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Chapter 20: Austin
Théois slumped back into his chair, his gaze far away. Probably somewhere between his mind-altering shit and his madness, though there’s nothing illusionary about watching a dead guy wrapped in plastic. Xavier was a lucky punk if you’re asking me. I had to identify them, our bodies, saw with my own eyes how they had suffered from the rope around their neck. Yeah, it should have beenhimhanging above a dumpster in a filthy alley, not one of my men, nor Connor’s. Not Manuel, the unfortunate dude, who ended up being used as a toy by both hisbrothersand the police, simply because he got himself arrested, then hanged. I shiver at the thought.
“You think too much.”Théo’sblue stare has unnoticeably moved to mine. Leaning his chin against his hand, he smirks. “You know that he’ll come for you, right?”
“He can try, “ I volunteer, “But if he gets in my way, I’ll make all of you pay.”
His smirk turns into a grin. “What, with your earbuds in? Can’t handle a bit of mind game, can you?” He flicks his tongue. “You won’t even notice until it’s too late. He’s good at that. I think—”
“I think it’s time for you to be taken to the airport.” I stand and call one of the drivers, ignoring the taunting sounds coming fromthat little freak.
He stands too, drags a hand through his hair, then follows the driver toward the door, looking completely unaffected byeverythingthat just happened. But before leaving, he speaks again, his slender frame leaning against the door. “It’s already started.”
With my phone against my ear, and Ro already asking me how I am,whereI am, I can only stare atThéo, remembering the exact words spoken to me during the party. The light eyes beneath that wave of curls shine in amusement, and he blows me a kiss when he muses, “Until we meet again.” And then he’s gone.
“Austin?” Ro barks.
I blink, eyes focusing again, then take a deep breath. “I’m still here,” I let out on an exhale. “In Vic’s office. I’ll meet you outside.” I take a look around, where the boys have now finished wiping everything clean.
“Take him to the van?” One of the guys asks, pointing to the wrapped-up body.
“Yeah. Take him to the storage containers and cut him up. We’ll dispose of his body parts in the river just to be sure. Not that anyone’s gonna miss this kid here anyway.” The guys give a wry laugh, then get on with it straight away, carrying the plastic roll down the stairs, leaving me a minute to scan the room.
Vic’s not gonna be pleased if she finds her office in the slightest disarray. Though, to my credit, the place looks cleaner than it was before we arrived. When I make it back to the large reception, my team welcomes me like a pack of wolves.
“We were so worried about you,” Vic muses. “When we found out thatthatson a bitch had set us up.” She points to the other side of the room,
“Connor,” I breathe, relief and something else fluttering through me like butterflies. He’s talking to his brother who looks disheveled as hell, his bodyguard,Mason, by his other side. When Logan sees me, he gives me his usual scowl, then asks, “Did you shoot him?”
“Who?” Ro asks in surprise.
I let out a sigh and run a hand down my face. “Xavier. Yes.”
“Why?” Both he and Vic utter, but Logan simply nods. “Good job.” He looks tired, then I remember that he was in the hospital because of the baby.
“We struck a deal with them, sent the assassin home. Turns out he was theInitiator’sreal brother and our key to an exchange for a truce,” Connor adds, which earns him a squeeze on the shoulder from Logan.
“So that’s it, it’s done?” Vic’s voice is laced with doubt.
“Yeah. Though it was a fucking brilliant move, Connor,” I give my sweetling a pointed look, but can’t keep the adoration from my voice. “A Trojan Horse you pulled on me.”
He grins at that, looking all smug and shit, but it’s Kai who asks, “Awhat?”
“You know thatwooden horse used by the Greeks during the Trojan War when they… never mind. Bottom line, Xavier was here under false pretenses.”
“Though he didn’t know he was tricked too,” Connor adds, making me look back into those hazel eyes.
I hum. “And then I tricked you, and you tricked me in return.”
“A very confusing situation indeed,” he muses, eyes full with mischief.
“Let’s see if I can do it again,” I mumble, worship fueling my boldness into taking a few steps his way. “I’m going back to Europe, to set up an organization over there. And I could use a guy who’s smart and sexy and who can warm my bed at night.”
Ignoring the surprised sighs around me, I reach for Connor. “Someone like you.”
Logan clears his throat, then Mason stops me, but Connor shuts everyone in the room up by breathing, “I love you.”
“Connor,” Logan mumbles, but my sweetling only has eyes for me.
