Page 121 of Filthy Elites

“Do those extenuating circumstances have to do with Haley Montgomery?” Nicholas asks.

I freeze, my fingers reaching out and locking onto the edge of Jackson’s desk, squeezing until I can hear the wood creak. Nicholas blows out a breath. “I don’t care who you fuck, Viks,” he says. “But unnecessary distractions are not permitted. I’ve given you as much room as I can—”

“Do you not trust me?” I demand.

“My trust is not in question,” Nicholas replies. “Your ability to keep your head out of some college girl’s pussy is. Dump her and get back to work. I need you to keep your head on straight. If she ends up being a liability—”

“She won’t be,” I snap.

“Are you telling me you won’t dump her?” Nicholas’ voice is quiet, stunned.

“I…”I can’t. Not her. Never her.How can I make him understand? Nicholas is a strong man. He cares for his son, and in a twisted obligatory way, his wife, but he’s never been in love. Not the way I am with Haley. The very thought of letting her go makes my chest ache like my heart is punching at my ribcage, trying its damnedest to get out and go to her. So what do I do? I fucking lie my ass off.

“She’s a target,” I say instead. “I’m using her as bait.”

“Bait?” Nicholas doesn’t sound convinced.

“Yes,” I continue the lie. “She ran into the dealer at the club the other night. He’s going to want to get rid of her because she’s seen his face. The more people who know who he is and what he does the more danger he’ll be in.”

“Is she aware?”

“She knows she’s in danger,” I supply.

“Hmmm.” Nicholas hums through the receiver of the phone. My fingers tighten on both the desk and the cell in my grasp. “If you’re using her as bait,” he says. “Take her out this weekend.”

“What?” I frown, releasing the desk in shock. “Take her out?”

“Yes,” Nicholas says. “Somewhere big, somewhere expensive. You can afford it with your salary.”

“Club Outsider?” I clarify.

“No, not there. Cain’s new club in the city. I spoke with him earlier. He extended an invitation toInferno’sgrand opening. I have no doubt that your boy will be there. There are too many potential customers and everyone’s going to be imbibing before the end of the night.”

And after what happened with Haley,I think,he’ll likely avoid Outsider for the time being.

“Make a production out of it,” Nicholas continues. “Act like her protector. You know as well as I do this man seems to love a challenge.”

He’s right. Kennedy has proven his arrogance time and time again. First, by even entering Club Outsider. Second, by spreading his damn drug to Eastpoint’s campus. And third, but not fucking least, by attacking Haley on Eastpoint property. My fucking property.

“I will get him,” I swear. Not just for Nicholas, the man I owe my life to, but for Haley. She won’t be safe until he’s gone. She won’t stop having those nightmares of what might have happened until Kennedy is six feet under, pushing daisies.

“Use the girl, lure him in, and then slit his throat,” Nicholas advises. I wince at the way he puts it—not the killing part, but using Haley. Perhaps I should never have said it, but if I hadn’t then Nicholas might have known … she means more to me than mere bait.

I dislike the idea of using Haley as a lure, but I’m confident that I can keep her safe. Even if I don’t like Cain Devereux, I know his loyalty to Nicholas Carter. That loyalty, in turn, and her connection to me will keep Haley on the right side of good if all else goes to shit this weekend.

“Call me when the job is done,” Nicholas says and the phone call ends. I sigh and scrub a hand down my face.

“What’d he say?” Jackson asks.

I shake my head. “We’re moving the schedule up,” I answer. “I’ll be luring him in this weekend. I need you to be on security at Inferno.”

Jackson curses. “Devereux’s place? Fuck, man. Do I have to?”

I slap the flat of my palm against the back of his head. “Yes, you have to, asshole. Now, I gotta go.”

Jackson rubs the back of his head and frowns at me. “What’re you lighting out of here for?” he asks. “Got a hot date or something?”

I smirk. “Yeah,” I say. “Something like that.”

---