Page 54 of Ours to Keep

With the urgency of the situation heavy in the air, I pull up the database and begin digging deeper into thefilesI’veretrieved, searchingfor any possibleclue that will lead us to Richard and Mia.

River and Jax are talking, their voices low and intense, but I’m too busy to pay attention. Searching through the transaction records, something catches my eye—a series of payments to a high-end yacht rental service.

“Guys, I think I’ve found something,”I call out, my eyes scanning the details on the screen.

Jax and River look over, their attention focused on me.

“There’s a series of transactions here,”I continue, “Payments made to a yacht rental service in France, the one Richard has used recently.”My adrenaline spikes. The real possibility of an actual lead has my heart racing.

Jax stands behind me, peering over my shoulder at the screen. “Any details on the yacht?”

I nod, pulling up the most recent transaction. “Yeah, there’s a name here. TheEndless Horizonrented the day he pulled Mia out of boarding school. I have no idea why nothing came up for this before. But look… there’s a note about a recent private docking location.”I continue to dig through the files, finding more information about the yacht and location. “Port Hercules Monaco. He’s booked it out for ten days, and that was two days ago.”

My fingers fly over the keyboard to set up a surveillance system. “I can keep an eye on any activity relating to the yacht’s movements now.”

Jax shakes his head in disbelief. “He just can’t help flashing his wealth, can he? You’d think he’d try somewhere a little more low-key.”

“Nah, he’s way too arrogant for that,”River says, pacing in front of me.“But, fuck, we know where they are.”

“Exactly, and that’s where we’ll be going. Just as soon as I make a few calls and call in those favours,”Jax says, alreadywalking towards my front door. “I’m not willing to risk fucking this up.”

Once the door closes behind him, I turn to River.

He’s ramped up and ready to go. I can already see him itching to go and get his gear ready.

“Riv, promise me you won’t do anything rash. When we’re there, you’ll be careful.”

His pacing ceases, and his gaze finds mine. “It’s not me you need to worry about. I can handle myself.”

I scrub my palm over my jaw, which isvery much in need of a shave. “I’m fully aware, but that’s not what I mean, and you know it.”

Pushing my chair back and away from my desk, I stand, walking towards him slowly, his eyes holding mine until I’m in touching distance.

His palm reaches out, cupping the back of my neck and tugging me forward until my chest meets his.

“This isn’t like when we were serving, Riv. We’re emotionally invested, and there’s more at stake.”

His Adam’s apple rolls as he swallows before he replies, “Elliot, I’ll be fine.”

I raise my eyebrows.

“I won’t do anything to risk fucking it up.”

Squeezing my eyes closed, I let out a heavy sigh. His other hand moves to my cheek as he continues, “Hey, what’s this about? Talk to me?”

Opening my eyes, I find him staring back at me with a burning intensity.

“I’m worried you’ll do whatever it takes to ensure Mia is safe and that Richard gets retribution for what he did to Lily.”

He tilts his head to the side. “Isn’t that the point?”

I shake my head. “Yes and no. I want those things as much as you do. But I also don’t want you to get hurt in the process…to put yourself in the firing line.”

Now, it’s his turn to sigh. “El, are you saying you wouldn’t do the same?”Arching a brow, he moves us until my back hits the wall, crowding me. My hand grips his hip. “Because I know for a fact you would. I get it. You don’t want to see me hurt any more than I do you.” He licks his lips, his eyes searching my face. “I’ll be careful, I promise. But I will also do everything I can to protect the ones I love.”

“I know you will, and that’s what I’m worried about... I know how much you hide behind humour, yet you feel more deeply than others.”

He shakes his head with an unamused laugh. “Really? Because I’m beginning to think I use humour to hide the darkest parts of me, the parts that seem to be getting closer to the surface now than ever before.” His eyes fall closed as he rests his forehead against mine. My free hand moves to the back of his neck and squeezes.

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