Chapter 14
PATRICK
“Looks like Kylie is earning her salary.” Kyler and I sat on the tarmac at LAX in his private jet, debriefing on a raid the FBI and LAPD conducted at a party in the Hollywood Hills.
Kylie provided the intel that set up the sting.
She didn’t even know we were acting on the information, but some chatter she found from several sources online gave us something actionable and led law enforcement to a guy they had had their eye on for a while.
We stopped another sleazy auction that resulted in twelve girls being rescued.
Some had run away, and others had been taken, but no one was there by choice. “You're going to tell her about it.”
“Yeah, of course.” I nodded. “She did exactly what we knew she could do.”
“She won’t have any qualms about not being involved in bringing it down.” He shifted in his seat to face me. “I mean, she’s actually more qualified than we are. She might have wanted to be there.”
“Too dangerous.” I took a sip of the drink placed in front of me.
It was straight Scotch. When Kyler was in high spirits, he’d pour out the premium drinks, which wasn’t a common occurrence for me.
We both had something to celebrate. Not like we subdued the bad guys, much like the party where Kyler found Rayna.
Kyler was an invited guest in the market for a young brunette with submissive tendencies.
The underworld knew he was a man with means, and he had a reputation for participating in auctions.
It surprised me that no one had put it together.
When Kyler attended these events, they typically ended up raided by SWAT. Criminals weren’t very smart.
“Well, that’s going to be a feat. Keeping the FBI agent—”
“Former.”
“Former FBI agent working security out of trouble.” He sipped his drink. “What is the plan if something goes down? Are you going to let her do her job?”
“Of course.” I leaned my head back.
“I couldn’t imagine putting my little in the line of fire.” His voice grew softer.
My eyes popped open.
“I’m not putting her in danger, and she’s not my little. She’s not even a little.”
“Well, we know that’s bullshit.” He huffed. “I don’t question your loyalty, Patrick. And, I am trusting you know what you’re doing, but it has to be said out loud.”
“What?” I turned toward him.
“We are clear for takeoff.” The pilot's voice comes over the loudspeaker. “Please fasten your seatbelts. Flight attendants, please prepare for departure.”
“She is a little. And while it alone doesn’t prevent her from being part of our security team, your attraction makes it complicated. She obviously has the skills to do it, but if she becomes your little, how do you figure that would work? You won’t let her be in danger.”
I rubbed my head to ward off a headache. I looked out the window as we took off. The night sky pitch-black at three am.
“I don’t know what you’re asking.”
“Picture this scenario.” I’d never seen Kyler so animated.
The adrenaline hadn’t worn off from this evening’s activities.
“Let’s say there is a situation where two men have attacked us.
One has the drop on me, and the other has captured Kylie and is using her as a human shield to protect his path toward his escape.
What are you going to do? What do your years in the military say you are to do in that situation? ”
“Fuck, Kyler, man,” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “That’s ridiculous.”
“No, it’s not.” He turned serious. “It’s completely plausible that in such a situation, you mentally will have to at least do the gymnastics of saving me or the most important person in your heart. What the fuck do you think I’d do if in the exact situation between you and Rayna?”
“What would you do, Kyler?”
“Pat, I love you like a brother, but I would shoot you myself if it meant saving my little girl.”
My heart dropped.
“And don’t get all butthurt over it. You know you’d do the same thing, and it would break your heart like it would mine, but you wouldn’t hesitate.” He grabbed my arm. “That’s why you don’t put your little in those types of situations.”
We sat in silence for a bit. I didn’t have any answers, and any argument would fall flat. He was right. If Kylie were mine, her safety would be my number one priority. But she wasn’t mine.
“When we were talking about the job, she asked me who my priority was between you and Rayna.”
“And, what did you say?” He downed his drink and asked for another.
“I didn’t answer her.” The plane rumbled as it took off. “I mean, technically, as head of security, my job is to keep you safe.”
“No, your job is to keep my heart beating.” He chuckled, but then turned serious. “If Rayna’s hurt because you concentrated on saving me, you better kill me, because I will fucking end you.”
“Jesus, Kyler.” I shook my head. He really was a scary motherfucker when he wanted to be.
“You choose Rayna.” He stood up. “You choose Rayna, and you chose Kylie. The rest of us are insignificant.”
He walked to the back of the plane. I guessed the discussion was over.
None of it mattered anyway.
Kylie would never be mine.