"It started when you found out that Dylan had been the one to leak the photos of you and Lauren Jauregui kissing in 2016," Adrian explained. "I... I knew it wasn't what you wanted, but it was what I felt was necessary."

Leia said nothing. Her red-rimmed eyes were focused on his face, no further expression on her face as the man sat across from her. 

He had arrived shortly after Thena had followed them up into the apartment, having clearly already been on his way. Leia wasn't sure she wanted to know which one of the four others in the room had sent him a text - she just knew it was another thing that had seemingly been going on behind her back.

"I had reached out to Rickman Grant - you know, my friend at the Police Academy?" Adrian continued, a small smile on his lips as he brought up the man that Leia had met once or twice since she had been taken on by Adrian years prior. His smile dropped slightly as she didn't even so much as quirk a lip at the same that once caused her to smile. "I... expressed my concerns... about an unnamed person in your life and it was him who gave me Thena's contact."

Adrian's voice softened as he leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. The weight of his confession seemed to press down on his shoulders, causing them to slump ever so slightly.

"Leia, I... I made the decision to start building a case on Dylan almost two years ago."

Leia's fingers curled into the fabric of her jeans, her knuckles whitening with the force of her grip. The ticking of the clock on the wall seemed unnaturally loud in the silence that followed Adrian's words.

"For months, nothing came of it," Adrian continued, his voice tinged with a mixture of regret and determination. "It was just a file, growing dusty in the back of my mind and honestly, I thought Thena had ignored my voicemail. But then..." 

Thena cleared her throat, drawing Leia's attention away from Adrian.

Just looking at the blonde right now sent another burst of anger and betrayal down Leia's spine. Georgie was avoiding her gaze in the corner, her arms wrapped around Tate who seemed oblivious to the awkward tension in the room. Riven and Azul were sat on the loveseat beside the coffee table, both trying to avoid her scorned look.

"I hadn't ignored Adrian's message," Thena explained, her voice low and steady. "But I was already knee-deep in my own investigation."

Convenient, Leia thought. Because that's what Thena had just admitted to her moments prior - that all this talk about publicity and how she'd been top in her class at University was actually a big, fucking lie. 

Thena wasn't an up-and-coming publicist - she was a fucking FBI agent.

"It was pure coincidence," she continued, a wry smile playing at the corners of her mouth as she ignored the seething look that Leia sent her as soon as she noticed the woman's lips quirk upwards. "Or maybe fate, if you believe in that sort of thing. I was looking into a series of drug-related incidents at some high-profile parties in LA and New York. The kind of gatherings where the guest list reads like a who's who of young Hollywood and the music industry."

Leia's mind raced for a split second, memories of the first time she'd been with Dylan flashing before her eyes. The wild parties, the constant supply of drinks and pills, the way he'd slowly isolated her from her friends and family. Checked out.

"When Adrian's message came through, it was like the missing piece of a puzzle falling into place," Thena said, her voice tinged with a mixture of professional satisfaction and personal concern. "His concerns about Dylan's behaviour towards you, combined with what I'd already uncovered... it painted a picture of someone far more dangerous than just your average party boy."

Leia's jaw clenched, her teeth grinding together as she processed Thena's words. The room felt suffocating, the walls closing in around her as the weight of their deception pressed down on her chest.

"What..." Leia's voice cracked, and she swallowed hard before continuing. "What exactly are you saying?"

"We have reason to believe that Dylan's interest in you wasn't... entirely personal."

It wasn't personal.

It wasn't personal.

It wasn't personal when he isolated her from her friends and family. It wasn't personal when he got her partially hooked on drugs. It wasn't personal when he laid his hands on her - over and over again. It wasn't personal when he leaked her sexuality to the world before she had a chance to even tell her friends. It wasn't personal when he taunted her with that bag of cocaine. It wasn't personal when he stole Georgie's nudes and blackmailed them all with it.

"Leia, your rising fame, your clean image - you were the perfect cover for their operation. We think Dylan was using your relationship to gain access to more high-profile events and expand their network."

It wasn't personal, apparently.

A strangled laugh escaped her throat, bitter and hollow.

"Not personal?" she spat, her voice trembling with barely contained rage. 

Adrian leaned forward, his eyes pleading. "Leia, we know how much this hurts, but-"

"No!" Leia shot to her feet, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "You don't know. None of you know what this feels like!"

Her gaze swept across the room, taking in the concerned faces of her friends and family. Faces that had lied to her for months, years even.

"Do you have any idea what I've lost because of this?" Her voice cracked, raw emotion bleeding through. "My reputation, my career, my Tay..." she faltered, thinking of Taylor, of the look on her face when she'd walked out the very door that her eyes drifted over to look at. "Everything. I've lost everything - and you're telling me that none of it was personal?"

"Leia-"

"You are all acting like this is some small thing," she continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "Like finding out that I've been carrying out this charade was some small thing that had to happen. But it's not. It's my life."

She turned back to Adrian, her expression hardening. 

"And you... you've been building this case for years. Years! Did it ever occur to you to just talk to me? To trust me with the truth?"

Adrian's face crumpled with guilt. "Leia, we couldn't risk-"

"Risk what?" she cut him off. "Risk me ruining your precious investigation? Or risk me actually having a say in my own life?"

The room fell silent once more, the weight of Leia's words hanging heavy in the air. She could feel the tears threatening to spill over, but she refused to let them fall. Not here, not in front of them.

Georgie stepped forward, her arms dropping from Tate as she reached out towards her sister with a sadness in her eyes.

 "We were trying to protect you-"

"Protect me?" Leia scoffed, recoiling from Thena's touch. "By keeping me in the dark? By letting me continue to believe that Dylan was just a troubled ex, not some dangerous criminal? How is that protection?"

Riven, who had been silently observing the confrontation, suddenly stood up, his chair scraping against the hardwood floor with a harsh screech. The sound cut through the tension like a knife, drawing all eyes to him.

"It wasn't personal - because you're not the only fucking person he's done this to, Leia!" Riven snapped, his eyes immediately showing that he regretted his outburst as she leaned back a little, her face dropping into another look of hurt.

"What?"

"It's not just me he has photos of, Leia," Georgie replied softly. "It was never just me."

Riven's eyes softened with sympathy, but his jaw remained set. 

"All this shit with Dylan... it's bigger than you can imagine. He's been targeting young girls for years - not just in the music industry either. Manipulating them, isolating them, getting them hooked on drugs, and then... blackmailing them."

Azul scoffed, Leia's eyes flickering to the usually silent man.

"And sometimes worse," he muttered, and Leia didn't feel she needed him to elaborate on that. She had a sinking feeling she could figure that part out on her own easily enough.

"How many?" she managed to choke out.

Thena took back over, realising that Leia's betrayal wasn't sitting on her tongue now that Riven had let slip the main reason the FBI were involved.

"We think at least seven others. Some minor harassment, some drug use and some... more concerning things. When Adrian reached out to me, I made a note and moved on. When our operation saw Dylan had an opening to join his team, and we remembered Adrian's voicemail... we figured this was an in."

"So Dylan having those photos of Georgie-"

Adrian cut her off as he instantly saw her anger and jump to the wrong conclusion.

"No, that was all Dylan," Thena clarified. "We had no idea about that until he brought it up a few months that I'd been undercover. I reached out to Adrian once Dylan had emailed him with the documents and that was when we caught up Azul with the information."

"Riven said-"

"I did go to University with Riven, but not in the same course. He dated my roommate's boyfriend for like three weeks and then hung out with us for the rest of the semester."

Thena moved closer, her steps measured and careful, as if approaching a wounded animal. She knelt down in front of Leia, her blue eyes searching Leia's face. The scent of her subtle perfume - the one that had been driving her crazy for months now - drifted towards her and Leia had to bite her tongue to stop herself from making a comment.

"Leia," Thena began, her voice soft but firm. "I know this is a lot to take in. I know you're angry, hurt, and feeling betrayed. You have every right to feel that way."

Leia's gaze flickered to Thena's face, noting the sincerity in her expression. The anger still simmered beneath the surface, but exhaustion was starting to creep in, dulling its sharp edges.

"We're going to take Dylan down," Thena continued, her tone taking on a determined edge. "We have enough evidence to build a solid case against him and his associates. But..." she paused, weighing her next words carefully. "We need your help."

Leia's eyes darted to Georgie, who was watching the exchange with a mixture of fear and hope. The weight of those photos - the leverage Dylan still held over them - pressed down on Leia's chest, making it hard to breathe.

"How?" Leia prompted, sensing there was more.

"A few weeks, maybe a month at most..."

"For what?" Leia prompted, noticing how everyone had stopped looking at her again.

"We need you to help us catch him in the act."

_____

_____

Georgie and Niall hard-launching their relationship had been coaxed into the plan that Thena had laid out - the perfect way to create an excuse for the couple to be invited by Dylan to the party that he had been planning for that week.

Riven wasn't happy that there was no way for him to be involved, but there was at least the reassurance that Azul would be around. 

If you'd told Leia less than five days before that she'd somehow find herself wrapped up in some sort of James Bond-esque elaborate mastermind plan to catch her sleazy ex-boyfriend admitting to a bunch of different crimes, she'd have quite frankly wondered if she had relapsed. 

Yet, here she was.

Leia stood near the bar, her fingers wrapped around a glass of sparkling water that she had no intention of drinking. Her sleek black dress clung to her curves, the plunging neckline adorned with a delicate gold necklace that concealed a tiny little microphone in the fake gemstone. 

Across the room, Georgie and Niall were locked in what appeared to be an intimate conversation. Georgie's vibrant red dress was a stark contrast to the muted tones favored by most of the guests, drawing curious glances from those around them. Niall's arm was draped casually over her shoulder, his fingers tracing small circles on her bare skin - a gesture that looked affectionate to outsiders but served as a silent reminder of the wire hidden beneath the fabric of his sleeve.

It wasn't just her that had been wired up by Thena and her operational team - it was all three of them, and Azul too.

She could almost feel the weight of Thena's watchful gaze from wherever she was stationed outside, monitoring their every move using the security cameras of the venue. There were at least a dozen agents - blending in with the party, sitting outside as beggars and even one or two posing as the paparazzi outside. They weren't alone.

So why did Leia not feel great about this?

"Well, well, well," a smooth, familiar voice cut through her thoughts. "If it isn't my favorite little songbird. What a surprise to see you here."

Leia's heart rate spiked as Dylan slid into the space beside her, his cologne washing over her in a wave that threatened to drown her in bad memories. He looked impeccable in a tailored black suit, his dark hair artfully tousled - and she cursed the powers that be for having ever fallen for it. His smile was as charming as ever, but Leia could see the predatory glint in his eyes - a look she had once mistaken for desire.

"You knew I was going to be here? I am literally here as your plus one?"

Azul rolled his eyes from beside Leia, holding her purse as he listened in to the conversation between them both. He was less thrilled about the plan than anyone else - because even in the best case scenario he figured things were going to end up in disaster.

"Semantics," Dylan breathed, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear and ghosting his lips over hers. Leia refused to pull back, knowing that various phones were pointing their way once they realised the couple was in attendance. 

Leia forced a smile, her skin crawling at Dylan's touch. She took a sip of her sparkling water, using the moment to compose herself.

"So," Dylan began, his tone casual but his eyes sharp, "how's your dear sister enjoying her newfound fame? I must say, I was surprised to see her and Niall go public so... suddenly."

Leia's grip tightened on her glass, her knuckles whitening. She could hear the unspoken accusation in his words.

"Georgie's doing well," she said, careful to keep her voice steady. "She and Niall are very happy together."

Dylan hummed, his gaze drifting across the room to where Georgie and Niall stood, their heads bent close together in conversation. 

"They certainly look cozy," he observed, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "Tell me, does little Georgie know about our... arrangement?"

There it was.

She shook her head, forcing herself to meet Dylan's gaze. 

"No," she said firmly. "She doesn't know anything about the photos you're blackmailing me with, and neither does Niall. I'd like to keep it that way."

Take the bait, she begged internally.

Dylan nodded, satisfaction evident in his expression. He leaned in close, his lips brushing against her ear as he spoke. 

"Good girl," he murmured, his breath hot against her skin. "As long as you continue to play nice, those pretty little pictures of your sister will stay our little secret."

Leia suppressed a shudder, forcing herself to remain still as Dylan pulled back. His eyes roamed over her face, searching for any sign of deception. Finding none, he smiled again, raising his glass in a mock toast.

Azul caught Leia's eye over Dylan's shoulder as she turned around to pick up another drink from the tray of a waiter as he passed by, a small smirk resting at the corner of Azul's lips for just a second that she ignored. She didn't need to ask what he was smug about, because she knew.

Dylan had just admitted, on tape, to the first crime.

Leia wasn't celebrating yet. She knew that would be the easy part - he was a bragger and he always had been. She'd have been surprised if he hadn't brought it up so quickly.

She clinked her glass against Dylan's, the sound ringing hollow in her ears. As she took a sip of her drink, she caught sight of Georgie watching them from across the room, concern evident on her face - but Leia ignored her. Anything out of character and Dylan would catch on. He was bound to get suspicious as they moved on to their next part of their plan anyway.

"You're very uptight tonight," Dylan muttered, rolling his eyes as he noticed her looking back at Georgie and Niall again. "Anything to do with little Hudson?"

"Keep her name out of your mouth," Leia spat back without thinking, an instinctual reaction. She bit her lip as she remembered why she was here, plastering a fake smile on her face as she turned to look at him. "Yes, I am very uptight, okay? I just don't like her being here."

Dylan's eyes gleamed with a mixture of triumph and desire - he might have hated her, but he would be lying if the thought of having control over her wasn't a turn on for him. He reached out, his fingers trailing along her bare arm, leaving goosebumps in their wake. 

"I might have something that could help you unwind..." he murmured, his voice barely audible over the pulsing music. "You just need to say the words, princess."

Leia's stomach churned, but she forced herself to maintain her composure. She let out a small, exasperated sigh, rolling her eyes dramatically. 

"Dylan, really? Here?" She glanced around the crowded room, her gaze lingering on a group of people who seemed to be watching them with interest.

Dylan chuckled, his hand coming to rest on the small of her back. "Don't act so scandalized, sweetheart. It's not like it would be the first time."

Leia stepped back, breaking contact with Dylan. She could feel the weight of the hidden microphone in the necklace against her skin, reminding her that she couldn't be too out of character or he was going to catch on that something was up. The normal Leia wouldn't fall into his palm so easily - and she couldn't stray from normality.

"I need to use the bathroom," she announced, her voice carrying just a hint of fake annoyance.

She turned to Azul, who had been hovering nearby, still holding her purse. 

"Can I have my phone?" she asked, keeping her voice low and steady.

Leia could feel Dylan's eyes burning into her back as he smirked, knowing that he'd struck a nerve with his proposition - maybe not for the reason he intended, though. The weight of his gaze made her skin crawl, but she forced herself to maintain her composure, her heels clicking rhythmically against the polished floor.

She made her way through the crowded room, weaving between glittering gowns and sharp suits. The bass of the music thrummed through her body, matching the rapid beating of her heart. As she pushed open the heavy door leading to the hallway, she felt a momentary sense of relief wash over her. The relative quiet of the corridor was a stark contrast to the noise of the party.

Leia had barely taken three steps when her phone began to vibrate in her hand. She glanced down, her breath catching in her throat as she saw the name displayed on the screen.

Taylor.

Her heart seemed to stop, the world around her fading away as she stared at the incoming call. Taylor's smiling face looked up at her from the screen, a candid shot taken during happier times. Leia's finger hovered over the answer button, trembling slightly.

She shouldn't answer. She knew she shouldn't. It wasn't part of the plan. It could jeopardize everything they'd worked for.

"Hello?"

Leia leaned back against the wall of the bathroom as she waited for a response, her heart in her throat as she wondered if this was just a mistake - if this was just a stupid butt dial or a Siri accident. 

Surely Taylor wasn't choosing to phone her after months of being apart, and months of thinking Leia had been cheating on her? Surely Taylor wasn't calling her ex-girlfriend while she was supposedly head over heels in love with her once-fake boyfriend? Surely Taylor wasn't-

"I haaaate you."

Drunk. Taylor was drunk.

Leia's world tilted on its axis. The slurred voice of her ex-girlfriend sent a rush of conflicting emotions through her body - longing, pain, and panic all colliding at once.

Longing because she missed her so badly. Pain because she could tell just from the words that left her mouth that Taylor was upset because of her. Panic because this was the worst possible time for this to have happened - and that she knew every word on the phone was probably able to be heard by Thena and her team.

"Tay," she breathed, the name both familiar and foreign on her tongue. "You're drunk and this is really not a good time."

"You don't get to say my name like that," Taylor slurred, her voice wavering between anger and something softer, more vulnerable. "Not after everything."

Leia closed her eyes, fighting the wave of emotion threatening to overwhelm her. Of all the nights, of all the moments, why now?

"You're drunk," Leia repeatedly softly, trying to keep her voice steady. "This isn't a good time to talk. Please trust me on that."

A bitter laugh echoed through the phone. 

"Is it ever a good time with you, Leia? And trust? Don't talk to me about trust!"

Leia's hand trembled as she held the phone to her ear. Every instinct told her to hang up, to focus on the mission, but the sound of Taylor's voice - even slurred and angry - pulled at something deep within her.

"I know," she whispered, glancing nervously at the bathroom door. "I know I don't deserve your trust right now. But Taylor, please -"

"Too busy doing something important?" Taylor's laugh was hollow, tinged with pain. "Let me guess, with him? With Dylan? God, I'm so stupid."

"It's not what you think," she said softly, desperately wishing she could tell Taylor everything – about the operation, about Dylan's blackmail, about how every moment with him had been a lie to protect Georgie, to gather evidence. "I never cheated on you, Tay. Not once."

"Don't," Taylor's voice broke. "Don't lie to me anymore. I saw the pictures, Leia. Everyone saw them."

"They weren't real," Leia whispered, her voice barely audible. But Taylor wasn't listening.

"You know what?" Taylor slurred, her voice taking on a defiant edge. "I'm doing better now. Joe... Joe treats me right. He doesn't lie to me or sneak around behind my back. I can be myself with him."

Leia's heart clenched at the words, each one feeling like a dagger twisting in her chest. She could picture Taylor, probably curled up on her couch, a half-empty bottle of wine nearby, her blue eyes glassy with alcohol and unshed tears. The image was so vivid it made her ache.

"Tay," Leia said softly, closing her eyes and leaning her head back against the cool tile of the bathroom wall. "Just because you're drunk doesn't make it easier to lie to yourself."

A sharp intake of breath came through the phone, followed by a moment of tense silence. Leia could almost feel Taylor's indignation radiating through the line.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Taylor demanded, her words still slurring slightly.

"I know you-"

"You don't know anything about me anymore," Taylor spat, but there was a tremor in her voice that betrayed her.

The words hung in the air between them, heavy with unspoken emotions and shared history. Leia could hear Taylor's ragged breathing on the other end of the line, could almost feel the tension vibrating through the phone.

"I hope you're happy with Joe," Leia said, her voice soft but firm. "I really do. And I hope I hear nothing about it."

The admission hung in the air, raw and honest. Leia could hear the soft gasp from Taylor, could picture the way her eyes would widen, the slight parting of her lips in surprise.

"Leia..." Taylor's voice was barely a whisper now.

"I have to go," Leia said quickly, reality crashing back in as she remembered where she was and what she was supposed to be doing. "Please, Taylor, don't call me again. Not like this. Not when you're drunk and I can't... I can't explain everything."

Before Taylor could respond, Leia ended the call, her hand shaking as she lowered the phone away from her ear.

A text pinged up on her screen.

'Sorry - we all heard that. Stick to the task at hand. - Thena'

No rest for the wicked, Leia thought.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself against the cool porcelain of the sink. She splashed some water on her face, careful not to smudge her meticulously applied makeup.

She'd sort things with Taylor once this was all over. She just had to finish this first. She stepped outside the bathroom, composing herself.

Leia's eyes scanned the crowd, searching for Dylan's familiar figure. Her heart rate quickened as she spotted him across the room, but it wasn't his presence alone that sent a jolt of alarm through her system. Dylan was talking animatedly with Niall and Georgie, his arm draped casually over Georgie's shoulders in a way that made Leia's skin crawl.

Without thinking, Leia began to move through the crowd, her steps quick and purposeful. 

The closer she got, the more she could make out the expressions on their faces. Georgie looked uncomfortable, her smile strained and her eyes darting nervously. Niall's jaw was set, his usual easygoing demeanour replaced by a tense alertness.

"There you are!" Dylan's voice cut through the noise as Leia approached. His smile was wide, but his eyes were sharp, predatory. "We were just talking about you."

Leia forced a smile, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure they could all hear it over the music. "Oh? All good things, I hope."

Dylan laughed, the sound grating against Leia's nerves. "Always, princess. Always." 

He turned back to Niall and Georgie, his grip on Georgie's shoulder tightening ever so slightly. 

"As I was saying, I think it's time we all loosened up a bit. What do you say we join my friends upstairs and take the edge off? Without your guard dog, of course..."

He looked towards Azul, his smile dropping for a second as the security guard tensed up at the words that fell from his mouth. They'd known this was likely, but Azul had promised Riven that he'd keep her safe. He didn't intend to break that promise.

The implication was clear, and Leia felt a chill run down her spine. She glanced at Georgie, seeing the fear poorly hidden behind her sister's forced smile.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Leia said, her voice firm despite the tremor she felt in her hands. 

"I think it is, you know," Dylan replied, a smirk still firm on his face. "Gives me a good distraction to not accidentally post anything online, if I'm not bored on my phone..."

Coercion - another box ticked off for Thena.

Oh, and that was a threat, Leia thought. A ridiculously thinly-veiled threat that was only meant for her and Azul to understand, even if the other two knew exactly what he was referring to. Leia noticed how Georgie paled ever so slightly, understanding what he was trying to say to her sister.

"Georgie, you should probably head home. It's getting late."

Georgie opened her mouth to protest, but Niall cut in smoothly.

"She's right, love," he said, his Irish lilt more pronounced than usual. "You've got that exam tomorrow. I'm sure Azul can take you home, and I'll make sure your sister gets back safely, okay?"

Leia's heart raced as she watched Azul escort Georgie away, her sister's worried glance lingering until they disappeared into the crowd. She felt exposed without her trusted bodyguard, but she knew this was part of the plan. They needed to get Dylan alone, to make him feel comfortable enough to incriminate himself.

Whatever was about to happen, she wanted Georgie to have no part in it.

Dylan's arm snaked around Leia's waist, pulling her close as he led her and Niall towards a hidden staircase at the back of the venue. The music faded as they ascended, replaced by the dull thud of bass and muffled laughter.

At the top of the stairs, Dylan pushed open an ornate door, revealing a dimly lit room bathed in red light. The air was thick with smoke and the sickly-sweet scent of expensive cologne. Several people lounged on plush velvet couches, their eyes glassy and unfocused.

"Welcome to the real party," Dylan grinned, his fingers digging into Leia's hip possessively.

Leia's gaze swept across the room, taking in the scene before her. On a sleek glass coffee table, neat lines of white powder stood out starkly against the dark surface. Her stomach churned at the sight, memories of her lowest moments with Dylan threatening to overwhelm her.

Niall cleared his throat, his face a mask of casual interest. "Quite the setup you've got here, mate."

Dylan's smile widened as he guided Leia to one of the couches, pulling her down beside him. His hand rested on her thigh, fingers tracing lazy circles on her skin. It took every ounce of willpower for Leia not to recoil from his touch.

"Only the best for my friends," Dylan drawled, nodding to a man in the corner who approached with a small tray. "Care to indulge?"

Leia's breath caught in her throat as she watched Dylan lean forward, his movements practiced and fluid as he snorted a line. He turned to her, eyes dark with desire and chemical euphoria.

Dylan's hands roamed possessively over her body as he nuzzled her neck. She caught Niall's eye briefly, seeing the barely contained anger there as he took a seat nearby. 

"So, Niall," Dylan drawled, his fingers tracing patterns on Leia's thigh. "How are you enjoying the perks of dating a Hudson sister?"

Niall chuckled, the sound slightly strained. 

"Can't complain, mate. Though I'm sure you know all about that."

Dylan's grip on Leia tightened imperceptibly. A warning - that he better believe everything he was seeing. Even though Leia knew Niall was aware it was fake, Dylan had no idea.

"Oh, I do. These girls are something special, aren't they? Speaking of special..."

Dylan reached into his pocket, pulling out a separate bag to the one that had just been opened on the tray in front of him.

"Straight from Colombia," Dylan boasted, his eyes gleaming. "Purest stuff you'll find this side of the equator. Want a taste?"

Niall leaned forward, feigning interest. "That's quite the claim. Must've cost a pretty penny to import."

Dylan laughed, the sound cold and sharp. "Oh, it did. But when you've got the right connections, anything's possible. A little cash here, a few bribes there... it's amazing what you can smuggle past customs these days."

Bingo, Leia thought. They'd done it - he'd just confessed to it. They had it on Niall's wire and on her own.

As Dylan reached for the lines on the table, Leia's mind raced. They had what they needed - surely the FBI would burst in any moment now. But as the seconds ticked by and nothing happened, a creeping dread began to settle in her stomach.

"Your turn, princess," he murmured, his lips brushing against her ear as he motioned towards the tray that had been sat down in front of them. Leia's mind raced, panic rising in her chest. This wasn't part of the plan.

Dylan's eyes bored into her, expectant and predatory. She could feel the weight of Niall's gaze as well, tense and worried. One wrong move and their entire operation could unravel.

"Come on, princess," Dylan purred, his breath hot against her ear. "For old times' sake."

With trembling hands, Leia leaned forward, her heart hammering against her ribcage. The familiar ritual came back to her with frightening ease - the way she positioned herself, the slight tilt of her head.

She had worked so hard to put this behind her, and now...

With a sharp inhale, Leia felt the bitter burn as the cocaine hit the back of her throat. The effect was almost instantaneous - a rush of euphoria flooding her system, chasing away the fear and doubt that had plagued her all night.

"There we go," Dylan grinned, pulling her close. "Doesn't that feel better?"

And God help her, it did. The room seemed sharper, brighter. The bass from downstairs thrummed through her body, matching the rapid beating of her heart. She felt invincible, untouchable.

And she fucking loathed herself for it.

As the high settled in, Leia felt an overwhelming urge for more. Her eyes fixated on the remaining lines, her body practically humming with anticipation. Before she could stop herself, Leia leaned forward again, chasing that euphoric rush. The second line disappeared, followed quickly by a third.

Niall watched helplessly as Leia spiraled, unable to intervene without compromising their mission. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the arm of his chair, jaw clenched in silent frustration. 

Dylan's laugh, low and approving, cut through the haze. 

"That's my girl," he murmured, pulling her closer. "I knew you couldn't resist."

The world spun around her, a kaleidoscope of red light and shadowy figures. She was vaguely aware of Dylan's hands on her body, his lips on her neck, but it all felt distant, unreal.

"Easy there, princess," Dylan purred, his fingers tangling in Leia's hair. "Pace yourself. We've got all night."

Something in Dylan's tone made Niall's skin crawl. He could see the predatory gleam in the other man's eyes, the way his grip on Leia tightened possessively. This was spiraling out of control fast.

"Mate," Niall said, forcing a casual tone despite the tension thrumming through his body. "Maybe we should slow down a bit, yeah? Get some water or something?"

Dylan's head snapped up, his eyes narrowing as they locked onto Niall. For a moment, the mask of affability slipped, revealing something cold and dangerous beneath.

"What's the matter, Horan?" Dylan sneered.

Niall opened his mouth to reply, but before he could get a word out, the heavy oak door swung open with a resounding bang. While most people paid no attention to it, the three sets of eyes at the table immediately looked towards the loud and new entry into the room.

Her eyes snapped up, instant horror and a sobering feeling crossing her body at the woman standing in the doorway, one hand on a hip and a slightly clenched jaw as they apologised for walking in, their apology cutting off at the end as they noticed the two pop-stars that were sitting at the table - and the very obvious line of white and rolled up bill in one of their hands.

Fuck me, Leia thought. What kind of fucked up karma did she have for Este Haim to have been here and to walk in on this? And where was Thena's team?

"Want a hit?" One of Dylan's buddies called out, noticing how the woman was still standing in the doorway and hadn't immediately left. He'd assumed that the way she was looking at the drugs and Leia was desire, rather than disgust.

"No," Este spoke, her eyes flickering back to Leia's. "Sorry for interrupting. Was just trying to find the cloak room."

Leia bit her tongue as the Haim sister left the room, the door slamming behind her. She bit the inside of her cheek as Niall squeezed her knee, a comforting action that convinced her to let go of the breath she had been holding since her eyes had met the other girl's.

The sudden slam of the door as Este exited seemed to hang in the air, the tension palpable. Leia's heart raced, the cocaine heightening her senses to an almost painful degree. She could hear every whispered conversation, every clink of glass, every rustle of fabric.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted from downstairs. The muffled sounds of shouting and heavy footsteps penetrated the haze of smoke and music that filled the room. Dylan's head snapped up, his eyes narrowing as he strained to hear.

"What the fuck?" he muttered, releasing his grip on Leia and standing up.

Before anyone could react, the door burst open again, this time with a thunderous crash that sent splinters of wood flying. A flood of uniformed police and FBI officers poured into the room, their voices raised in a cacophony of shouts and commands.

The room erupted into chaos. People scrambled in every direction, overturning furniture and sending glasses shattering to the floor. 

Leia felt herself being roughly shoved aside as Dylan made a mad dash for a hidden door in the corner. Her drug-addled mind struggled to process the scene unfolding around her. She watched, almost in slow motion, as an officer tackled Dylan to the ground, his face slamming into the plush carpet.

Niall was at her side in an instant, his strong arms wrapping around her protectively. 

"It's okay, we're okay," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the din.

The red mood lighting flickered and died, replaced by the harsh glare of police spotlights. Leia squinted against the sudden brightness, her pupils contracting painfully.

Through the haze, Leia caught sight of Thena, her blonde hair pulled back in a severe bun, barking orders to a team of agents. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Leia saw a flicker of concern cross Thena's face before she excused herself, crossing the room and coming to stand in front of Leia with worried eyes.

Thena reached out, her fingers gently but firmly grasping Leia's jaw. She tilted Leia's head from side to side, her eyes narrowing as she examined the young woman's face.

"Look at me," Thena commanded, her voice low and urgent.

Leia's gaze, unfocused and glassy, struggled to meet Thena's. The agent tilted Leia's head from side to side, studying her dilated pupils with growing alarm.

"What the hell happened?" Thena demanded, her voice low and tight with barely contained fury. Her gaze snapped to Niall, who still had his arm protectively wrapped around Leia's waist.

"Dylan brought out the coke, and we couldn't risk blowing our cover. We thought you'd be busting in any second."

Thena's jaw clenched, a muscle ticking in her cheek as she processed the information. Her fingers still rested on Leia's face, thumb absently stroking her cheek in a gesture that seemed more instinctive than intentional.

"We lost your signals as soon as you entered this room," Thena explained, her eyes scanning the ornate wallpaper and plush furnishings. "Some kind of signal jamming technology. We couldn't hear a damn thing."

Leia swayed slightly on her feet, and Niall tightened his grip to steady her. The room spun around her, a kaleidoscope of flashing lights and frantic movement.

"We didn't move in until Azul bumped into Este outside," Thena continued, her voice tight with frustration. "He had just dropped Georgie off and was coming back when he saw her. She told him what she'd seen up here."

The mention of Este sent a fresh wave of panic through Leia. Her eyes darted around the room, half-expecting to see the eldest Haim sister watching her with judgment and disappointment. Instead, she saw only the controlled chaos of the raid - officers leading handcuffed partygoers out, evidence being bagged and tagged, Dylan being roughly escorted from the room, his designer suit rumpled and his face a mask of fury as he yelled insults in Leia and Niall's direction - connecting the dots.

"Este," she mumbled, her words slurring slightly. "She saw... Oh God, she saw everything. Taylor's gonna..."

"Hey, hey," Thena cut in, her voice gentler now. She placed a steadying hand on Leia's shoulder. "Let's not worry about that right now, okay? We need to get you out of here and checked out by the medics."

Thena looked over her shoulder as one of her guys called out her name, giving her a thumbs up. She turned back to look at Niall and Leia with a smile that just reached upwards.

"You guys did it. We got it all - we got everything we need to get this fucker."

____