Conman

Chapter 9: The Final Gambit

The afternoon sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a golden hue over Beau's bedroom. He stirred slowly, his body heavy with the weight of a deep, dreamless sleep. It was rare for him to sleep in this late, but the past few days had been draining—emotionally and mentally. When he finally opened his eyes, the clock read close to noon. He sighed, pushing himself up from the comfort of his bed, and made his way downstairs.

As Beau descended the staircase, the smell of grilled meat and spices wafted up to greet him. In the dining room, Mr. Archer sat at the head of the table, leisurely enjoying his lunch. The television murmured in the background, tuned to some news channel. Mr. Archer looked up as Beau entered, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Ah. You're just in time," Mr. Archer said, gesturing to the seat across from him. "Join me for lunch?"

Beau hesitated, his mind still foggy from sleep. He sat down slowly, trying to shake off the remnants of his dreams. The food looked delicious, but his appetite was nowhere to be found. After a few minutes of silence, Beau spoke, his voice low.

"Jax, Aria, and Leo... they've been asking about resuming the con activities," Beau began, his gaze fixed on his untouched plate. "They're restless. They want to get back into the game."

Mr. Archer's fork paused midway to his mouth. He set it down carefully, his expression turning serious. "I've told you before. It's too dangerous right now. The police are still on high alert after our last job. If any of you make a move, we're all going down."

Beau leaned back in his chair, frustration bubbling beneath his calm exterior. "They won't stay low forever. You know how they are."

Mr. Archer nodded thoughtfully, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the edge of his plate. "Then maybe it's time to consider other options. Jax, for instance. I've been thinking... it might be best if we send him overseas. Get him out of the heat."

Beau's eyes narrowed. "Why? What aren't you telling me?"

Mr. Archer met his gaze, his expression unreadable. "I've received word from a trusted informant. Jax... he might be involved in the disappearance of that teenage girl. The one all over the news."

The words hit Beau like a punch to the gut. He pushed his chair back, the screech of wood against tile filling the room. His appetite vanished, replaced by a surge of anger and disbelief. Without another word, he stormed out of the dining room, his footsteps echoing through the house as he made his way to Jax's room.

Jax's room was tucked away near the garage, a simple, no-nonsense space that matched his personality. Beau pounded on the door, his anger boiling over. After a few moments, the door swung open to reveal a shirtless Jax, water dripping from his hair, a towel slung low around his waist.

"Boss?" Jax's voice was laced with confusion. "What's going on?"

Before Jax could react, Beau shoved him hard against the wall, his voice a furious growl. "Are you involved in the disappearance of that girl? Tell me the truth, Jax!"

Jax's eyes widened in shock, his hands coming up defensively. "What? No! I didn't—" He paused, his mind racing. "Where is this coming from?"

"Mr. Archer's informant," Beau snapped. "They think you had something to do with it. So, tell me—who was it? If not you, then who?"

Jax's expression darkened, his frustration matching Beau's. He grabbed a shirt from the nearby chair and pulled it on before turning to face Beau fully. "Ask Leo and Aria, not me. I was just their lookout, trying to clean up their mess. Like I always do for all of you."

Beau's anger simmered, but his instincts told him Jax was telling the truth. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. "Get Leo and Aria. We're meeting at the hideout. Now."

The hideout was a small, secluded cabin tucked away in the woods, far from the prying eyes of the city. It was a place they rarely used anymore, a relic from the early days of their operations. But today, it felt appropriate—isolated, private, and filled with memories of their shared past.

When Beau and Jax arrived, Leo and Aria were already there, sitting on the worn leather couch. They looked up with eager anticipation, expecting Beau to unveil their next target. But one glance at his face told them this wasn't a planning session.

Beau didn't waste any time. "What do you know about the missing girl?"

Leo and Aria exchanged uneasy glances, their excitement quickly fading. Aria opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say anything, Beau slammed his hand down on the table, the sharp sound making them jump.

"Don't lie to me," Beau's voice was low, dangerous. "Tell me the truth. Now."

Leo hesitated, his usual bravado crumbling under Beau's intense gaze. "We met her on an app," he finally confessed. "Aria... she was the one who started it. She made this fake profile, pretended to be someone else, and got the girl to fall for her."

Beau's eyes flicked to Aria, who was staring at the floor, her hands clenched into fists. "And then what?" Beau pressed.

Aria's voice was barely above a whisper. "I... I asked Leo to meet her. It was just supposed to be a harmless prank. But things... things got out of hand."

Leo's voice shook as he continued the story. "We met at a motel. I swear, boss, I didn't force her into anything. But when Aria found out what happened between us, she lost it. She... she did something. Something bad. And we had no choice but to call Jax to clean it up."

Beau's mind reeled as he processed their words. Anger, frustration, and a deep sense of betrayal twisted inside him. "You did all of this because you were bored? Because you had nothing better to do?"

Aria finally looked up, her eyes filled with regret. "We never meant for it to go this far. We just... we didn't think."

Beau's hands clenched into fists, his knuckles white. Without another word, he turned and stormed out of the hideout, the door slamming shut behind him.

Outside, the cool breeze did little to calm the storm raging inside him. Beau's thoughts were a chaotic mess, torn between loyalty to his friends and the realization of how far they had fallen. They were supposed to be a team, but now it felt like they were strangers, each lost in their own darkness.

As Beau drove away from the hideout, the weight of their actions pressed heavily on his chest. He knew things could never go back to the way they were. Not after this.

And for the first time in a long while, Beau felt utterly alone.