"Mr. Howell, I appreciate the help, but you can''t just poach my boss''s wife!" Damien barked, clearly exasperated. "The Myers'' marriage is rock solid-don''t think for a second you can wedge yourself in!”


    Nigel grinned, undeterred, angling himself toward Calliope. "Can''t I even think about it? You know I''m interested. If you ever get divorced, promise you''ll consider me first! I''m better than Ss, anyway."


    Calliope could only stare nkly. Was this really what they ought to be discussing right now? Simon, looming ahead, radiated trouble—a dangerous wild card who might ruin all of their chances of ever leaving alive.


    Simon scoffed at Nigel, giving him a dismissive once-over. "And who the hell are you supposed to be? I''m the better man!" His eyes zeroed in on Calliope. "So, what do you think? Who would you pick? You say you''re married, but where''s your husband now? If he really cared, wouldn''t he be here? Clearly time to toss him aside. Choose me instead—I''ve got a massive estate, good looks, and I know how to treat a woman right!"


    He strode forward, reaching out to seize Calliope as if she already belonged to him. She ducked out of reach with practiced ease.


    "What are you dodging for?" Simon''s smile twisted, annoyance ring. He lunged again, but Calliope moved too fast, denying him even a touch. In the blink of an eye, their tense standoff exploded into a flurry of blows, fists and bodies whirling as they traded attacks.


    Damien and Nigel didn''t even consider stepping in. Both knew better-going between those two would only make things worse, maybe even get themselves hurt. Calliope and Simon were equally matched, neither budging for what felt like an eternity.


    "That''s more like it!" Simon crowed, his breathing in short, exhrated rasps. "Now you''ve piqued my interest. A firecracker with a face like an angel—that''s the only kind of woman who deserves a ce by my side. Whether you''re married or not, from this second on, you''re mine!"


    Calliope just stared at him, her exhaustion tinged with disbelief. This new alter ego was pure chaos—rambling, irrational, impossible to reason with.


    She lowered her fists and tried to bargain. "Can''t we just sit down and talk this through?"


    Simon snorted. “Not a chance. I''m not here to chit-chat. I''ve got bigger ns—and you, all of you, belong in a cell!"


    He snapped his fingers. “Take them! Lock them up!"


    In an instant, a squad of armed


    ???


    guards closed in, weapons drawn, hemming them in from every direction. Unarmed and


    Gutnumbered there was no point in fighting back. Damien and Nigel bristled with helpless anger, but a firefight meant certain death.


    "Calliope, what the hell do we do now?" Damien muttered, nerves fraying. "I''ve got a


    bad feeling about this guy. He''s ten times scarier than he lets on."


    Nigel nodded grimly. "He''s


    Calliope shook her head, brow furrowing. "I''ll have to figure him out as I go. Everyone''s got a weakness-even someone like him. And if ites to it..."


    She let her words trail off. With a flick of her wrist, she palmed a slender acupuncture needle from her lining and struck with surgical precision burying it into Simon''s arm before he could even blink. He looked down in confusion as Calliope twisted the needle in ce, holding his gaze.