Chapter Twenty
ELLIOT
It’s been two weeks of going back and forth, chasing leads that keep leading us nowhere. We know they’re in France, but he keeps moving them around, so we might as well be chasing our tails. He’s a cocky bastard, I’ll give him that. River has made his feelings clear with Jax on multiple occasions, if we don’t make a move soon, he’ll go at it alone if he has too. I get it, Jax has been getting things in place, calling in favours, trying to be strategic, but even I have to admit I think it’s time we made a move.
But right now, it’s a recent email that has my hackles rising. I stare at the screen and have to read it twice before it sinks in.
“What the actual fuck?”
Diminished responsibility.
Pulling my glasses off, I throw them onto the desk and press my palms into my eyes.
“That absolute wanker.”
I sit up and wave, getting Jax’s attention from his office opposite, and signal for him.
He pushes his chair back and walks over.
“What, what is it?”
I tilt my chin towards the chair and wait for him to sit.
“I just received correspondence from the lawyer representing that low-life George... he’s claiming diminished responsibility due to intoxication.” Of course, the cunt would try to say he wasn’t in his right mental state when he attacked Lily. He doesn’t want to diminish his reputation and take responsibility for his actions.
Jax’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise, his usual stoic demeanour replaced by a spark of fury. “You’re kidding me,”he mutters as I turn the screen towards him. He leans forward to read the email.
My leg bounces as I try to push down my simmering rage.
“Don’t say anything to Lily,”he says, grinding his jaw. “She doesn’t need to worry about that on top of everything else, at least not yet. Fuck!”He sits back in his chair. His anger is as palpable as mine. The entire situation is already bad enough with Richard. But now this fucker thinks he’s going to just get away with what he attempted to do to Lily.
“He’s an entitled prick. I can’t say I’m surprised he went down that route.”
River’s frame fills the doorway. “What route? What did I miss?”His eyes scan between me and Jax as he steps deeper into my office.
“George, the arsehole from the gala, is now pleading diminished responsibility.”
“The fuck he is,”he says, kicking the legs of the empty chair beside Jax and sending it back against the wall.
“For crying out loud, River, would you sit the fuck down,”Jax says, his eyes moving to the surrounding offices, the clear windows making his outburst even more apparent.
River concedes, crossing his arms over his chest.“Well?”
Jax turns his face towards River.“Well, what?”he questions, his tone brusque.
River raises his eyebrows. “What are we going to do about George? ”
“I literally just got the email, Riv.”I wave my hand towards my computer.
“And your point?”
I hold up my palm, he’s been fucking insufferable the last couple of days, and I get it, of course I fucking do. “Calm down, Riv. We’re on the same team.” I hate being at odds with him, but being separated from Lily has all of us turned on our axis.
He drops his chin and shakes his head, his hair falling over his brow. “Yeah, shit. I know.”He swallows before he looks up, the brown in his hazel eyes more dominant.
“Whatever we do, we need to be careful and strategic,”Jax says, tapping his chin in thought.
“What a fucking surprise,” River says under his breath.
Jax ignores him in favour of me. “Elliot, can you find out where he frequents? Someone as entitled as him, as you say, is probably a member of aclub or two.”
I sit up straight. “Yes, hell, you’re probably right.”
“Okay, this is something I can get behind,”River says with an edge of eagerness.
“You don’t even know what I have in mind,”Jax tosses back.
River cocks his head. “But I do brother, and it involves us paying the cunt a visit and me introducing him to my switchblade.”
I let out a groan.
“Hmm, well, the visit, yes. The switchblade is debatable. The last thing I need is you getting locked up for carrying a knife.”
River scoffs at that. “You’re implying I’ll be caught, Jax. You, of all people, know I’m better than that.”
And that right there is a glimpse of the cocky bastard I’ve grown to love, some of his humour making a brief appearance. If you can call his threat to pull a knife on George amusing. I’d get some sick satisfaction seeing him squirm, so there is that.
I pull up one of the databases I use and begin a search .
“What are the fucking chances,”I say, my heart rate increasing.
The first hit is no other than Formidable—a highly sought-out club—which also happens to be run by our close friend, Octavia.
Finally, it seems like we have a little luck on our side.
“You are not going to believe this,”I say, smirking as I turn the screen to face Jax and River.
“Formidable.”River claps his hands together.
“It seems he frequently visits mostly on Wednesdays and, as if luck might have it, Sundays.”Which just so happens to be today.
Jax pulls out his phone and searches through his contacts before bringing it to his ear.
“O, how are you?”he asks, hiseyes rising to meet mine. “I have a favour to ask of you?”He laughs at whatever she says in reply as he stands, pushes his chair back, and makes his way back into his office.
But my attention returns to River as he also pushes tohis feet.
I raise an eyebrow.“Where are you going? Don’t you wantto wait and see what Jax has in mind?”
Rivershrugs. “Pretty sure it involves us three, a private room, and that cunt beneath my blade.”
I scrub my jaw. “Seriously, Riv.”
“Oh, I’m serious. In fact, I have a set of knives that require my attention.”He smiles, but this one is full of malevolent intent.
Jax walks in just as River walks out, throwing his thumb over his shoulder in question.
“Something about a date with his knives.”
“Good, because I’ve procured us a private room. Octavia is going to help us set a honey trap.But only because she’s heard rumours, but never been able to prove it, and wants an excuse to ban his pompous arse indefinitely.”
I laugh at that. “It’s been too long. How is she?”It’s a shame that this is how we’re reconnecting with her.
He shrugs. “You know, O, she’s like a vault, but nothing a well overdue get-together won’t cure.”
“Sounds like a plan, and speaking of, what’s the plan for tonight?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
The last time we were dressed up like this was for Lily’s gala, which isironic since this is why we’re here now.
“All right, let’s go over this one more time,”Jax says, as I turn into the underground car park solely reserved for elite members of Formidable, giving you a more discreet entry.
I nod and glance at River in the rearview mirror. He’s barely been able to keep himself still since returning from his ‘date’ with his knives.
“Octavia is setting us up with a private room. George won’t suspect a thing until it’s too late. I don’t want to go in too hot, too soon. Keep it as civil as possible until we have him where we want him.”
River pokes his head through the gap between the front seats. “And then?”he asks.
“And then,”Jax continues, “we make sure he knows why messing with Lily was the biggest mistake of his life.”
I can’t deny feeling some grim satisfaction at the prospect.
River sits back. “Now, that’s what I’m talking about.”
I pull into one of the reserved parking spaces and glance at Jax, a silent understanding passing between us. As much as we might want blood, it’s important we do our best to keep River in check .
The bouncer nods and opens the door without a word, a testament to Octavia’s influence and management. Formidable is as exclusive as they come. The club is a swirl of elegant lighting; the thrum of a low bass, setting the perfect backdrop for the patrons.
Octavia meets us at the bar, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Gentlemen,”she purrs, greeting us all with a kiss on each cheek.
“Looking hot, O,”River says with a cheeky wink.
She waves her hand down the length of her black, floor-length, figure-hugging dress with a slit on either side. “What, this old thing?”
I doubt very much the dress is old by any means.
“You’re gorgeous, O. But you know we all love you for your personality,”I reply.
She sighs dramatically. “Unfortunately, which is likely why we all remained friends.”
The bartender slips us all a glass of champagne.
“Cheers,”she says, raising her glass. We all chink our glasses and take a sip.
“George is already here, over in the main lounge. Your room is all set, so as soon as you’re ready, I’ll give the nod and have him delivered to you.”
“You’re a lifesaver, O,”Jax says, squeezing her shoulder. “We owe you one.”
She shakes her head and waves him off with a sultry laugh. “Just make sure you get him out of here when you’re done without causing a scene. I have a reputation to uphold, after all.”
River clutches his chest, feigning hurt. “As if we’d ever do anything to tarnish your reputation.”
She dips her glass at him, her red lips forming a perfect smile. “That’s true, but I expect you guys to come back and give me the tea over whatever this is. Where’s Tommy? ”
“He’s on a job,”Jax says, clearing his throat and gripping his neck.
“A job? Really Jackson,”River says, cocking a brow and causing Jax to wince.
Octavia points her finger at us. “Yep, you guys have some explaining to do.”She throws the rest of her champagne back in a way that makes it classy and places her empty glass back on the bar.
“Ready?” she asks.
River nods. “Let’s get this over with.”
We follow Octavia through the club, and it’s impossible not to appreciate its opulence. As someone who spends her days as the CEO of a huge multi-million corporate company, this was her way of finding an outlet—allowing her to relinquish control in a safe environment.
As we pass the main lounge, I spot George almost immediately, looking as smug as ever and completely unaware of the trap we’re about to set.
I notice when River spots him because his steps falter, and he hones in on him like a hawk. I grab the back of his neck and pull him towards me, my mouth moving to his ear. “Soon, Riv, don’t blow it.” He lets out a breath as I pull back, my lips ghosting his before he nods as we’re led to a private room.
“This is where I’ll leave you,”O says, gesturing to the door. “Be careful, gentlemen.”
“Always, O.”
She blows us a kiss, and we watch as she sways her hips and disappears back the way we came.
Jax uses his palm to gain us entry.
“Let’s do this,”he says as the door automatically locks behind us.