactly."
Lena's eyes narrowed. "Explain."
Jaxon's hand brushed over the ball between her hands not taking it, just resting there a deliberate touch that sent heat curling beneath her skin.
"Kingston and my father want control," Jaxon said. "They don't like variables. They want to push you out before you get too big to stop."
"So how do we stop them?"
Jaxon's gaze darkened. "We give them a reason to be afraid."
Lena's mouth curved. "What kind of reason?"
Jaxon's eyes gleamed. "We go public."
Lena's pulse spiked. "Public?"
Jaxon leaned in, his mouth inches from hers. "We make them think you're more dangerous than they realize."
"And how exactly do we do that?"
Jaxon's gaze dropped to her mouth. "Easy."
Lena's breath hitched.
"We fake it," Jaxon murmured.
Lena's brows furrowed. "Fake what?"
Jaxon's hand slid over her wrist slow and deliberate. "Us."
Lena's stomach flipped. "Excuse me?"
Jaxon's mouth curved. "You want to keep Kingston out of your career? You want to win?" His eyes gleamed. "Then we give them a distraction."
Lena's gaze sharpened. "A distraction."
Jaxon's hand lifted trailing from her wrist up to her elbow. "Make them think we're together. High-profile. Public. All over the media."
Lena's pulse hammered. "You think making me your girlfriend will solve this?"
Jaxon's smile sharpened. "It'll make Kingston hesitate. He won't want to challenge me publicly."
Lena's mouth twisted. "Arrogant much?"
Jaxon's gaze burned into hers. "Confident."
Lena's breath quickened. "And what happens when this blows up?"
Jaxon's hand slid up her arm, fingers brushing the bare skin at the back of her neck. Her breath hitched.
"Then we burn it down together," Jaxon said softly.
Lena's chest rose and fell.
Her pulse hammered dangerously hard.
Jaxon's hand slid away from her neck. "So?"
Lena's jaw flexed. "Fine."
Jaxon's smile sharpened. "Good."
"But if you make a mess of this," Lena said, "I'm not cleaning it up."
Jaxon's gaze darkened. "I don't make messes."
Lena's mouth curved. "We'll see about that."
Jaxon's eyes gleamed. "Then let's get started."
The first public appearance happened three hours later.
Lena should have known Jaxon wasn't going to ease into this.
No. Jaxon Cole only knew one setting: full throttle.
The press were already waiting when they walked out of Empire Stadium together.
"Miss Hayes! Miss Hayes!"
"Lena! Jaxon! Over here!"
"Are you two?"
Lena's pulse spiked. "Jaxon"
Jaxon's hand slid around her waist.
"Lena and I are just here to support each other," Jaxon said smoothly to the nearest microphone.
"Support each other?" one reporter echoed.
Jaxon's gaze slid toward Lena. "Athletes need strong partnerships."
The reporter's eyes gleamed. "So you're confirming you're a couple?"
Lena's mouth opened but Jaxon's hand slid up her back, slow and deliberate.
"Let's just say," Jaxon said, voice low and dangerous, "I'm invested."
A camera flash exploded.
Lena's pulse slammed into overdrive.
Jaxon's hand stayed at her waist. His gaze flicked toward her dark and steady beneath the blinding lights of the flashing cameras.
And in that moment Lena understood the game.
Jaxon wasn't protecting her.
He was making a statement.
A line drawn in the sand.
And the whole world was watching.
Her breath hitched.
Jaxon's hand tightened slightly at her waist. "Play along," he murmured.
Lena's heart slammed against her ribs.
She turned toward the cameras, her face calm, her expression cool and let her hand slide over Jaxon's wrist.
"Yeah," Lena said to the nearest reporter. Her gaze locked on Jaxon's. "You could say we're working together."
Jaxon's mouth curved. "Smart girl."
A fresh wave of camera flashes erupted.
Lena's fingers curled over his wrist. Her eyes darkened.
"You'd better keep up, Cole."
Jaxon's gaze burned into hers. "Try me, Hayes."
Lena's hand was still resting on Jaxon's wrist when the last flashbulb popped.
Her skin burned beneath the weight of the cameras, her pulse hammering beneath the cool press of Jaxon's palm against her back.
Jaxon's smile was razor-sharp as he turned them toward the sleek black SUV parked at the curb.
"Let's go," he murmured near her ear.
Lena's feet moved before her brain caught up.
Jaxon's hand stayed steady at her waist, guiding her toward the car like they'd done this a thousand times before. His touch was light but possessive like he was daring someone to try to step between them.
The back door opened, and a suited driver gave them a polite nod.
Lena hesitated.
"You coming?" Jaxon's gaze gleamed beneath the sharp glow of the streetlights.
Lena's jaw tightened. "I didn't agree to this part."
"Sure you did." Jaxon's mouth curved. "You said you were in."
"I didn't say I'd let you drag me into a media circus."
Jaxon's eyes darkened. "Too late for that, Hayes."
Lena's pulse hammered. Her gaze flicked toward the crowd of reporters still hovering behind the security barrier.
There was no walking away from this now.
She slid into the car.
Jaxon followed, the door clicking shut behind him with a soft, lethal finality.
The air inside the SUV was dark and cool, the hum of traffic muted behind the tinted windows. Jaxon's thigh brushed against hers as he settled back into the leather seat, his long legs stretching out in front of him.
Lena's gaze sharpened. "What the hell was that?"
Jaxon's brows lifted. "Clarify."
"The stunt you just pulled," Lena snapped. "What happened to keeping this quiet?"
Jaxon's mouth curved. "Why would we keep it quiet when we could make it loud?"
Lena's jaw flexed. "So you just… decided to announce to the world that we're together?"
Jaxon's eyes glinted. "Problem?"
"Yeah." Lena's pulse spiked. "Because now Kingston and your father are going to think I'm some "
"What?" Jaxon's gaze sharpened. "Some what?"
"Some accessory." Lena's voice tightened. "Some pawn in your game."
Jaxon's smile faded. "You're not a pawn, Lena."
"Really?" Lena's eyes burned. "Because it sure felt like I was being put on display."
Jaxon's gaze darkened. "That wasn't for them."
Lena's breath hitched. "Then who was it for?"
Jaxon's mouth parted but he didn't answer.
Lena's chest heaved. Her hands curled into fists against her thighs.
"Next time you want to use me to make a statement," Lena said coldly, "ask first."
Jaxon's gaze flashed. His hand brushed over her knee light and quick before falling away.
"Duly noted."
Lena's jaw tightened. "Good."
Jaxon's mouth curved but there was something dangerous behind the smile now.
Lena forced her pulse to steady as the SUV pulled away from the curb. The city lights blurred behind the glass, streaks of gold and white cutting through the dark.
Jaxon's gaze slid toward her, sharp beneath the low lighting.
"You're mad," Jaxon said quietly.
"No shit."
His mouth curved. "And yet… you didn't deny it."
"Deny what?"
"That we're together."
Lena's jaw tightened. "It was strategy."
"Was it?"
Lena's gaze sharpened. "What else would it be?"
Jaxon's smile deepened dark and dangerous. "You tell me."
Lena's pulse slammed into overdrive.
Before she could answer, the SUV slowed, pulling to a stop in front of a gleaming high-rise tower in Midtown.
Lena frowned. "Where are we?"
Jaxon's hand brushed over her wrist. "Next part of the plan."
Her eyes narrowed. "What plan?"
Jaxon's gaze gleamed. "Dinner."
Lena's brows lifted. "Excuse me?"
"You agreed to play along." Jaxon's smile sharpened. "Now we give the media something to work with."
Lena's chest tightened. "You're not serious."
Jaxon's eyes darkened. "Deadly."
The door opened. A valet stood waiting with a polite expression.
Jaxon slid out of the SUV and extended a hand toward Lena. His palm hovered, steady and waiting.
Lena's pulse hammered.
She could walk away.
She should walk away.
Instead, she slid her hand into his.
Jaxon's fingers curled over hers, his grip warm and steady as he pulled her to her feet.
Lena stepped onto the sidewalk beneath the bright city lights.
Camera flashes exploded immediately.
Jaxon's hand slid to the small of her back, guiding her toward the revolving glass doors.
"Smile, Hayes," Jaxon murmured in her ear. "We're just getting started."
The restaurant was dimly lit and impossibly exclusive.
White linen tablecloths. Crystal stemware. Soft jazz drifting beneath the low murmur of conversation.
Heads turned as Jaxon led Lena toward a private booth near the back.
Lena caught more than a few curious stares. Whispers. Recognition.
She felt Jaxon's hand tighten slightly at her waist. A quiet, protective gesture as if he could shield her from the weight of the attention.
Jaxon slid into the booth first. Lena hesitated for half a second before following.
A waiter appeared instantly with a bottle of wine.
"Sir?"
Jaxon nodded once. "That'll be fine."
Lena's brows lifted as the waiter poured two glasses.
"Ordering for me now?" Lena said.
Jaxon's mouth curved. "It's good."
"I don't drink."
Jaxon's eyes glinted. "Then taste it and tell me I'm wrong."
Lena's jaw flexed. Against her better judgment, she lifted the glass and took a careful sip.
It was smooth and rich, a soft burn that melted over her tongue.
Jaxon's gaze sharpened. "Well?"
Lena's mouth twisted. "Fine."
Jaxon's smile widened. "Told you."
Lena set the glass down, her gaze sharpening. "You want to tell me why we're really here?"
Jaxon leaned back, his arm resting casually along the back of the booth. "You're a threat to Kingston now. My father's going to notice."
"So?"
"So." Jaxon's eyes darkened. "We make sure he thinks you're more trouble than you're worth."
Lena's pulse hammered.
"And how do we do that?"
Jaxon's gaze burned into hers. "By making him think you have leverage."
Lena's brow lifted. "What kind of leverage?"
Jaxon's mouth curved. "Me."
Lena's pulse spiked dangerously.
"You think being seen with you will scare Kingston off?"
Jaxon's gaze sharpened. "No." His voice dropped. "I think being connected to me will make you dangerous."
Lena's breath hitched.
Jaxon leaned in, his mouth close to her ear. "And dangerous people don't lose."
Lena's fingers curled into her lap.
"You think you can make me dangerous?" Lena murmured.
Jaxon's eyes burned. "I think you already are."
Lena's breath quickened.
Jaxon's hand brushed her knee beneath the table light and steady.
"And now," Jaxon said, "everyone's going to know it."