Page 67 of Ruthless Desires, Vol. Two (Ruthless Desires Series Extended Editions #2)

Elliot

When we arrive at our meeting place, Axel is already waiting for us. A cold wind whips around us as we exit the SUV. This power plant is off the beaten path, and we’re the only ones around. As far as I can tell, Axel is alone.

Still, we keep Wren in between us. She’s proved that she can hold her own, but we can still fight off potential assailants better than she can. Oliver sticks close to her, holding her hand as we move toward Axel together.

“Is he dead?”

Axel asks. His hands are buried in his coat pockets, although I’m not sure it’s only because of the cold.

“Soon,” I reply.

Axel frowns.

“You sure you don’t want to just kill him now? His reputation is already ruined.”

“Not yet,”

Rhett says.

“There’s plenty I want to do to him first.”

Finn is watching Axel with narrowed eyes.

“What do you mean, his reputation is already ruined?”

Axel shrugs.

“Word spreads fast.”

“Not that fast,”

Finn says.

“The only people who knew about what Ludo was hiding are dead.”

But Axel shakes his head.

“I downloaded the files from the email you sent and distributed them to Holloway’s other allies. At best, they won’t want to work with Ludo anymore—not that they’ll be able to. At worst, they’ll suspect he was ripping them off too, and they’ll want their fair share of cash.”

“That doesn’t help you, though,”

I say.

“You don’t want people coming after you.”

“With the money from the storage units, I can give them whatever they’re owed. That is, if you’re willing to give me access to Holloway’s books so I can get the numbers right.”

Axel’s gaze slides to Finn.

“And tell me where you stashed all the money.”

“Sounds like a pretty stupid thing for me to do,”

Finn replies.

“Oh, just give it to him,”

Oliver says impatiently.

“It’s not like any of us need it. I think he’s more than proven himself.”

“This deal goes both ways,”

I add.

“Axel helped us get out, and we agreed to help him detach himself from Ludo with as few consequences as possible. Him having the money—and proof of Holloway’s dealings—are the best way to accomplish that.”

“And what will you tell everyone about Ludo?”

Oliver asks.

“I’ll say he was killed by one of King or Burbank’s men. That way I don’t have to deal with potential backlash, and neither do any of you.”

“What will you do after?”

Wren asks.

Axel’s eyes flash with regret.

“Get my goddamn life back.”

Stepping forward, I slip one of the drives from my pocket. I got it from Finn earlier.

“This is a copy, but it has everything on it.”

“Thank you.”

Taking it, Axel meets my eyes.

“You’ll probably start hearing the news within a couple days.”

“And the money?”

Oliver asks Finn.

“You’re sure?”

Finn asks the four of us before returning to glaring at Axel.

“Yes,”

I answer firmly.

“Holloway fucked over more than just King and Burbank. This is part of the deal.”

Ludo’s business partners will never stop chasing Axel if he doesn’t pay them back. Even if he ends up keeping most of it to himself, I don’t mind. None of us need the money.

With a sigh, Finn hands Axel an envelope.

“Check this address tomorrow night. It’ll all be there.”

“Thank you.”

Axel pulls a small bag from his pocket. The packaging is colorful, but I can’t make out what it is.

“Rhett, could you…”

Without a word, Rhett takes the bag and slips it into his pocket.

“I’ll let him know it was from you.”

“When you tell him what really happened,”

Axel says thickly, “and he finds out who I am…

tell him I’m sorry.”

Silently, Rhett nods.

Axel takes a step back toward his vehicle, but then he stops.

“Give him hell for me, would you?”

Confusion flickers over Rhett’s face. “What?”

“Not Benny,”

Axel says quickly.

“Holloway. He took everything from me. More than I even knew. He’ll never understand what he did to me, but…”

“You want to pay him back, too,”

Wren says softly.

“It’ll never be enough,”

Axel replies, “and I know you four have plans to do every hellish thing possible to him. But… I just want to make sure he gets what he deserves.”

“He will,” I say.

“Thank you.”

We watch him retreat to his SUV and get inside. Only once he’s pulled out of the small lot do we leave, too. Rhett sits in the front seat, and Oliver, Wren, and I climb into the back.

For the whole drive, I keep Wren’s hand in mine. She leans against me, and Oliver leans against her.

This is it, I realize as buildings pass us by. Everything we’ve been fighting for.

Relieved tears fill my eyes. Wren squeezes my hand gently, and I kiss the top of her head.

And more.