Page 43 of Ours to Keep

“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 heardrumours, 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.

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