Chapter Twenty-Five: The Plan
The crutches dug into Jack's armpits with every step.
He'd been using them for a week now—since the hospital discharged him with strict orders to attend physical therapy and see a psychiatrist. He'd done the first. Refused the second.
"I'm fine," he'd told the discharge nurse.
She'd looked at him like she didn't believe him. She was probably right.
But Jack didn't need therapy. He needed purpose.
And Bella was giving him that.
He made his way into her living room, wincing as he lowered himself onto the couch. The coffee table was covered in documents—printouts, photographs, handwritten notes. Bella's laptop sat open on the cushion beside him, multiple tabs visible on the screen.
She emerged from the kitchen with two mugs of coffee, setting one in front of him.
"How's the leg?" she asked.
"Hurts."
"Good. Means you're healing."
Jack picked up the mug, letting the warmth seep into his hands. "You've been busy."
"I told you I would be." Bella sat beside him, pulling a stack of papers into her lap. "I've been reaching out to some old contacts. People I knew from my years with Ronald."
"The swinger scene."
"And the prostitution world. They overlap more than you'd think." She flipped through the papers, her movements efficient. "Rider's more connected than I realized. He's not just running a few girls on the side—he's built an entire network."
Jack leaned forward, ignoring the pain in his ribs. "How many girls?"
"At least a dozen that I can confirm. Probably more." Bella pulled out a photograph—a blonde woman in her twenties, smiling at the camera. "This is Sophia. She's been with Rider for three years. Started as a maid at one of his properties, now she's one of his top earners."
She set down another photo. A brunette, older, more polished. "This is Natasha. Former model. Rider recruited her after her career tanked. She services his highest-paying clients."
Jack stared at the photos. "And Leena?"
"She's new. But she's already making him a lot of money." Bella's voice was flat. "Marcus Chen paid five thousand for an afternoon with her. And he wants to see her again."
Jack's jaw tightened. "Who else?"
"Ronald, obviously. A real estate developer named Whitmore—he's brutal, by the way. Likes to hurt women." Bella pulled out another document. "And there are others. Businessmen, investors, politicians. Rider uses the women to secure deals, build relationships, gather leverage."
"Leverage?"
"He records everything. Every encounter. Every conversation." Bella tapped the laptop screen. "He's got dirt on half the city's elite. That's how he keeps them loyal."
Jack felt sick. "And Leena doesn't know."
"She might suspect. But she's convinced herself it's empowerment. That she's in control." Bella's expression hardened. "She's not. Rider is. He's conditioning her the same way he did the rest."
Jack was quiet for a long moment. "How do we stop him?"
Bella smiled. It wasn't a kind smile.
"We take away his power."
She pulled the laptop closer, opening a new tab. A map of the city appeared on the screen, a red pin marking a location on the outskirts.
"Rider's power comes from control," Bella said. "He controls the women. He controls the clients. He controls the relationships. Everything flows through him. That's his strength."
"And his weakness."
"Exactly." Bella zoomed in on the map. "He's too narrow-minded. He keeps everything centralized. One man, one network, one source. If we take that away—if we give his clients an alternative—his empire collapses."
Jack studied the map. "What kind of alternative?"
"A place where anyone can be Rider. Where wealthy men can enjoy the same pleasures—women, drinks, networking, shows—without being tied to one person. Without the leverage, the blackmail, the control." Bella's eyes gleamed. "We build a paradise. An open market. No monopolies. No strings."
Jack leaned back, processing. "You want to compete with him."
"I want to destroy him." Bella's voice was cold. "And the only way to do that is to play his game better than he does."
"How?"
Bella pulled out another document—a business profile, complete with photo. The man in the picture was in his fifties, balding, unremarkable.
"This is Gerald Moss," Bella said. "Mediocre businessman. Owns a chain of mid-tier hotels. He's been on the periphery of Rider's world for years—attends the parties, uses the women occasionally, but he's never been part of the inner circle."
"Why not?"
"Because Ronald fucked his wife a few years ago." Bella's smile widened. "Gerald's hated Ronald ever since. And by extension, he hates everyone in Ronald's orbit. Including Rider."
Jack picked up the profile, studying it. "You think he'll help us?"
"I think he'll jump at the chance to take Rider down. He has money, connections, and a grudge. That's all we need."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Convince him to become our first investor. Our partner. He'll help us market the new Paradise, spread the word, bring in clients." Bella's tone was matter-of-fact. "While you handle Gerald, I'll focus on building the actual venue."
"You already have a location?"
Bella nodded, pointing to the red pin on the map. "Abandoned warehouse. Edge of the city. Secluded, out of sight, perfect for what we need. I've been saving money for years—money Ronald never knew about. And when the divorce is finalized, I'll have enough from the settlement to buy the land and the warehouse outright."
Jack stared at her. "You've thought this through."
"I've had a lot of time to think." Bella closed the laptop. "Rider destroyed my life once. I'm not letting him do it again. And I'm not letting him destroy yours either."
Jack was quiet. The plan was insane. Ambitious. Dangerous.
But it was also the first thing that had made sense in weeks.
"How do I convince Gerald?" he asked. "He's too scared of Rider. Too scared of his connections, his power. Why would he risk going against him?"
Bella met his eyes. Her expression was calm. Confident.
"I have a plan."
Jack waited for her to elaborate. She didn't.
"That's it? You have a plan?"
"Yes."
"Are you going to tell me what it is?"
"Not yet." Bella stood, gathering the documents into a neat stack. "But trust me, Jack. Gerald Moss will help us. And when he does, Rider won't see us coming."
Jack looked down at the crutches leaning against the couch. At the files spread across the table. At Bella, standing over him with that fierce, determined look in her eyes.
A week ago, he'd been ready to die.
Now, he was ready to fight.
"Okay," he said quietly. "Let's do it."
Bella smiled. "Good. Because we start tomorrow."
She moved to the window, looking out at the city lights. Jack watched her, feeling something shift inside him.
The numbness was still there. The pain. The anger.
But underneath it all was something else now.
Purpose.
And for the first time since the bridge, Jack felt like he might actually survive this.