Chapter 20

Chapter Twenty Noah

“Bringsback memories of the last time you were getting ready for a gala,” I tease Scar.

There are dark circles under her eyes that even her expertly applied makeup can’t quite hide, but her smile soothes some of my worry as she gets a mischievous glint in her eyes. Declan stands in the corner, adjusting his tie, but I catch his smirk.

Charles whips his head back and forth between the three of us, finally landing on Scar. “Do I want to know?”

Declan’s smirk falls off his face and I can’t help that my smile does too. I don’t hate Charles, but I also can’t help but be filled with satisfaction when Luca pushes past him and growls, “Not your business.”

Scar rolls her eyes and flips Luca off behind his back, making me chuckle.

“Don’t worry about it,” she says, turning her attention to Charles. “Nothing memorable.”

I snort as Declan stiffens. “Take that back,” he demands, glaring at her.

“Stop being a dick,” she fires back.

“I’ll show you a dick.”

Ryder and I exchange looks and throw our heads back in laughter. It’s rare to see Declan acting so childish, even if we’re all feeling the same way. Scar has been lighter since allowing Charles back in. We’re all grateful for it. There should be no but after that statement. Of course there is though.

Before Scar can say anything snarky back, Joe raises his hands and eyes all of us. “Children, behave.” Ryder and I both shut up, but both Scar and Declan begin to grumble. Joe rolls his eyes and mutters something I don’t catch under his breath. Don’t think I want to know what he says.

Scar walks over to me and begins to fix my tie for me and I forget all about how close she and Charles have gotten. How easily he can make her life better. How quick their bond was able to flare back to life. How he sometimes whispers things to her that take her to a different world, one only the two of them know. It’s hard to compete with history. Okay, so maybe the thoughts weren’t driven completely from my mind, even with her fingers pressed against my chest.

I force myself to focus only on her. Her gorgeous green eyes, ringed with heavy black, and framed by long, full, dark lashes. The sparkling shadow makes them shine all the brighter. “You look beautiful, baby girl.”

She smiles in delight and taps my chest as she finishes with my tie. “And you look very handsome, Handsome.”

“Are you ready for tonight?”

Something I don’t understand enters her gaze and her eyes flick to where Charles stands. I grit my teeth but don’t react otherwise. I know why he had to come, but it doesn’t mean any of us are overly fond of how much time has been spent together since he showed up at our house after we got back from Black Hallows last week.

“Yup.” The word is far too chirpy for the expression on her face, but now is not the time to push her. Not when we all need to be leaving for the gala in just a little bit. Josie and Tyler know to expect us, but also not to have any contact with us during the party.

Charles will take Ryder in with him. Declan will take Scar once again. His name provides the best cover for her. Kade and I are both entering as waitstaff, though I blend in way easier than he does. And Luca is going in on his own. There will be enough of a mixed crowd at this event that no one should notice an unfamiliar face.

Joe, Ian, and Holden will be watching from the van outside the venue to give us a quick getaway option if things do turn bad. There’s a sick feeling in my gut as I remember the last time we were all set up like this. None of us thought it was even possible for someone to recognize Scar, but Charles did.

His father was in that same room. What if he had been the one to hear her laugh and recall her smile? Recognized those green eyes even when every other part of her is completely different from how she used to look? The thought turns my stomach and makes me feel ill. I push a strand of hair behind her ear and kiss her forehead.

It’s a different crowd tonight. A different mission.

We aren’t here to find the men who abused Scar, we’re here to find a lackey. The team they have on Josie, monitoring her moves. At a big event like this, they’d have to be in the room with her to see who she associates with. If she’s meeting someone new. It would be the perfect place to stage a meeting without anyone becoming suspicious. Of course, they’ll have eyes on her all night.

Probably have for every gala and fundraiser and social event that Josie has been to over the last decade. How else would they be sure she wasn’t using the events as a cover to meet with Scar? Or I guess I should say Charlotte. That’s who Donahue cares about. Not the woman Scar has become, only the girl she once was.

“I’ll be fine,” Scar promises, leaning up on her toes to kiss my cheek.

Her words should reassure me, but there’s something off about them. There’s something in the glint of her eye that tells me I’m missing something. It only makes me feel worse.

She walks away and brushes past a distressed-looking Charles. I eye him up and down, trying to sort out my own feelings when his eyes meet mine. He nods, but he can’t hide the way his eyes widened only moments before. He quickly turns away and rushes after Scar.

The bad feeling in my gut gets worse.

* * *

Less than an hourinto the gala Scar and Luca have already pinpointed two of the members of Donahue’s team watching Josie. I walk around the room with another tray of champagne flutes, and spot Scar and Declan making small talk with an older couple. They’ve positioned themselves next to one of the men and Scar keeps a cool gaze on him even as she giggles at something the older man says to her.

I smother a scoff at the interaction. She’s really playing up the innocent, just here as an accessory act of hers. I hate how well it works. No one here sees her for the leader she truly is.

Making another round of the room, I spot a suspicious man in the corner of the room closest to the exit. Moving into the shadows of the staff-only hall, I keep him in my line of sight and study him. His body is rigid, his eyes alert. He’s ready to move at a moment’s notice. To intercept anyone trying to leave, or follow them.

Josie is standing toward the front of the room, at the bottom of the stage where the speeches should be starting momentarily. She’s laughing with Tyler at her side, his arm wrapped possessively around her waist. There’s a young man talking to the pair of them, his eyes locked on where Tyler holds her. Is it like that between them? Another situation like Ian and Jade? Has Scar really been playing matchmaker again?

Whoever the guy is, he doesn’t find the possibility as funny as I do. Even from here, the way his hand shakes is visible. I’m not the only one watching the interaction either. My friend hiding in the corner has been locked in on the trio the entire time since I’ve noticed him.

I press my finger against my earpiece and murmur the location of the third man I believe to be watching Josie.

Almost immediately, Luca’s voice fills my ear. “Spotted.”

Shortly after, Charles agrees, “Three would be the minimum I would expect.”

It’s been awhile since I’ve spotted either him or Ryder, but there they are, slowly making their way to my side of the room. I pull back and refill my tray of champagne flutes and head back out to make another round. Charles said at least three, that means there could be more. It’s too early to let our guard down now.

Kade stands in the hallway, pulling at his bow tie as I make my way back out. Slapping his hand away from his shirt I point to his nonexistent tray. “What the fuck, dude?”

He rolls his eyes. “This was a stupid idea.”

I huff a sigh of annoyance. “You’ve done far worse. Just grab a tray and pass out appetizers or drinks or something. It gives us the excuse of moving through the room unnoticed.”

“I know that,” he growls.

I give him a look but don’t even bother to point out he’s acting out for no reason. He grumbles but stops objecting. “I can’t wait to get back to St Graves.”

A laugh eddies up without permission. “Don’t we all?” I agree.

As soon as I step back into the room, I search out Scar, not even paying attention to the other extravagantly dressed attendees, relieving my tray of glasses at what could be seen as an alarming rate. She’s still at Declan’s side as she should be, but they’re talking to someone different now. A young woman who is looking at D in a way I’m shocked Scar hasn’t spilled a drink on her for yet.

To no one’s surprise, Scar is quick to guide Declan away from her and they bump directly into Charles and Ryder. Both stop and chat amicably, doing their best to appear as if they don’t know each other, but Charles tenses as he shakes D’s hand.

Suddenly, I feel warmth at my side, and look over to find another young woman pressing against me. I smile politely and use the tray to create some distance between us.

“Champagne ma’am?”

She giggles and her hand falls to my forearm. “I’m too young and pretty to be called ma’am.”

My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Apologies, miss,” I attempt to correct, still trying to extricate my arm from her hold without causing a scene.

She hums and looks up at me through her fluttering eyelashes. “That still seems,” she hesitates, twirling a long lock of blonde hair around her finger, “so impersonal.” She beams up at me and I cough. I’m so far out of my league here.

I lower the tray and step back, forcing her hand to fall away from me. “I need to continue my rounds.” I keep my voice gentle but firm. I have no idea how a normal waiter would respond in this situation, but the best I can do is not cause a scene.

Moving around her, I attempt to continue on my path, but her hand falls on my arm again, almost making me almost drop the tray. I balance it quickly and she gives me a sheepish grin. “Oops.”

Biting my lip, I tamp down a sigh. If Scar sees her, there’s no way we’re getting out of this gala without causing a scene. Dread builds in my gut at the thought.

“Excuse me, miss, but I really must continue,” I try again.

Her bottom lip juts out in a pout I’m sure she thinks is enticing. It just makes her seem all that much younger to me. “But I want a drink.”

I lift the tray again to her silently and her pout drops, replaced by a satisfied smirk. “Not champagne. I’d like a glass of rosé. Do you know what they have?”

Why me? Why tonight?

My agitation is growing as that knot in my stomach from earlier comes back tenfold.

“Let me go take a look for you,” I offer. Anything to get me out of this situation. I don’t even wait for a response before I head to the staff-only hallway. With any luck, maybe Kade will still be there and scare the girl off for me.

I realize too late that she’s only a step behind me. Since when were such young girls so aggressive? She can’t be over eighteen, yet here we are. In a hallway she has no business being in, pressing her body up against mine. Almost making the tray of drinks topple over once more. I set it down at a table thankfully close by, and wrap my hands around her biceps to gently push her away from me.

Her pout is back almost instantly. I run my hand through my hair and sigh. “There’s no reason for someone as pretty as you are to waste your time on someone like me,” I say, going for the complimentary route. Though at this point, I’d love to be able to just storm off.

Her smirk tells me I’m not getting through to her at all. “Shouldn’t that be for me to decide?” she teases and I want to groan.

“I apologize, but I can’t–”

“There you are,” a familiar and all too-welcome voice calls out, cutting me off. My body sags with relief as Kade saunters over to us. His arm wraps around my waist and I cover all of my surprise as his lips find the top of my head. “Valerie is looking for you, babe. You’re supposed to be doing rounds.”

The young girl’s eyes are wide as she looks back and forth between the two of us, understanding slowly dawning on her naive face. Heat flushes my face, and my cheeks burn. Fucking Kade. Of all the ways he could have extricated me from this situation.

“That’s my fault,” she offers. “Your boyfriend was just checking what rosé you have in the back for me,” she fishes.

Kade chuckles and my blush gets worse as he squeezes me. “You asked the wrong waiter,” he teases. “My husband knows nothing of good wine. I can bring you a glass of La Grande Dame if that suits your taste?”

She eyes him up and down, weighing his words before giving him an embarrassed smile. “That would be fabulous, thank you.” Fucking finally, she spins on her heel and heads back to the gala.

I groan and sag against the wall. “I fucking hate you,” I say half-heartedly to Kade.

He gives me his signature dopey grin. “No, you don’t. You never would have been able to get out of that by yourself, husband.”

I roll my eyes, but can’t deny his accusation. “Did you really have to go that route?”

He shrugs. “She seemed the persistent type.”

I scoff, that’s one way to put it. Even with her gone though, the sinking feeling in my stomach hasn’t disappeared. “You go get that drink, I’m going to head back out. I’m feeling uneasy.”

His jaw locks and his eyes harden. “You too?”

I give him a clipped nod. “Feels like we’re missing something.” His steps are hurried as he turns away from me and I follow suit, stepping back into the ballroom with my tray once more.

Josie and Tyler are still near the front. Luca isn’t too far away from them, his attention locked on one of the marks. The third mark is in the same spot as when I first noticed him. The second one,though, is nowhere to be seen. I make my rounds, continuously surveying the room.

Ryder and Charles are now alone, sitting at a table in the middle of the room. Kade comes back out from the hallway, a glass in hand, as he searches out the girl who accosted me.

Still no sign of Scar, Declan, or our third mark. Did they follow him out for some reason?

Anxiety grows, clawing at my insides as I continue to search. It turns to full panic as I catch sight of Declan. Alone. A stricken expression on his face as he stares at Kade.

I move quickly, cutting through the crowd as more and more people begin to find their seats and head to the back. Declan catches sight of me and his fingers move to his ear.

“Scarlett followed Kade,” he says through the comms.

I press my own comm. “Hallway, now,” I snap, not bothering to watch any of their reactions. We need eyes on Scar now.

I abandon the tray and begin to pace back and forth as I wait for everyone to meet me. Declan and Luca are the first to appear.

“What the fuck do you mean she followed Kade?” Luca snaps.

Declan runs his hand over his jaw, looking more wild than I’ve ever seen him. “She was worried about Noah and saw Kade following. She was only a few steps behind him.”

“I never even saw her,” Kade says as he walks into the hallway, ripping his bow tie off and throwing it to the floor.

“The second mark is also gone,” I force out in a choked voice.

Their heads snap in my direction. “I couldn’t see him,” I explain. “When I came back out, I had a bad feeling. Everyone else was accounted for except Scar and the second mark.”

Luca’s fist hits a wall, and I almost miss Ryder and Charles showing up. That is until Ryder throws a new body on the ground at our feet. Glass breaks, but it all happens too fast for me to even comprehend what’s happening.

When my brain does finally catch up, Ryder is on the ground atop the man he threw there, a broken champagne flute in his hand pressed against his throat. A jagged edge digs into the fragile skin there, blood drips onto his white shirt.

“You’re not going to open your mouth until I tell you to. Got it?”

The man doesn’t react, not even a flinch or a blink. This may be harder than Ryder is anticipating. I look to Declan or Luca to take control, but neither one makes a move to stop him. Both too shocked at the scene in front of them.

“Shake your head yes or no to answer. Lie, and bleed out in this hallway. Open your mouth, and find out what a nightmare really is.”

Still no reaction, but no one moves to stop Ryder. Charles stands behind him wringing his hands nervously. He can’t be used to this type of thing. I’m not sure I am either. Not like this. Not with Scar missing. Possibly in danger.

Fear shakes me to my core.

“You work for Donahue,” Ryder pushes, jumping straight into the heart of his interrogation. The man doesn’t nod, but he doesn’t need to. His surprise gives away everything we need to know.

Ryder chuckles, a malicious, terrifying sound that grates on my nerve endings. I can’t imagine how it must feel to be at the receiving end of it. More blood begins to seep into the man’s shirt as he presses the glass into his throat. Dangerously close to his aorta. “Don’t even bother answering. We already know.”

He tilts his head and smiles sardonically. I can almost see Scar in his expression. It would be horrifying if it wasn’t so amusing. I wish I could really enjoy watching this side of Ryder blossom, but the nausea in my gut and the pounding in my head keep me from doing anything but be terrified for Scar. If this is going to get us the answers we need, then by all means. Let the psycho flag fly.

Crossing my arms across my chest, I lean back and let Ryder do his thing. Maybe unhinged is what we need. Better than anything the rest of us were doing.

“You’re here watching Josie Turner under his orders.” He drags the glass over his throat, slicing open the delicate skin. Enough to make him squirm, but not nearly enough to actually nic the aorta, though he dances right on top of it. “You’ve been watching her for years. Reporting who she meets with, where she goes, anything suspicious. Do you even know who or what you’re looking for?”

The slightest shake of the man’s head makes Ryder laugh again. The cut opens further due to the movement.

“No, you don’t know? Or no, you’re not watching her?”

The man’s eyes widen in panic, the mask he was working so hard to maintain finally cracking under pressure. He doesn’t know how to answer.

“You don’t know?” Ryder repeats and the man shakes his head, making Ry click his tongue. “Go ahead and use your words now, but be warned, don’t waste them or I will rip your vocal cords from your throat.” The threatening tone sends shivers down my spine.

“Easy money, you know?” the man stutters. “Watch the girl, report her movements, anyone new she meets with, anyone she talks to at these parties. If she acts like she’s hiding something. She likes her routines. The reports are never interesting. It’s just an easy job.”

Ryder nods along with him, a sadistic gleam growing in his eyes. “How many of you are on this easy job tonight?”

“Three of us,” he stammers.

“Names,” Ryder demands. Instantly, I have my phone in my hands and take down the names and send them off in a text to Joe. He has all the equipment he needs in the van to run the basic checks on them. I wish I could do more, my fingers itch with the need to be behind my laptop, but there’s only so much my phone is capable of.

“What’s the report tonight?” Ryder continues.

“I won’t say anything about you,” he swears, making both Kade and Ryder cackle. He turns white at the menacing sound.

“Before that,” Ryder pushes, digging the glass in to remind him of its presence.

“Andre said he saw something suspicious, but I don’t know more than that. He said he would follow her and report back.”

“Follow who?” Ryder’s fist wraps around the blood-soaked collar of his shirt and yanks him off the ground to growl the question.

“Some woman, I don’t know more than that.”

My phone buzzes in my hand at the same time as Ian’s voice comes through the comms. “Andre DeLeon. Just sent his photo and details to Noah. Scar already had us looking into him before she disappeared.” I hold my phone and show it to the rest of the guys. I recognize him instantly as the second mark that disappeared.

“Start running through the footage of the gala,” I tell Joe at the same time Luca nods to Ryder who happily obliges the silent order, slashing the jagged edge of the champagne glass across his throat. Blood spurts from the multiple wounds that shred his throat. He’s dead before his body even hits the floor, the life gone from his eyes before he had a chance to realize this was his end.

Charles clears his throat, wiping the splatter of blood from his face. “Scar wanted me to give you guys a message if she disappeared tonight.” One moment, he’s wringing his hands together nervously, and the next Luca has him pinned against the wall by his throat.

“What the fuck do you know? Did you do this?”

Charles shakes his head rapidly, or as much as he can. He taps Luca’s hand, but he doesn’t relent. Sighing, I step up and place a hand on his shoulder. “Let him answer.” The calm I infuse in my voice is a complete lie. I remember the strange looks between the two of them all day. The feeling like I was missing something. The way her words didn’t put me at ease. That glint in her eye. I knew something was off.

“She said if anything went wrong or if she disappeared, to remind you guys not to panic.”

Declan snorts, encompassing how we are all feeling. As if we wouldn’t.

“And that you guys can track her.”

Air is knocked out of my lungs as I stand stupidly with my mouth open. The panic had taken over, made it hard to breathe, hard to fucking think. All of the guys mirror the same expression back to me. We were all so stuck on the last time she disappeared and we couldn’t trace her. Not this time. She’s not running. She wouldn’t do that to us. Not anymore. Not like this.

I pull up the program on my phone that has all of our locations on it and lock in on hers.

“Let’s go.”