Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
TRISTAN
Did Lily think I would so easily let her slip away from me? I was, however, over this waiting game to see what they all thought they were up to. Killian has gone rogue. That was one I didn’t see coming; sure, he could turn on you. I just never would have guessed it would have been over a girl.
I’m not entirely sure what the plan is, but I have a few ideas. I sit outside the building in a black SUV across the street and wait. My phone is on the cameras, but my eyes are going back to the building.
Until something gives me pause. I flip to the back stairs cameras, rewind, and play. I do it a few times until I finally catch it. It’s quick, but the feed is now on a loop.
Motherfucker. I start to get out of the SUV, and that’s when I spot the girl.
She strides through the front doors of the building with a crown on her head, wielding a pink lightsaber. All right, I can admit I didn’t see that one coming. I exit the vehicle, straighten my jacket, and walk across the street.
I watch the two men at the front security desk speak to her. Her movements are big and over the top. I know instantly it’s a diversion. Obvious but effective. While everyone’s eyes are on the crazy girl with the toy sword, Killian will slip Lily out the back.
I grit my teeth. The only thing keeping me calm is that I have my eyes locked on the one thing I now know means everything to Killian.
Teddy is fully committed to this role, and the two guards have no idea what to do with her or her lightsaber.
“Why didn’t you stop them?” Teddy points over her shoulder at two men in suits walking in the lobby.
“They are free to come and go,” one of them tells her.
“Is it because I’m a girl? My age? My crown?!” She acts appalled.
“No.” The bold one, Kent, is shaking his head. “It’s because of—”
“Me,” I tell her. Teddy stiffens before she slowly turns to face me. I see the recognition.
“Mr. Vanderbilt, we were just escorting her out.” Kent stands up straighter.
“She’s not going anywhere.” Teddy’s eyes widen when I grab her elbow.
“Hey!” She tries to jerk out of my hold. “Stranger danger!” she shouts.
“You want to see Lily?” That stops her from trying to fight me.
“It’s okay,” she tells the two guards. “No need to call the police on Tristan here.”
Kent chuckles. “We would never do that.”
Teddy’s brows pull together, not liking that response. “But he was kidnapping me.”
“This conversation is over. I’m done with this little game.” I pull her toward the back elevators. “You think you could pull one over on me?” I ask her. What did she think she was going to do with a lightsaber?
“I think you’re a jerk-face.” She glares up at me. “You don’t know who you’re messing with.”
“Oh, I know.” I smirk. I pull her into the elevator and hit the button for my floor. “Killian Kotov is here.” I watch the blood drain from her face, realizing I knew from the start.
Then I feel something hard press into my stomach, but it’s too late. Voltage rips through me, locking every muscle for three endless seconds. My teeth grind together. I don’t fall. I don’t make a sound beyond the breath hissing through my nose.
Teddy stares at the Taser in her hand like it betrayed her. “Well,” she says, “that’s awkward.”
I rip it from her fingers and crush it under my heel. The plastic cracks, batteries spilling across the elevator floor.
“That was rude,” she mutters. Is this girl all there? Not my problem.
The elevator rises. My body throbs where the prongs hit, a deep ache that will bruise by morning. I flex my hand, testing control. Still functional.
The doors open onto my floor.
The penthouse stretches before us, open and modern, floor-to-ceiling windows showing the city sprawled below.
What matters is the smell. Vanilla and something softer, something that lives in my lungs now. Lily. Her smell still lingers in the air. The scent wraps around me, familiar and infuriating, proof that she belongs in this space even when she’s trying to escape it.
“Walk,” I tell Teddy, pushing her forward.
She stumbles, catching herself on the back of my sofa. “You can’t just—”
“I can.” I cross to the windows, looking down at the street. “I did.”
I pull out my phone and hit call.
“You’re playing a deadly game, Tristan,” Killian says when he answers.
“The way I see it, we’re even at the moment,” I counter, barely hanging on to my control.
“Your Lily isn’t worth anything compared to Teddy.”
I glance over to the girl fixing her crown. “I don’t care whether you think she’s worth it or not. We trade.”
“How do I know you have her?” He knows I do, but I give him the bait.
“She tased me.”
Killian goes quiet, but Teddy doesn’t. “You kidnapped me! Of course I tased you, you, you—” Teddy stumbles to find her words. “Giant jerk-face! Not even the good kind of giant, like Killian.”
“You think there are good things about Killian?”
“You know what? I’m way richer than you, buddy, so maybe I’ll hire him to kill you.” She’s getting herself all worked up now.
“It appears you already have hired him. You’re just not paying with cash.” It’s a blow, but I’m pissed. They came into my home and are trying to take Lily from me.
“Don’t get all judgy about our situation,” Teddy snips back. “Glass houses over there and all. Just so you know, I’ve got lots of rocks, and I don’t mean diamonds, but I’ll use them too if need be.”
She keeps rambling on, and I debate gagging her, but there isn’t time. I catch a reflection in the mirror on the living room wall. Killian comes around the corner with a gun pointed right at me.
“Don’t move, and maybe you’ll live.”
I ignore him, my attention on Lily, who is standing behind him.
“It worked. I was keeping him distracted!” Teddy pops up from the couch.
“Lily, come here,” I order her, trying to not sound as angry as I am.
“No. I’m an adult, and I’m leaving.”
“You think you’re an adult? That you can just leave me?”
“Leave you? That doesn’t even—”
“Are you two done?” Killian interrupts. I take a breath, trying to get myself in check. I don’t fully trust myself right now.
“Killian, you can’t take her.” I try to reason with him. “You know I’ll track all of you down.” There will be nowhere they can hide. I found Killian; I’ll do it again.
“It’s no secret where we’ll be,” he tells me, like he’s trying to talk me into this.
“No.” I step toward him.
“You need to be real careful. The only person keeping you alive right now is Teddy.” She fucking tased me. “I planned to kill you after you insulted her.”
“You insulted Teddy?” Lily cuts in.
“I didn’t mean that she’s a prostitute.” I run my hand through my hair, frustrated on how to handle this.
“Sex worker,” both Lily and Teddy say at the same time.
“And that shit is work. Even when I’m on the bottom, I get worn out,” Teddy adds.
“Zolotse,” Killian warns, but there is no heat behind it.
“What?” Teddy shrugs. “I might be one of those pillow princesses.” Lily snorts a laugh.
“Killian—” I say again.
“Fix it and don’t make it worse,” he tells me and then pulls the trigger.