20. Kane
Chapter 20
Kane
The plan was straightforward.
In theory, at least.
Kane and the other Daddies decided that Leon would knock on Lyle’s door and concoct a reason to get Lyle out of the building.
The details of that reason?
Well, that would be down to Leon.
He was a fast thinker. His improvisation skills were second to none. It wasn’t without risk, but if anyone could pull it off, it was Leon.
Once Lyle was out of the apartment, Kane and Cage would enter. Then, once inside, Kane would use his own hacking skills to break into Lyle’s computers and erase every last trace of Cassie’s emails, files, and of course… the photos.
As with Leon’s part of the plan, there were no guarantees. Kane expected that as a hacker, Lyle would have a well-guarded set-up.
It wouldn’t be a walk in the park, not by a long shot.
But together, the three Daddies felt confident that they would be able to pull it off.
In Kane’s mind, there was no other option.
It was success or bust.
He felt like he owed it to Cassie. To do whatever he could in his power to look after her, protect her, be her savior.
This was the plan.
And now it was time to see how it would all play out…
With Leon ahead of them, the gang arrived at Lyle’s apartment building.
‘Okay, let’s hang back and wait until we see Leon and hopefully that asshole leave the building together,’ Cage said, exchanging a hopeful look with Kane. ‘We’ve got this. We just need the dice to fall in our favor.’
Kane nodded in agreement.
He had played plenty of high stakes games in the past. But it was only money at stake in those games of roulette and poker.
This was different.
Cassie’s happiness was on the line.
There wasn’t a monetary value that Kane could attach to that. It was vital that this plan succeeded.
‘You okay, kid?’ Kane asked Cassie. ‘It’s fine to be nervous or scared. I’ll protect you no matter what. You know that, right?’
Cassie nodded.
Kane could see the nerves written all over his Little’s face.
But he was also proud of how well Cassie was dealing with things. Kane sensed that while Cassie may have felt scared, she was coping.
Dealing with things.
Showing resilience.
Maybe Kane wasn’t doing such a bad job as a Daddy after all?
But there was no time to congratulate himself. Or do a deep dive into Cassie’s feelings.
With perfect timing, Leon exited the building.
Everyone held their breath.
There was no sign of Lyle.
Had Leon failed to convince him?
‘Come on, where the hell are you?’ Kane muttered, doing his best to keep his cool. This was a pressurized moment, and he knew that Cassie would be looking to him for assurance.
There was no way Kane was going to let himself boil over again. He’d learned his lesson. As a Daddy, he was there to be looked up to.
‘Boom, gotcha,’ Cage said, a slightly confused looking Lyle appearing at the apartment building door and beginning to walk down the street with Leon. ‘I knew our fast-talking ER doctor wouldn’t let us down.’
‘He never does,’ Kane said. ‘Leon probably spun a yarn that was equal parts hilarious, outrageous, and just about believable. I don’t know how he does it.’
‘Me neither,’ Kane said. ‘And there’s no time to consider it either. Let’s move.’
Cassie and Katie got up to leave with the two Daddies.
This wasn’t going to happen.
No chance.
‘You two stay here,’ Kane said, his voice firm but full of compassion. ‘We need you two to be on the lookout for us. In case Lyle comes back early.’
‘But–’ Cassie replied.
‘No buts,’ Kane said, his tone seriously firm. ‘I mean it. I’m your Daddy and there is no room for compromise on this one. You wait here with Katie. You have an important role to play. Do it. Can I rely on you?’
Cassie and Katie both nodded obediently.
Kane and Cage exchanged glances and ran across the road.
It was time to get inside Lyle’s place and put the plan well and truly into action.
‘Jesus, this place… is disgusting,’ Kane said, noticing the trash strewn across the inside of Lyle’s apartment. ‘I almost feel sorry for the guy. Living like this can’t be healthy.’
Cage nodded.
The entry into the apartment hadn’t exactly been legal.
Cage knew all the tricks of the trade from his time working as a cop. He also knew that instead of going straight to the option of breaking the door down, there was a good chance that Lyle kept a spare key somewhere near the door.
It was remarkable how many people did it.
Even in big cities.
Cage had visited so many robberies that had essentially only happened because the homeowner had kept a spare key hidden in an obvious place.
Lyle, fortunately, was no different.
‘For some people, it’s them being na?ve to the threat,’ Kane said. ‘But for this guy, I’m thinking it’s just arrogance.’
Lyle had wedged his spare key in a space inside his door mat.
Crazy.
But neither Kane nor Cage were complaining.
‘Anyway, enough, let’s get to work,’ Cage said. ‘You do your magic on the computers. I’ll look around for any incriminating evidence. He may even have printed the photos or emails. If he has, don’t worry bro. I’ll find them.’
‘Thank you, Cage,’ Kane said. ‘I appreciate this. More than you could know.’
‘I hear you,’ Cage said. ‘Now let’s get to work.’
The pair of them began.
As Cage moved around the apartment with speed and precision, Kane began attempting to get inside Lyle’s main computer.
Okay, fuck. This might be harder than I thought.
Stay cool. Stay calm.
The odds aren’t in my favor. But that doesn’t mean I can’t win…
Slowly but surely, Kane began to make progress. It turned out that Lyle wasn’t just arrogant about leaving his spare key lying around. Unfortunately for him, he was a little bit complacent about his home security.
While Lyle’s online defenses may well have been superb, it turned out that he hadn’t protected his computer from physical hacking quite so well.
This was a mistake.
One that Kane was more than ready to seize upon.
‘Okay, quick update,’ Cage said. ‘As suspected, this sleazeball did print the photos and emails. I’ve got them. There are no more copies here. I can vouch for that.’
‘Great. Actually no… that’s fucking brilliant ,’ Kane said, still deep in concentration as he began accessing the files and folders pertaining to Cassie. ‘This jerk won’t know what’s hit him. And by the way, it seems like Lyle has been trolling Cassie for a hot minute. I’m seeing accounts all over social media. All different usernames. All of them focused on making shitty comments and causing trouble for Cassie. Other comic creators too.’
‘Jesus, this is not good,’ Cage said. ‘It looks like we’re doing the world a favor.’
‘Big time,’ Kane replied, his brain whirring as he set about doing what he needed to do.
Then, just as it was looking like everything was going to be plain sailing all the way home, Cage received a message.
It was from Katie…
KATIE: Daddy! The bad man is coming back. I don’t think Leon can stall him any longer. He’s just entered the building!!!!
This wasn’t great news at all.
As well as Kane was doing, he still needed more time. There was no way of knowing exactly how much either, which put them in a perilous position.
‘No pressure, but we’re now in a seriously time sensitive situation,’ Cage said. ‘We could be talking less than two minutes here.’
Kane nodded and began tapping at the keys furiously.
He whipped a memory stick out from his pocket and inserted it into the computer.
‘Just give me one more minute,’ Kane said. ‘On more fucking minute is all I need to shut this jackass down for good.’
But time ran out.
Lyle burst into the apartment.
He was huffing and puffing, struggling to breath.
But here he was.
And he looked seriously angry.
‘What the hell! Get out of my apartment right this second,’ Lyle exclaimed, his voice wheezing but full of rage. ‘This is totally illegal, you freaks!’
Cage shook his head.
‘Yeah, I know who you are,’ Lyle said. ‘You so called Daddies need to be in jail. Breaking and entering might just do it.’
‘I’d think very carefully about all this,’ Cage said. ‘You’ve done some very bad things. I think your best course of action is to let it slide. Take the loss.’
But Lyle wasn’t in the mood to go down without a fight.
‘I’ll kick your perverted asses,’ Lyle bellowed, his screeching voice sounding scarily out of control. ‘Now get away from my computer!’
In a burst of anger, Lyle charged at Kane.
But Kane was ready for him.
It was swift and brutal, but in a matter of seconds Lyle was pinned to the floor with his arm behind his back. Kane could easily have pulled harder and dislocated or broken Lyle’s arm in several places.
But that wasn’t the answer.
Kane had to teach Lyle a lesson in a way that he would understand.
‘Cage, hold him down,’ Kane said, transferring control of Lyle’s wriggling body to Cage. ‘It’s time to apply the finishing touches.’
‘No, not my fucking computer!’ Lyle said. ‘There’s no way a basic idiot like you knows what to do anyway!’
Kane simply laughed.
Lyle had no idea that he too was an accomplished hacker.
But he was about to.
‘And just like that, all files are gone,’ Kane said. ‘Every single trace of Cassie… gone. Every single troll social media account… deleted. Every hacking code or programme… permanently removed.’
‘And all print outs are safe with me too,’ Cage added. ‘so don’t even think about it.’
‘But this is illegal! You’ve got no right!’ Lyle squealed, sounding pathetic. ‘I’ll call the police.’
‘Sure. And say what?’ Kane replied. ‘That you were blackmailing people and they decided enough was enough? No, I don’t think you’ll be doing that. And you’ll never, ever contact Cassie again. Or anyone else with an intention to cause them pain or harm. The second you do, evidence of your actions will be headed straight to the police force.’
Lyle banged his forehead into the grimy carpet in frustration.
He knew it was all over.
Kane felt satisfied.
But when he looked up and saw that both Cassie and Katie had witnessed the whole situation, he felt a sense of joy.
The look of awe on Cassie’s face told him everything he needed to know.
Kane had acted like a true Daddy.
Cassie knew now that she could trust him to always do the right thing when it mattered most - and that he could control his temper.
Also, Cassie knew now that there wasn’t a problem he wouldn’t do his absolute best to solve.
‘Let’s go, leave Lyle to think about what he’s done,’ Kane said, a disgusted tone in his voice. ‘It doesn’t have to be like this forever, Lyle. What you do now is up to you.’
Lyle didn’t respond.
‘Daddy, wait,’ Cassie said. ‘There’s something I want to say to Lyle.’
‘Okay, but only if you’re sure you want to,’ Kane said.
‘I’m sure,’ Cassie replied. ‘I’ve never been surer of anything in my life. I have to say this.’
Kane stood with Cage, Katie and Leon as Cassie took a step forward toward a disgraced Lyle.
Kane felt a sense of pride.
Cassie was about to stand up for herself against her bully.
But what exactly was she going to say?