Chapter 31
Brady
What Lily didn’t know was that once David had texted me the photos of her hotel room in Charleston, proving that he’d somehow broken in, that wasn’t the last time I heard from him.
It was only the beginning.
The motherfucker was now messaging me daily.
Sure, I was goading him. Responding. Letting him know that I wasn’t going to tolerate his goddamn nonsense. But what I was learning from our exchanges was that it didn’t matter what I wrote back. He was going to do whatever he wanted, and that had started long before the Charleston incident.
But my question was, where would it go from here?
Me
She’s not yours. She’s mine. How does that feel? That you lost her. That she’ll never be with you again. Is that sinking in yet? Does it fucking kill you?
For the record, going into her hotel room will be the last time you ever get that close to her. Do it again, and you’re dead.
David
You’re a funny man, Brady. You think you have me pinned down. You’re not even close.
Would he eventually get Lily’s number? He hadn’t, or I would know since she’d promised she would tell me.
My number was much easier to find. All it would take was a solid internet search, where the mobile number of every Cole and Spade executive was listed somewhere. One day, I would only use this phone for business matters, but I hadn’t bothered getting a personal line yet.
Even though he hadn’t gotten access to her cell, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t start showing up at my house. Or the restaurants we ate it. Or the locations we flew to.
When it came to him, was anything off-limits?
Because what I’d learned was that he’d walked right through the lobby of the Charleston Cole and Spade Hotel and not a single person who worked for me in that location stopped him. Although the entire staff had been tipped off that he could show up—something I did whenever Lily traveled overnight with the Daltons—and the security team at that hotel had been told to use our software that would detect disguises. But when David sauntered through the lobby, the security team was outside on the back patio, dealing with a drunk, disgruntled guest who had been making a scene and yelling at some of our other guests. Therefore, security wasn’t viewing the feed, and that window became the perfect opportunity for David to slip in, unnoticed.
Had he set that up purposefully?
Fuck, I didn’t know.
Nor did I know how he’d gotten a key and entered Lily’s room. But the feed, once it was reviewed, showed a key in his hand and him waving it in front of the reader at her door. He’d been in her room for a total of ten minutes before he took the stairs to the lobby and walked out the same way he’d come in.
David
How does it feel that you’re trying to keep me out and I continue to find a hole to get in? Does it hurt that you can’t protect her? Does it, Brady? You’re a fucking joke.
Me
You haven’t laid a finger on her, and I guarantee you won’t. That’s protection. That’s the comfort I can provide.
David
But I laid a finger on her panties, and she wore them the next day with my scent all over them. That’s called satisfaction.
Me
You’re a sick fuck.
He’d backed me into a corner, and the asshole knew it. Because Lily was adamant about not going to the police, saying that it wouldn’t fare well for us, given that David had the Atlanta law enforcement sitting in the palm of his hand. When I mentioned that this wasn’t Georgia, that I’d be dealing with the troop in LA, her answer didn’t change. She said it didn’t matter what police department was contacted; David would continue to get away with what he was doing because he was an expert at disappearing.
My fucking hands were tied.
My frustration was building.
How the hell did I make him stop?
Until I had that answer, all I could do was step up the security that surrounded us.
Diesel had now traveled back and forth to Edinburgh the three times we’d gone so far. During those trips he took with us on the new plane, I parked him outside my room whenever we were gone. And while I was working during the day, he was with Lily, and just like when she had been employed by the Daltons, he wasn’t to leave her side.
David
You’re one jealous dude. Jealous of how much power I still have over her. Jealous that she thinks of me.
Me
There’s no jealousy. There doesn’t need to be. If Lily wanted you, she wouldn’t be with me. End of story.
David
But will she always think of me? Fuck yes. Is it my dick she fantasizes about when she touches herself, alone in her hotel room during the nights you work late? Fuck yes.
Me
I’m done engaging. You’re one nasty motherfucker.
These were messages she didn’t need to see. That she didn’t need to stress over. That she didn’t need to know even existed. What I wanted was for her to continue living freely, like she had been since I’d hired Diesel as her bodyguard. She would not go back to spending her days inside our hotel room, feeling like she was locked in a prison. Edinburgh was a large city, and she needed to spend time exploring and enjoying everything it had to offer.
Because there was nothing better in this world than a happy, smiling Lily.
David
Now that you just got home, how was your trip to Edinburgh?
Do you really think Lily enjoys following you back and forth to Scotland like a little puppy? You’ve taken away her identity and made her your shadow.
Me
I’m protecting her from you.
David
If I wanted to put my hands on her, do you really think Diesel could stop me? Do better, Brady. Do much fucking better.
Me
Stay away from her. I’m warning you, David. Don’t take my words lightly, I’ll fucking kill you myself.
David
You make me laugh.
Just like the grin that was on her face now, as we were tucked in a corner table of a restaurant with an interior that was designed to look like a castle. We’d started with an appetizer of oysters and shellfish bisque, and while Lily was digging into her main course of lamb, I was nursing my grilled lemon sole.
I didn’t want this meal to ever end—it was that fucking good.
This was our fourth trip to Scotland. One of the best parts about being in a new city with my girl was getting a break from the food in LA, establishments I’d gone to with other women, and getting to check out restaurants with her that I’d never eaten at before.
“Goddamn it, this is exceptional.” I glanced up from my plate to see that gorgeous smile was still across her lips. “Is yours as good as mine?” I reached my fork over the length of the table and took a small chunk of her lamb, popping it into my mouth. “Fuck, that’s delicious too.”
“I’ve been moaning over every bite. You haven’t heard me?”
Because of the tall ceiling, the sound spread, and it was slightly noisy in here. Not a bad thing at all, but it had prevented me from hearing those tiny little groans.
“If I had, my dick would be hard right now.”
She laughed. “Tell me you’re going to have a restaurant like this in your hotel so I can dream about eating this again and again.” She moved some blonde locks off her cheek.
“I am—the meat part at least. You haven’t met the Westons yet—a family of five who specialize in high-end steak houses. They’re going to open their signature restaurant, Charred.”
“We went to their LA location, didn’t we?”
I nodded. “One of the brothers plays for the NHL—that’s the game we were attending when we flew to Tampa.”
“I’m connecting the dots.” She wiped her mouth with her napkin. “Does that mean you’ll be kicking out the three restaurants that are in the hotel now?”
Even though it was under construction, the hotel was still operating. We’d broken the rehab into sections, so many parts of the hotel were still functional. Floors would get renovated one at a time, giving plenty of rooms for us to rent out, and restaurants would close similarly—when one left, a new one would come in, allowing guests to have places to eat in the interim. We were trying to make the process as seamless and convenient for everyone while maintaining a steady stream of revenue.
“Yes,” I replied. “The current restaurants don’t provide the five-star quality of food I’m looking for, so they’re gone. Aside from Charred, there will be two others that will focus on local cuisines, providing experiences that will blow their minds.”
I lifted my glass of scotch, holding it while I stared at her. “I want to tell you something. Something I’ve been keeping from you.”
“Change of subject, I see.” Her brows shot up. “Something you’ve been keeping from me, huh?”
I took a drink and set down the tumbler. “Well, I didn’t want to say anything until I was positive.”
“Okay …” She placed her fork on the side of her plate.
I knew how her brain worked. She thought that whatever I was going to say was going to be about David.
It irritated me to no end how that asshole wedged himself into conversations and thoughts without anyone even mentioning his name.
I was ready for that to never happen again.
“I told you that Jenner was getting me a list of properties in Bangkok because that’s where I want my next build-out to be.”
She sat up straighter in her chair, and before I got a chance to continue, she said, “Actually, if we’re being technical, I told you I heard a rumor that Bangkok was going to be your next location. That’s when you told me he was gathering a list.” As her face warmed, she winked.
“That’s right.” I chuckled. “Regardless, the purchase is going to happen. Over the last week, I reviewed all the available properties, and at the beginning of next month, on our way back from Scotland, I’m going to pick up the family in LA and head there to look at them.” I paused, really taking in her eyes. “I’d like you to come with us.”
Her face tilted to the side. “The whole family?”
“The whole family,” I repeated. “Including Jenner and Jo. And we’re going to stay for several days and vacation at one of the prospective hotels.” I chuckled again. “So, we’ll all be together.”
“Throwing me straight into the wolf den, aren’t you?” She put her hand up to stop me from replying. “I’m kidding. I’ve already met most of them anyway, and I can’t wait to bond with the rest.”
I liked that answer.
But I needed to break things down a bit further before she gave me her final response.
“Here’s the thing.” I leaned my elbows on either side of my plate. “If you come, I want to get a temporary flight attendant for that trip. I don’t want you working. This will be a vacation, and I want my family to get to know the personal side of you, not the professional side. And I don’t want you to take offense to that because I know you, and I know you would tell me that it’s no problem for you to be a part of the flight crew for that trip and that you’ll be able to balance both.” My eyes narrowed. “And for the record, I have no doubt that you could. But I want you to have the time off, to enjoy yourself, even though it’s your plane. And for once, I want you to be waited on.”
“Mr. Spade …”
“Hold on. I’m not done.” I set my hands where my elbows had been resting and gripped the edge of the table. “I don’t want to put any pressure on you, so I want you to know that you don’t have to come. I want nothing more than to have you there. But if it feels like too much, too fast, I understand. You can sit this one out, and it won’t change the way I feel, or change us, or change how much I want you.” I ran my tongue over my lips.
“I appreciate that you’re giving me a choice, but I want to be there.” She reached across the table and put her hand on mine. “I want to hang with your family. I want to be the first woman who’s ever been introduced to them as your girlfriend.” Her smile was the biggest it had been tonight.
“I could semi-strangle you for bringing another flight attendant on board. I’m a bit territorial when it comes to your new plane, and it kills me to have someone else working on it.” She gave her head a little shake. “But I understand why you want to do so, and I don’t take offense to it.” She squeezed my fingers. “Just know that I’m letting it slide this one time. But never again—do you hear me?”
“You know, you’re so fucking adorable when you try to be stern with me.” I rubbed my thumb over hers.
“In other words, it didn’t work?”
“No.” I huffed. “If you think I’m letting you work during any of our vacation trips, you’ve got another thing coming.”
“You spoil me, Brady.”
“I can afford to. And I want to.”
She pulled her hand back and gazed at me, staying silent for several beats. “I never knew it could get better. That it could be like this. That as time went on, things became stronger, and feelings grew, and that I could actually experience a deeper level of happiness every day.”
“I didn’t either.”
No truer words had been spoken, and I was positive we both knew that.
“I’m so, so everything for you.”
I laughed at the cuteness. “That makes two of us.”
“Is it ironic that we’re learning this at the same time?”
I went to lift my fork, and there was a vibration in my pocket. It couldn’t be a text or a social media notification—I’d silenced those. The only thing that could come through was a phone call.
As I was taking my phone out of my pocket, just to make sure the call wasn’t an emergency, I replied to her, “Nah. I think it’s perfect. I wouldn’t have wanted to know what everything felt like before you. I only want to experience it with you.”
I paused to look at the screen of my cell, the caller ID showing that it was my Edinburgh hotel. Something felt off about that, especially at this hour, knowing the contractor and his staff had already gone home.
I said to Lily, “Hang on a second. I need to take this,” and I held the phone up to my ear. “This is Brady.”
As the head of security spoke, everything in my body stopped.
My heart.
My breathing.
And what pulsed instead was an anger I’d never felt before.
My teeth bared, my chest heaved, and my fucking tongue vibrated as I roared, “What the fuck?!”