Chapter 24
RYDER
It’s been a hell of a week. I sit here at my desk, staring at the ticking clock above the glass door, lost in thought about the unfortunate events two weeks ago.
I take full responsibility for the murder of Kelsey’s parents.
If only I had questioned Kelsey harder about Lilith.
Sure, I knew her dad ran his own organization years ago when Kelsey was little, but how was I supposed to know there was an agreement between the two?
We found the letters in the safe behind their family picture, but Kelsey has been hesitant about opening them.
Some of the letters date from thirteen years ago.
The thing is, they’re all written by her father.
She and her father had the closest bond, according to Kelsey.
Not that her mom didn’t love her, they just didn’t share the same interests.
I thought the brutal murder of her parents would hit her harder than it did, but either she’s learned to mask her emotions exceptionally well or she just really is that strong.
The mechanics of my brain are different.
I don’t feel emotions the way others do, so I did some research on grief.
According to Google, grief has stages, and if I am correct, Kelsey is in the denial stage.
If it does hit her, I’ll be right behind her to pick up the pieces.
For now, I have shit I have to do, starting with calling in the team.
Teegan came to me the day we found Kelsey’s parents with news on our potential leak.
Unfortunately, I had to shove that situation to the side to handle cleanup and governor bullshit.
I had to assure him this was all isolated and there was no concern to the general public before he resolved everything legally.
My cleanup crew had it all spotless less than twelve hours later, while Hayden took their bodies to be cremated at a funeral home we trust. The seventy-something-year-old man is always willing to do shit for us on the low for a few extra grand.
One thing I’ve learned in this business is you can get away with a lot if you offer the right price.
My phone rings in my pocket, and I answer.
“Sup?”
“The team’s ready,” Hayden informs.
I walk into the warehouse to find the team standing at attention.
I give props to Teegan for training these men as well as he has.
They’re my own soldiers, and they listen to me.
I give them the word, and they honor it.
However, our leak wouldn’t be standing amongst my men.
No. He’s a rat that’s been working for me on the side all these years.
All these years, he’s been a traitor, right under my nose.
I pace before my men, who all stare blankly ahead as trained to do. They’re dressed to the teeth in tactical gear. Rifles, magazines, helmets, and bulletproof gear.
“It’s been brought to my attention that we have a rat.”
“Sir, yes, Sir,” They answer in unison.
“Which of you can identify said rat?” I stop and pivot sharply, now facing the line of soldiers, my head moves left to right as I eye each and every one of them.
One takes a single step forward out of line, so I shift and make my way towards him.
He’s been on the team since the beginning. He goes by Ben.
“What do you know?” I ask at his side, and he remains facing forward.
“The mechanic, Sir.” He answers confidently.
I take an irritated breath, rubbing at my forehead.
“Bring him in,” I flick my hand towards Hayden and Teegan.
They both go through the storage room door and drag out a flopping Tucker.
They’ve bound his wrists and ankles in rope and tied a white rag around his mouth, which he is currently biting down on as he screams incoherent words.
They drop him on the concrete flooring, and he squirms like a worm on a hook. Pathetic. I squat down by his head and grip the shaggy hair on the top of his head, throwing his head back to force his eyes on mine.
“I swear,” He’s panting. Good. “I didn’t do it!” His eyes are wide and pleading. Too bad for him, I don’t fall for this shit.
“I’m sure you didn’t,” I retort sarcastically.
Nobody’s honest when they’ve fucked up, especially when they know death is imminent.
“Here’s what’s going to happen.” I maintain my grip on his head.
I need to know he hears every word. “You’re going to put on your best act and convince Lilith to meet you at a disclosed location.
” His eyes become glossy. What a little bitch. “Understood?”
He nods his head in understanding. I slam his head down on the concrete, and it bounces off the floor with a crack.
I stand, spit in his pitiful face, and bark out commands to T and Hayden.
“I need seven men for this sting operation and clean this piece of shit up so it’s believable when he makes the call. ”
I could stick around for this, but I have better plans for my time.
A specific somebody on my mind, that is, who is currently waiting for me out in the hall with one of my men.
My warehouse is off-grid. The only way to get here is if you’re led here.
Tucker never had knowledge of this place and was blindfolded when brought here.
There’s not a chance that Lilith could find it, so when Kelsey argued that she was fine to be alone in the hall, I shouldn’t have had an issue with it.
But my guard is high, and I’ll be damned if I let my guard slip again.
“How’d it go?” She asks, coming to my side as we make our way out of the warehouse.
I shove open the door, “Fine.”
I glance down at her from the corner of my lower lashes, her lips pursed as if she wants to ask more, but is fighting the urge to. I sigh, “Tucker’s being handled and…” I look around us, ensuring the coast is clear, “We’re using him to set up Lilith.”
She stops dead in her tracks, eyes wide, “How?”
“She won’t get away from me this time. You have nothing to worry about.” And I mean that. I will have a sniper stationed around us for every man she travels with. They’ll be dead the second they step out of the vehicles. I’m not naive enough to believe she would come alone.
I currently have teams watching all of her properties, including the ones in Aruba. They’ve been commanded to report any signs of potential trafficking. My main goal is to find where she’s keeping them. I know I leveled the warehouse she kept Kelsey and all those other women in.
“You can’t be sure of that, Ryder!” She argues, bringing me out of my thoughts.
The fear she has for me has my cock hardening in my jeans, and I shift my weight, trying to adjust myself. “Look who’s catchin’ feelings.” A coy grin slowly spreads across my lips.
She rolls her eyes, popping her hip out with her arms crossed over her chest. I imagine her tits are pushed up, but I can’t see them through her thick black sweater.
I can almost taste her sweet and slightly salty skin as I suck on her peaked, rosy nipples.
She lets out an annoyed growl before stomping her cute ass to the car.
I’ll be sure to redden that pretty little ass a little extra later for the attitude.
Once in the car and heading down the quiet backroads, Kelsey remains silent with her arms crossed, sitting as close as possible to the door.
“Any closer to that door, you might just fall out.” I tease, but it lands on deaf ears.
If anything, she wiggles closer to it. “You know you look like a pissed off wet kitten when mad, right?” She ignores me again, which is only going to make her punishment worse tonight.
I connect my phone to the car and decide to blast music instead. “Killing Me Slowly” by Bad Wolves vibrates from the speakers.
We’re almost back to the house when my phone rings from the cupholder where I had set it. I answer after the second ring, “Ryder.”
“Good afternoon, Ryder,” The way her velvety voice toys with my name has my spine going rigid.
“What the fuck do you want?”
Kelsey snaps out of her tantrum and moves closer at the sound of her voice.
“I could ask you the same.” Her deep inhale is audible through the phone.
“Did you receive my message?” Her demonic laughter fills the car speakers, and I clench my jaw until it pops.
M,y body vibrates with unleashed anger, and I’d love nothing more than to release every ounce of it on none other than Lilith Young.
To smash her deceiving face into the pavement until she’s unrecognizable.
“Why did you really call?”
“Maybe I missed your voice,” She croons.
“I don’t have time for your bullshit, Lilith.” I put the car in park in the garage, but remain seated. Kelsey’s breathing has picked up, and she has a look of bitter hatred tensing her gorgeous face.
“I know you’ve busted Tucker. I just wanted you to know.” She finally admits before the call ends.
“Son of a bitch!!” I shout, slamming my fists into the steering wheel and throwing my head back against the seat.
Kelsey sniffles beside me, “What do we do now?”
There’s only one thing to do. Go to her.