Chapter Eighty-Two
TYLER
I know what Mitchell was doing when he told me I needed to go on a trip with him. It’s a business trip, but more importantly it’s to get me away from my final days with Sunny.
I send a text to Sunny letting her know we’re taking off, hoping it’ll be a quick turnaround.
I’m sure Mitchell will try to do anything to keep me gone as long as possible.
He knows Sunny’s days are being etched off rapidly.
He’s trying to distract me. And he knows exactly what he is trying to distract me from.
We’re meeting with a group of men, planning a way to release them of their obligations of another company so they can partner with ours and become new board members in our California location. It’ll most likely end up in a hit.
These trips always come with surprises for me. It’s like Mitchell tries to keep me on my toes, make sure my skills stay sharp.
Sunny is leaving in just two weeks, and now I’m most likely going to have a week taken from us.
My phone buzzes in my lap as I watch the private jet start to take off. Looking at my phone, my smile widens when I read her text.
Just get home soon and safely.
I’ll try my best, Sunny.
We landed in Los Angeles within a few hours. I hate this place. From the smog to the people.
The McAllisters secured us their best rooms for the trip, as they always do.
Business with them was one of our best investments yet, considering we always have a place to stay with the advantage of being able to do whatever we want during those stays.
The perks of having lifelong friends in the hotel business with empires across the world.
We all traveled from around the country to be here for this meeting. They will meet with our team here. This is where these guys' other investors are located.
We’ll spend the week examining their contracts, the company, the owner. Learn his ways, learn the company ways, then take it down from the inside. It’s a simple task, and I’m ready to get it over with so I can go back home to my girl.
A couple hours later, I find myself sitting in a business office of the hotel reserved just for people like us. The room is filled with six other men. All around the same age as Mitchell except for one. He’s maybe in his forties.
They all wear expensive suits and hold expensive cigars in their hands with glasses of expensive bourbon sitting next to them.
The decanter sits in the middle of the circular table as they pass it around, talking shit about their wives, their mistresses, their children, their companies.
I never get involved. I just observe.
I don’t really drink, and I sure as shit don’t smoke. Anything can happen in a meeting like this. Especially in a room full of men on a power trip.
They’re all discussing avenues and ways to get the man to release them of their contracts so they can join our company.
“We could steal his bitch,” Daniel, the CEO of an insurance company chimes in.
“No,” I say coldly.
They all look at me, because it’s the first word I’ve said.
“Well, you’ve been so silent over there, Tyler. Why chime in now?” he asks, leaning back in his seat, taking a drag from his third cigar.
“We don’t involve innocent people.” I meet his stare with a lethal calm. “It’s simple, we find a loophole in your contracts, if we can’t see an out there, we force him to make one. And I’ll be glad to do it.” If it means getting me back to Boston with Sunny, then so be it.
Mitchell’s eyes pan over to me. I can’t tell what he’s thinking, but I at least know it isn’t disappointment.
“I mean, if you’re offering,” Nixon, the owner of a finance firm quips.
“I just want to get this done.” I cross my arms over my chest.
“Why? You don’t enjoy the thrill? The power? The hunt?” Daniel asks.
“Tell me what to do and I’ll do it. Have a goodnight, gentlemen,” I say, standing from my seat.
Walking out, I hear the men mumbling, but I honestly don’t have the patience or care to listen to what they say. I have a job to do, and I just want to get it done so I can go back home to the things I actually care about. I’m too distracted here already.
I pull my phone out to see a text from Sunny. God I fucking miss her, and it’s only my second day away.
Wearing your t-shirt and only that t-shirt.
The things I would do to be home with you right now. The things I would do to you if I were home right now.
I respond.
I’m missing out on valuable time with her.
I pull my suit jacket off, unbutton my shirt, and peel it off.
I pull off the undershirt, readying myself for a shower while I think about my girl at home, in bed, wearing my t-shirt and nothing else.
My phone buzzes on the table while I continue undressing.
Too bad you aren’t home. Guess I’ll have to take matters into my own hands.
Absolutely the fuck not.
You know the rules, Sunny. If you break them, you’ll be punished.
Just the idea of doing that gets me going. She’s mine. All fucking mine.
And what might that punishment entail?
Oh, I can think of a few ways, little fire.
Sitting on the bed, my thoughts and text are interrupted by a knock on the door. I place my phone back on the nightstand and pull a gun from the drawer.
I look through the peephole to see a woman with bleach blonde hair wearing something that’s hardly considered a dress. Her heels are so tall I’m surprised she’s able to stand at all. Her eyes are heavy, like she’s either been drinking or taking drugs.
Is there a fucking escort at my door?
I open the door. “Can I help you?”
“I was sent here by Mr. Caddell. He says you have some stress I need to ease.” She traces a finger over my bare chest.
I immediately grab that wrist, stopping the contact.
I may have to participate in the fucking game this society plays, but there’s one thing I will always be honest about in who I am.
I’ll never, absolutely never, participate in the skin trade.
I’ll never hurt a woman. I’ll never take advantage of a woman. Mitchell knows that.
Her eyes are glazed, and she stumbles into me. I grab her by the chin to make her look at me. “Who did this to you?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Who did this to you?” I growl.
“Mr. Caddell and all those other men. They called our service and made us take something to assist us in your needs.” She meets my eyes.
Fuck.
I don’t want to have to deal with this. I just want to go in and out of this trip. But clearly there is an ulterior motive to this escort at my door, and I need to figure out why.
It’s a test, an assignment, and I’m going to fail.
What is he trying to accomplish right now?
Is this girl someone important? Or is someone she works with important?
There’s a fucking reason he sent her specifically to my door.
And I’m going to find out why. There is always a reason behind his actions.
“Get inside.” I grab her by the upper arm and drag her in my room, setting her in the seat at the table. She looks up at me with wide eyes.
“How many others are here?” I ask, kneeling in front of her.
“Seven,” she breathes.
Fuck. Seven others I have to go hunt down.
“Do you want out?” I ask her. There’s no point in saving someone who doesn’t want to be saved. No point in wasting my resources, time, and energy and taking it away from other important things I have if she will go crawling back to this lifestyle.
“What?”
“It’s not a trick question. Do you want out of this life?”
I watch the slow roll of her throat as she contemplates.
“Listen, I am not like those bastards. I’m offering you an out. I need you to want it and give me the okay if you do.”
Her lip quivers with a nod as a small sob escapes her. “But not without the others.”
“Okay.” I nod. “Now tell me where the others are.”