Page 83 of Beautiful Chaos

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.”

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