Chapter 68
KC
Ajani and I continue to run until our legs can’t carry us anymore.
We don’t stop. We continue walking in the wooded area along the dirt road.
The place where they kept us was a single warehouse down a long dirt road.
Ajani tried to text her father from the cell phone she took off of one of the men, but the service has been shitty out here.
“Did it go through?” I ask, pointing at the phone Ajani is holding on to for dear life.
She opens it to check. “It says delivered, but there’s been no response, so who the fuck knows? We’ll keep walking until we can get cell service or a ride to safety.” She looks around at our surroundings. “I mean, I don’t think they would’ve taken us out of Chicago.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right. Probably the outskirts, right?”
Ajani nods and continues to stare straight ahead.
“Hey.” I grab her arm. “I really am sorry that I dragged you into this. If I never would’ve gotten involved with that TEASE app—”
“Stop it.” She grabs both of my shoulders, shaking me. “It’s okay. We’re gonna be okay. I’m sorry you had to see me like that,” she pulls me in for a hug, “but let’s keep walking.”
“Have you killed people before?”
Ajani doesn’t answer right away. “One time, I was taken and didn’t have these.” She points to her bracelet and then her combat boot. “Never again. I promised myself that I’d never be caught vulnerable.”
I can tell she doesn’t want to talk about it.
“Hey, duck down.”
The crunching of gravel can be heard. Sounds like a vehicle is coming. “Oh, fuck. What if it’s the guy who wanted me?” I cover my mouth to hold back my sob.
Ajani whispers, “They don’t know we aren’t at the warehouse anymore.”
The vehicle slows down as it gets closer to where we’re hiding.
“I’m scared.” I burrow myself against Ajani’s body.
I hear the vehicle stop, and multiple doors open and close.
“Don’t make a sound, KC.” Ajani shields me with her body.
My heart is pounding out of my chest, and I’m trying to slow my breathing. So I just nod and close my eyes.
“Ajani! KC! Where are you?” Boots crunch against the rocks. Whoever it is, is walking around slowly.
We both look at each other. “Is that Beau?” I whisper to Ajani, but she shakes her head softly and holds her finger to her mouth to tell me to stay quiet.
“Ajani, baby, come out. It’s your father!” Ajani starts to cry as she stands up, pulling me up with her by the hand.
“Dad! We’re over here!!!”
“Kailey!” Jared’s panicked face comes into my view.
Ajani runs into her dad’s open arms. Jared runs for me, but my vision tunnels, and I fall to the ground. “No, no, don't do that. Stay with me, Kailey.”
“It was Joey…” I whisper, and the last thing I feel is Jared’s warm arms picking me up, then nothing…
The smell of coffee and bacon wakes me up. I startle, waking up in fight-or-flight mode. Reaching my hands out, I realize that I’m surrounded by a comforter and multiple pillows. I look around a clean room. Oh no, where am I?
The door starts to crack open, and I grab the comforter to shield my face.
“Baby, you’re awake.” Jared walks in holding a tray filled with breakfast foods and coffee.
I can’t help the tears that start to fall down my cheeks. My hands reach out to cover my face as I continue to sob. Jared rushes over to me and pulls the bedding back so he can sit down and bring me closer to him. “You’re okay. You’re with me. You’re safe. Just breathe.”
I attempt to catch my breath and ask, “Where’s Ajani?”
“She’s okay. She’s with Beau and her dad.”
“Where’s Brittney? Oh my god, she can’t go back to our apartment! It’s not safe!”
“She’s with Skyler; everyone’s safe.”
“I saw Joey, your brother.”
“What do you mean?”
“Sarah too. She surprised me at The Purple Room. Said she was in town on business. I invited her to go get drinks with Ajani and me at Darla’s. She must’ve drugged us. When I woke up, Joey walked in. He’s so different, Jared. He’s scary.”
Jared doesn’t say a word. Just lets me continue.
“He told me everything. How he killed Beth on purpose to get into some fucked up Mafia family, and how he tricked Sarah into being with him. Made her into some Beth lookalike. That’s why she recanted her story all those years ago!”
“What the fuck? I don’t understand why Joey came to get you.”
I cling to Jared like my life depends on it. “It’s my fault, all of it.”
“Don’t say that, Dimples. It’s not.”
I wipe my snot on his shirt before continuing. “But it is. I need to tell you something. And you’re going to think differently of me. I know you will.” I pull away from him and bring my knees to my chest. I realize now that I’m only wearing underwear and an oversized shirt.
“Kailey, there’s nothing you could do, or have done in the past, that would change my feelings for you. I’m serious.” His palm goes to my knee.
“I, uh… I used to take photos of myself and… sell them on an app called TEASE. And Joey’s boss, who I don’t know, but I guess is some head honcho in the Mafia, was one of my subscribers, one of the main buyers of my photos.
Lorenzo Russo… he went by the handle Incognito.
He asked me frequently to meet up in person, but I never agreed.
Incognito sent one of my TEASE photos to Joey—because Joey works for him, tracking down people that are hard to find.
As soon as Joey saw the photo, he knew it was me.
I was always really careful, but this time, my sunflower tattoo was reflected in a mirror, and Joey recognized it right away.
. Then, Joey was sent on a mission to find me…
to collect me and take me to Incognito… well…
Russo. Russo normally kidnaps and sells the girls he meets through the TEASE app, but Joey said that Russo wanted to keep me for himself. ”
“Okay… Well, where did Joey and Sarah go?”
“They ran off when they realized who Ajani was.”
“Holy shit. I’ll let Carter know.”
“Joey doesn’t look the same, Jared. No hair, no eyebrows, totally devoid of any emotion. He called Sarah and me ‘dolls,’ and told me that he’s known as the ‘Collector.’”
“It’s okay, baby. Carter and his men will find Joey—and the man he works for,” he closes his eyes tightly, “and make them pay for what happened.”
“Okay… But I promise, I always took precautions to make sure I hid my identity and my location, or so I thought. At first—when we first got to Chicago—I only started posting content on TEASE because I heard I could make good money. I sold photos and videos of me, naked or half-naked, and doing… things.” I pause to see his reaction, to see if there’s disgust or judgment written on his face.
I see nothing but love and adoration. “And I never met up with any of the buyers, I swear…”
“I believe you.” Jared rubs soothing circles on my knees.
“But I haven’t posted anything since you and I got back together.”
“It’s okay. You did what you had to do.” His hands go to my face, holding me still, as he kisses me. Jared sucks on my bottom lip before releasing it. “I already knew, when you got taken. It was Mathew who gave you up.”
“What the fuck?”
“It’s a long story that we don’t have to talk about right now. Just know that you’re safe. And you don’t ever have to worry about money. I’ve got you, always.”
I start to laugh, nodding my head. “That’s the thing. I haven’t had to sell photos for a long time. I used the money I made, which was a good amount, and gave it to a financial guy Carter hooked me up with. I’m not hurting for money.”
He kisses my dried-up tears. “Good to know. Sounds like we’re both good then.”
“Oh, yeah?” I kiss the tip of his nose. “You wouldn’t have to cage fight anymore?”
“Uhm, no, actually. The inheritance I got from my grandpa went into stocks that did pretty well, so we’re set for life, Dimples. I only ever did the cage fighting gig as a release... and to find you, of course.”
“Wow.” I smile against his lips. “What will we do now?”
“Whatever we want.” Jared lifts me up, letting me straddle him.
“Wait, I don’t have any of my stuff. Purse, wallet, cell phone… Has Brittney been worried? Does she even know?”
Before I can continue to ramble on, Jared puts a finger to my lips.
“Beau told her you and Ajani went on a trip as a surprise getaway; no phones allowed. She doesn’t know a thing about what’s happened.”
I suck on his finger, then release it with a pop. “I love you, so fucking much.”
“I love you too, Dimples. Always and forever.” Jared grabs my wrist and kisses the inside of it.
Relaxing my back against the headboard, I look into those emerald green eyes. “It was Joey who sent me those sunflowers. He’d done other things too. But I never connected the dots.
“That motherfucker.” Jared stands up and goes to the side table, picks up his phone, and starts dialing someone.
I hear Beau’s voice answer.