Chapter 74
Elowen's POV
Drake's face paled slightly, his hand unconsciously touching his ribs where Casper had cracked two of them during their last encounter. "You stay the fuck away from me," he warned, though his voice lacked conviction.
Cassian emerged from the VIP section, whiskey in hand and a dangerous smile playing on his lips. "Is there a problem here, brother?" he asked, his voice carrying easily through the suddenly quiet club.
"Not at all," Casper replied without taking his eyes off Drake. "Just catching up with old friends."
Sarah's face had grown increasingly twisted with rage. She slammed her glass down, shattering it. "You fucking bitch!" she screamed loud enough to cut through the remaining music, which the DJ had wisely turned down to catch the drama. "Getting the Alpha twins to bankroll your makeover? You're pathetic!"
"Watch your mouth," Cassian warned, his voice ice cold. "That's my girlfriend you're speaking to."
His girlfriend? Juno perked up. I like how that sounds coming from him.
Sarah ignored the warning, her drunk anger making her reckless. She raised her hand to slap me, but Casper caught her wrist in mid-air, his grip visibly tight.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" His voice was low and dangerous.
Sarah yanked her arm free, vindictive triumph flashing in her eyes. "Casper didn't tell you?" She turned to me with a cruel smile. "He texted me! He reached out to ME!"
She fumbled in her purse and pulled out her phone, displaying the screen to the crowd. Sure enough, there were messages from Casper asking to meet her tonight. The crowd started murmuring again.
"Is Casper getting tangled up with his ex again?"
"Poor Elowen..."
"Did she get played?"
"You two-timing asshole," Drake laughed nervously, finding his courage now that Casper was potentially in trouble. "Some things never change."
Irene stood with her arms akimbo, ice-blue eyes fixed on Cassian rather than the unfolding drama. Her perfectly manicured fingers tapped impatiently against her hip.
"Is this the kind of entertainment you allow in my establishment now?" she asked nobody in particular, though her gaze never left Cassian.
Casper caught her eye and smirked. "Didn't realize you had such high standards, Irene."
"I have standards for everything," she replied coolly, finally looking at him. "Quite surprising that you twins are fighting over the same woman. She must be... special." Her eyes flicked briefly to me before returning to Cassian. "Especially considering she's Drake's ex."
I saw Cassian raise an eyebrow, a silent question directed at his brother. Casper gave him a subtle nod that only we could see.
This is it, Juno whispered excitedly. Take her down.
I stepped forward and gently caressed Sarah's cheek, feeling her stiffen with surprise. Her skin was hot and flushed with alcohol and anger.
"Of course I know about the texts," I said calmly, my voice carrying in the hushed club. My hand lingered on her cheek for a moment before leaving her face only to return with a resounding slap that echoed through the room.
"I told him to send them, you stupid bitch."
The entire club seemed to freeze for one breathless moment. Then, like dominoes falling, reactions cascaded through the room.
Drake's mouth fell open. "What the—" His eyes darted frantically between Sarah and me, realizing they'd been played.
"Well," Irene said flatly, not bothering to hide her boredom. "That was unexpected." Despite her disinterested tone, I noticed her posture shift slightly as she reassessed me.
Cassian's smile widened as he said, "That's my girl!"
The crowd erupted in shocked gasps and excited chatter.
"Did you see that?"
"She planned this whole thing!"
"That's some next-level revenge!"
"Sarah had it coming!"
Sarah clutched her reddened cheek, tears of humiliation welling in her eyes as she looked at Drake for support. "Drake, they—they set me up!"
Drake backed away from her, disgust evident on his face. "For fuck's sake, Sarah, pull yourself together. You're embarrassing me."
"How can you say that?" Sarah's voice cracked, her makeup running down her flushed cheeks. "I was just trying to help you!"
"Come on," Drake said with false gentleness, grabbing her arm. "Let's get out of here before you make an even bigger fool of yourself."
Irene sighed dramatically. "If you can't escort your... companion... out quietly, I'll have security remove her. I run a high-end establishment, not a wrestling arena."
"She's with me," Drake gritted out, his jaw tight. "Just... give us a moment."
"Then control her," Irene shot back. "Or leave."
Sarah wrenched her arm free from Drake, stumbling slightly. "I'm not going anywhere!" She turned back to me, hatred blazing in her eyes. "Elowen, you fucking slut! You think you're so clever now?"
She lunged at me again, but Drake grabbed her arm roughly, yanking her back with enough force to make her yelp.
"Enough!" he hissed, his face contorted with rage. "Stop making me look like a goddamn idiot!"
Sarah's expression crumpled, betrayal written across her face. "You're pushing me away? For HER? After everything I've done for you?"
Just what we wanted, Juno purred with satisfaction. Let them tear each other apart!
"Fuck you, Drake!" Sarah spat, mascara streaking down her face. "You think I don't have dirt on you? You think I can't ruin everything for you with one sentence?"
Drake's face went from anger to panic in an instant. "Sarah, shut your mouth right now—"
"Tell us," I repeated to Sarah, who was now trapped between me and the bar. "What is Drake planning?"
I could feel Casper's approval radiating beside me as he moved closer, his hand possessively finding the small of my back. Cassian acknowledged the moment with another tip of his whiskey glass, a proud glint in his ice-blue eyes.
And in that moment, with the twins' support surrounding me, Sarah's hateful glare, and Drake's barely concealed fear, I had never felt more powerful in my life.