Chapter 39 Landon
LANDON
“Istill think we should’ve used the usual shell companies,” Knox leans against the wall, watching Xavier adjust his bow tie in the mirror. “Bringing the carnival crew into our territory is risky.”
I check my cufflinks, platinum squares with our Blackwood crest. “The DEA’s watching our usual channels. Tyson’s operation gives us plausible deniability.”
“Plus,” Vane adds with a smirk, “watching Gage try to pass as catering staff will be fucking hilarious.”
The door swings open, and Tyson strolls in with his signature swagger. “Speak of the devils,” I say.
“Nice digs,” Tyson nods appreciatively at our preparation suite. “The boys are setting up downstairs. Though I had to physically drag Phoenix out of his tech cave.”
Phoenix scowls. “I’m a hacker, not a fucking waiter.”
“You’re whatever I need you to be tonight,” Tyson claps him on the shoulder. “Consider it character development.”
Colt and Nash exchange amused glances.
“How’s your little stalker doing?” Knox asks Remy.
“Fuck off, Knox,” he mutters.
Ever since Knox found out Remy’s girl stalked him first, he hasn’t been able to let it go.
Gage, silent as always, takes a position by the window, scanning the grounds below.
Cade fidgets with the collar of his catering uniform. “This feels tighter than when I tried it on.”
“That’s because you’ve been stress-eating donuts all week,” Lars deadpans.
Xavier checks his watch. “Two hours until the guests arrive. The product?”
“Triple what we originally discussed,” Tyson grins. “My connections came through.”
“Speaking of connections,” Knox slides next to me, “Landon’s bringing his Hunt prize tonight. First time he’s ever stepped out with a girl and made a public appearance.”
“The ice king melting?” Colt raises an eyebrow. “This I gotta see.”
I keep my expression neutral despite the sudden urge to strangle Knox. “Focus on the job. Keep your eyes off Sadie.”
“Ooh, possessive,” Nash teases. “That’s new for you.”
I glare at Nash, who has an infuriating smirk on his face. “Keep talking and I’ll make sure you’re assigned to clean the bathrooms after the gala.”
Tyson laughs. “Easy there, Blackwood. Your girl must be special to have you this wound up.”
I turn away, adjusting my cufflinks. Sadie is more than special—she’s an obsession I can’t shake. The thought of these men even looking at her makes my blood boil.
“The operation comes first,” Xavier interjects. “Orlov’s people will be watching for any sign of a handoff.”
I focus on the logistics, pushing thoughts of Sadie aside. “Phoenix, you’ll monitor the security feeds?”
The sullen hacker nods. “Already mapped the system. I can loop any camera for three minutes without triggering alerts.”
“Good. Remy and Gage will handle the actual transfer. Colt, Nash, keep the floor staff distracted during the handoff.” I check my watch. “Lars, Cade—you’re on perimeter. Any sign of Orlov’s people, you alert us immediately.”
Vane sprawls in an armchair. “And I’m supposed to dance with socialites while this happens?”
“Yes,” Xavier says firmly. “We maintain appearances. This is still a charity ball.”
Knox tosses back his drink. “Speaking of appearances, when’s your girlfriend arriving, Landon? I’m dying to see what has you so whipped.”
My jaw tightens. “She’s not my girlfriend. She’s mine. There’s a difference.”
“Yeah,” Colt snorts. “One involves actual emotions.”
“Sadie will be here tonight,” I say, ignoring the jab. “And if any of you so much as breathe in her direction, I’ll remove your lungs.”
The room falls silent after my threat. I don’t make idle promises, and every man here knows it. Even Gage shifts, his massive frame tensing.
“Jesus, Landon,” Knox mutters, though his smirk remains. “You’ve gone full psycho over this one.”
“I thought that was his default setting,” Colt whispers to Nash, not quite quietly enough.
I ignore them, checking my phone instead. Sadie’s tracker shows she’s still at the penthouse with the stylist I hired.
“The plan is simple,” Xavier says. “The foundation ball gives us perfect cover. Politicians, celebrities, and business leaders all in one place, with Tyson’s crew handling service and security.”
Tyson nods. “My boys know how to blend in. Even Gage can play nice for one night.” He glances at the silent giant.
“Once the handoff is complete,” I continue, “the product moves through the kitchen. By midnight, everything should be distributed to our network.”
Phoenix taps on his tablet. “I’ve got eyes on all entry points. If Orlov makes a move, we’ll know.”
“He won’t,” Vane says confidently. “Not with the mayor and half the police department in attendance.”
I check my watch, not quite believing Vane is right. Orlov is a cocky son of a bitch. An hour has passed since I left Sadie. The stylist should be finishing up soon.
“I need to collect my date,” I announce. “I expect everything to be in place when I return.”
As I move toward the door, Xavier catches my arm. “Remember what we discussed, brother. Don’t let personal interests compromise business.”
I stare at his hand. “Sadie’s presence won’t affect the operation. If anything, she provides additional cover.”
“That’s not what I meant,” he says quietly. “And you know it.”
I brush off Xavier’s concern and exit the suite, my footsteps echoing down the marble hallway. His insinuations about Sadie affecting my judgment irritate me more than they should. He’s wrong.
The elevator carries me to the parking garage where my Ducati waits. As I slide onto the seat, I check Sadie’s tracker to ensure she’s still at the penthouse.
Good girl.
The drive gives me time to consider tonight’s significance.
I’ve never brought a woman to a Blackwood event before.
Previous Hunt prizes remained private entertainments, locked away where only I could see them.
But Sadie... something about her demands to be displayed.
I want everyone to see what belongs to me.
There’s a risk in bringing her tonight, not just to the operation, but to my carefully constructed walls. Each day with Sadie feels like she’s extracting pieces of me I didn’t know existed. The way I relinquished the reins and gave them to her.
That’s never happened before.
The light changes, and I accelerate harder than I need to. She’s becoming an addiction, this broken little butterfly with her clever mind and damaged soul. I can see how perfectly she matches my darkness—knows it, craves it even as she fights it.
I pull into my building’s garage, suddenly eager to see her. The stylist will have her ready by now. Tonight, everyone will see that Sadie Reynolds belongs to me.
As I dismount from my bike, my phone buzzes with a message from Xavier.
Security reports suspicious activity near the west entrance. Potential Orlov scouts.
I pause, split between obligation and obsession. The operation claws for my attention, but the urge to go to Sadie upstairs outweighs everything else.
This unsettling pull toward her is what Xavier warned me about.