Chapter 14 #2
“We could have come after closing with zero dress code,” I deadpanned, sipping my drink.
“We can come here whenever you want as long as you wear that dress,” he replied, surveying the room. “The manager I hired does well here. He’s local, so he’s proud of this place. It probably helps that I pay above the average wage too.”
“Tyler!” someone called out as they ran towards the table, and it took me a second to realize they were waving a camera in our faces. “Will you be joining your father and brother to celebrate Tyson’s debut? Any comment on your parents’ divorce?”
Tyler barely flinched, but I could tell he was caught off guard.
“No comment,” he said smoothly, motioning for security to remove them.
“Is this your girlfriend? How long have you been together? Miss—” he started as he snapped photos of us, but Tyler moved to stand in front of me, blocking his view.
“Get that out of her face. You need to leave.”
The camera clicked more but security appeared and dragged the guy towards the door. Tyler didn’t move until he was gone, turning to check on me.
“You okay?”
“Is that normal? I’ve never seen the paparazzi follow you before,” I asked, hearing him sigh.
“They usually leave me alone. Dad’s announcement of me being in Ashburn has probably made some track me down though, and their affair will cause a huge stir. They’ll want an interview with me. That shit would sell for big bucks.”
“Should we leave?”
“No. Finish eating and we’ll get dessert.”
He dragged his chair around to my side and sat beside me, making sure to block the view of the door in case the guy came back. As much as I wanted to be annoyed that he thought I needed protecting, I melted a little at how easily he did it.
Being important to someone who could have anything or anyone in the world was kind of nice. Especially someone like Tyler, who really didn’t give a shit about many people.
We got a selection of desserts to share before he insisted on going out to the garden for a walk, holding hands as we wandered along the path.
It was cool out here now, so he’d helped me slide the black jacket on.
The garden was beautiful and hidden from the street with tall walls like a secret sanctuary. There was a massive koi pond, green grass and plants everywhere, and walking around hearing the waves crashing close by made you forget all about the buildings outside the walls.
The lighting was low but bright enough that you could see where you were going, casting a glow around the garden.
It was peaceful in here.
“So, are you likely to agree to do this again another time?” Tyler asked randomly as we walked.
“I suppose we should come back. I mean, you really should check in with your business. Quality check the steak and all,” I grinned, leaning into him a little. “Thank you. I had a nice night.”
“I haven’t even put your knees back by your ears yet. The night is young,” he joked, giving me a quick kiss.
“Princess treatment ends when we get home?”
“Absolutely. You’ll be getting the personal whore treatment instead,” he smirked, swatting my ass playfully.
“Maybe you’ll be the whore?” I said slyly, pinching his ass back and making him laugh as he danced out of the way.
“You can have your wicked way with me any day, babe. Promise.”
“You want to go home and test that?” I offered, laughing as he turned us around and started pulling me towards the door.
People glanced at us as we hurried through the restaurant, but we halted when we stepped outside to wait for the valet to find a crowd.
“Tyler! Over here!” someone called, the camera flashes blinding me as multiple went off.
“Shit,” Tyler muttered, keeping hold of my hand and steering me towards the valet as his car was brought around.
“Tyler! Who’s the girl?”
“Tyler, how do you feel about your parents’ affair?”
“Do you spend time with Tyson?”
It was overwhelming as more cameras flashed and people started shouting questions, and I pulled back a little, unsure what to do.
TV reporters and everything were filming us, anxiety clawing at me. We didn’t need this kind of attention when we had people after us.
Security tried to keep them back as we made our way to the car, but someone pushed past them and shoved their camera in my face.
“Are you dating Tyler? Have—” He was cut off as Tyler slammed his fist into his face, making me wince. This wasn’t good.
He put an arm around me to shield me as he ushered me into the passenger seat, taking the keys from the valet before sliding behind the wheel and revving the car.
People scattered as he floored it, my phone ringing in his pocket before we’d made it onto the street.
I managed to get it out as he drove, seeing Caden’s name on the screen.
“Little busy, Holloway,” I said as a greeting, hearing him snort.
“No shit, we’re watching you on TV. Tell him to slow down or he’ll get arrested.”
“They’re following us,” I explained as I glanced back to see headlights leaving the restaurant.
“They will. They’re fucking parasites. Hey!” Caden snapped before Jensen’s voice reached me.
“Head here. Josie’s got security on the gate so they can shut it behind you guys and keep them out.”
I relayed that to Tyler, who nodded, his jaw clenched as he drove. He looked pissed.
We made it through Stoneleigh, but Tyler cursed as we came across more people waiting at the entrance into Rawson Grove.
“Go through Blackwater,” I said quickly as he slammed on the brakes to avoid plowing into them. They were literally parked across the road to block us.
“I don’t know Blackwater!” he snapped, not angry with me, just frustrated.
“I need to go, Jense,” I said into the phone before hanging up and unbuckling my seat belt. “Switch, Ty.”
I yanked the door open, hearing him curse as he scrambled to do as I said.
Cameras snapped pictures as I dove into the driver’s seat, buckling up and heading towards Blackwater.
Blackwater was basically the same as Hawthorne Heights in some areas, but since it had a rich side like Ashburn Valley, it got more funding.
A car barreled out of a side street as we entered Blackwater, and my heartbeat slammed against my chest in panic until they let us past before following, another set of headlights joining a moment later.
My phone rang and Tyler answered, sounding relieved. “Hey, Skeet.”
“Me and D are behind you. We’ll act as a buffer to keep them back. You get our girl home,” he said as Tyler put it on speaker.
“We didn’t need help, and I’m driving,” I said dryly as I kept my foot down.
“You’re on live TV, Aurora. In case you forgot, you’re trying not to get snatched by the Soldiers right now. They could send anyone in to take you out.”
“They’d be caught on fucking TV.”
“They’d use a scapegoat. Use your Heights brain, not your privileged Ashburn one,” he tsked. “We’ll keep an eye out for trouble.”
“Shouldn’t one of you be in front leading then?”
“I can. I’ll let D know,” he answered before hanging up, taking a second before surging forward and shooting past us in the McLaren, putting us between him and Diesel. I had no idea what Diesel was driving, but it was faster than his truck.
People were standing on porches, watching as we sped past, and I slammed on the brakes when Skeeter suddenly slowed too, both of us practically crawling.
“What’s he doing?” I snapped, just before my eyes caught on an approaching police car.
More appeared and motioned to us to follow, some staying behind to control the cars following us.
“We get an escort?” I asked in disbelief as we drove the speed limit the rest of the way through Blackwater and into Ashburn Valley, my relief being short-lived when we parked at home and our doors were yanked open by the cops so they could drag us out.
“Hey! Don’t fucking touch her!” Tyler shouted as I was slammed to the ground.
“What did I do?” I demanded as I was handcuffed and hauled to my feet.
“Reckless driving. Have you been drinking tonight?” the officer asked bluntly, another restraining Tyler to cuff him too.
“Tyler Johnson, you’re under arrest for assault and battery. Anything you say can and will—” I was yanked towards the police car as the cop restraining me started reading me my rights, and then Skeeter was suddenly in front of us.
“You’re arresting her for trying to escape? They were in her face and blocked them from getting home. She—”
“Skeeter, do you want to be arrested too?” the cop sighed, sounding like he’d dealt with him in the past.
“You’ll be dragging me out of here in fucking cuffs for assaulting a cop if you don’t let her the fuck go. Ty too,” he spat, taking a step towards us.
“That’s enough,” Josie scolded as she walked over. “Skeeter, let me handle it.”
“Respectfully—”
“I said shut it, Skeet,” she growled, his eyebrows shooting up as she gave him her back and glared at the cop.
“You uncuff her right now. You think arresting a scared woman who was being chased is the right thing to do here? She didn’t hurt anyone.
We’ll come down to the station to discuss this, but take those fucking handcuffs off her. ”
The cop hesitated before seeming to do as she said, the cuffs coming free.
“Skeeter, take her inside,” Josie said firmly, staying with the cop as Skeeter put an arm around me to lead me towards the house.
“What about Ty?” I asked as I watched Tyler being put in the back of a car, still in handcuffs.
“She’ll get the lawyer involved and get him back tonight. He assaulted someone on camera, so they won’t just let him go,” Skeeter replied as Diesel jogged over, my eyes landing on Slash’s Mustang and almost making me trip over my own feet.
“Sorry for the lack of warning. I was taking it around the block to avoid it sitting still for too long when Skeet called me,” Diesel murmured, shielding me from flashing cameras as we headed into the house, where Caden and the guys were waiting.