Page 22 of Vicious Deception
Chapter eight
Elliot
Afewnightspassbefore my next job. Since I almost got caught sneaking into Oliver’s room, I haven’t visited him again. Ludo has left him alone, which is surprising after his comment.
It makes me even more nervous for what’s to come.
Just about every evening, I’m able to see Rhett in the backyard with Benny. It makes me wonder if Ludo put us in these rooms intentionally, so we can see him without being able to have any form of communication. Holloway’s men would put a stop to it immediately, so we haven’t even tried.
Part of me is grateful for the chance to see Rhett—to make sure he’s still unharmed. But the rest of me is angry. So, so angry. At myself for letting this happen. At Ludo for forcing us apart. Ateverything.
When Axel comes to collect me again, my steps are heavy with dread. The past few days have been plagued with thoughts of the woman I killed. How much she looked like Wren—actedlike Wren. It feels like I shot her instead of some stranger.
Axel seems to notice my deteriorated mood. He doesn’t make a comment on it, just stares at me for a second longer than he needs to.
Downstairs, Ludo is waiting for us again. When he sees my slumped shoulders and empty gaze, he smiles. “Same deal as last time, Axel. Bring him straight back when he’s done.”
“Will do.” Axel pushes me toward the front door. “This one might take a little longer.”
“Just do whatever it takes and call me when the kill is confirmed.”
Axel nods silently, and we leave. The same SUV is parked out front, and once I’m inside, I look into the backseat for a folder. There isn’t one. As Axel starts the car and pulls through the gate, I look around, thinking maybe it’s in the front seat.
“Who am I killing tonight?” I ask when I come up empty handed.
“No one.”
“But Ludo said—”
“I hired out the job. Cost me a pretty penny, too. High-profile target, tight deadline—there aren’t many hitmen out there who could pull this one off.”
“Which is why Ludo wanted me to do it,” I say slowly, unsure of what Axel’s plan is. Sure, I’m happy I don’t have to kill someone, but what the fuck is going on?
“I need tonight to do other things. This job is the perfect alibi.”
“I’m not following.”
“You don’t need to,” Axel says smoothly. “You just need to stay close and keep quiet.”
My mind scrambles to catch up. The other night, Axel gave those two men a duffel bag that I’m assuming was filled with cash. At first, I thought he was running an errand for Holloway, but we were supposed to go straight back to the mansion.
Now, I’m even more sure that Axel has more up his sleeve than he’s letting on. My heart leaps at the realization that he might not be as loyal to Ludo as I previously thought. Could he help us?Wouldhe?
For the time being, I do as he ordered and shut up. Surprise fills me when we pull into a familiar parking garage. We’re only a block or two away from the Garden Grille.
“You’ll want to keep your head down,” Axel tells me. “Wearing a mask will be too conspicuous.”
I follow his lead when he exits the vehicle. At first, I think it’s just a coincidence that we’re so close to the Grille, but then I remember the logo on the van the other night—Philadelphia Commercial Hood & Fire Systems.
What the hell is Axel planning?
As we approach the Garden Grille, two men join us, and I quickly recognize them as the ones Axel paid the other night. They each have a tool bag with them.
“Everything’s ready?” one of them asks in a hushed tone.
“The security system has been dealt with, and the cameras aren’t a problem,” Axel replies quietly. “Williams and Ludo never updated them, so the footage is stored locally instead of in the cloud.”
Is he robbing the restaurant? No, he wouldn’t need these two guys for that.