Chapter Eighty-Four
TYLER
Checking my phone to see she hasn’t texted back, I pull up the feed and see her passed out in our bed.
She’s on her back, curls sprawled across the pillow, arms above her head. And I’m pretty sure I even see a little drool on the side of her chin.
I fucking love that girl.
When I go to check the cameras at her apartment, I’m alerted by Cole’s text that the guys are here.
I make my way to the hallway, gun in hand, walking down with the guys behind me, assigning them to each room, guiding them and giving commands.
They all kick in the doors, and I watch on the feed, the cameras going back and forth to each room in different parts of the hotel. The chaos unravels as girls scream and men yell unhappily.
My men drag the girls out of the rooms to the ones I have booked for them. Some of them are half naked. Some of them are almost completely knocked out. It makes something flip in my stomach and rage burns me from the inside out.
They finally bring all the girls to the room I have for them. Half are shaking scared while the other half are barely coherent from the drugs.
I run a hand over my tired face. It’s three in the morning and I need sleep.
“Okay, you have two choices. Get out and go home or stay. I want you to know the option for freedom is here. You need to decide. You have until tomorrow morning to make your choice so I can get you all out of here before someone comes looking for you.” They all look at me like deer in the headlights.
How did I get myself into this shit?
“The choice is yours. My guys will be here all night to make sure you are safe. Get some sleep. Think about it. Then let us know. You each already have a new name and life assigned to you if you choose to leave this one. Katerina, you’re staying.
I’ll be returning you to your father in the morning. ”
“Kitty is leaving?” A girl asks.
“She doesn’t get the choice,” I affirm.
I start to walk out of the room when stopped in my tracks by a soft voice. “Thank you,” I hear Katerina say.
I’ve probably stuck my head in places I shouldn’t have too many times.
I’ve probably taken on too many jobs doing this just to tell myself I’m somehow doing some good despite the man I work under.
Despite the bad that I have done. But either way, it all makes up for it when I know I’ve at least made someone safe.
I could’ve said no to her. I could’ve told her she had no choice. I could’ve handcuffed her to the bed until I could return her to her father without batting an eye for the others.
But no. I had to do this.
Going to my room, I strip my clothes off from my body and lay in my bed. I pull up the feed of my cameras in my bedroom that gives me a side view as if I’d be lying right next to my girl.
She’s sleeping on her side and stomach, arms under the pillow, face buried in it. A smile curves my mouth despite the ache that wraps around my ribs.
I place the phone propped up as if she’s lying next to me and imagine myself in bed with her. One night, I can’t even go one night without her. How the hell am I supposed to watch her leave?
I take a deep breath in. Within hours, the previous identities of the girls are wiped off the face of existence and replaced with new ones. All on their consent.
That’s why I can’t do it with Sunny. Because she has a life she intends to live. And I can’t take that from her, not when Ryan has already done it once. I won’t be that man.
“I love you, Sunny,” I say as I close my eyes and go to sleep, wishing it’s right next to her.
By the morning, five out of the seven women decide to take our offer and move on with a new life, leaving behind everything and everyone they know. Another decides to continue her life, but out of this lifestyle of being a high-end escort. The other went back to this life.
I won’t judge. I don’t know her life. All I know is she was given an out, and this life seems more secure than that for her.
I end up being summoned by Mitchell to meet in the conference room again. When I walk in, I’m greeted by all six other men sitting around the table, stewing in the aroma of cigars and bourbon. Scowls are present on their faces as their eyes narrow on me.
Good.
“Nice of you to join us, Tyler.” Mitchell stands with a glass of bourbon in his hand.
“What can I do for you gentlemen?” I place my hands in my pockets.
“You interfered with my night away, Caddell,” Nixon says as he takes a drag from his cigar.
I turn my head to him, giving him nothing. “And I’d gladly do it again. I’m sure your wife will appreciate the favor.”
“Easy, guys.” Mitchell takes a seat, motioning for me to sit down.
“I’d rather stand.”
“You all only got a glimpse of what my Tyler can do.” Mitchell starts.
“My boy.” Mitchell grins. “We are in a kill or be killed world. And he, gentlemen, is a trained killer. You have a hit you want done, my boy here will get it done for you. You want a system breached, he will hack it within minutes. Anything you want can be done through us. The Caddell Company.”
There it is. The ulterior motive has finally been revealed. The puppeteer tugged at my strings he stitched in my skin and I fucking moved on his command.
Rage pricks at my skin and wraps around my ribs. With an exhale, I rub a hand down my face to try and blow off the smoke of the flames kindling inside me. He used helpless women for a power trip.
“He just proved to you all a fraction of his capabilities. His split-second decisions, the way he so easily hacked the hotel system and cameras, got men here, and saved those girls to then give them completely new identities so they can go about their merry fucking lives.” He shakes his head with a sadistic smile.
“A saint, a savior, but a fucking lethal predator. He’s trained for this.
Which means he’s trained to make these things happen for you, too.
Imagine, he did that all in a span of a few hours.
On a split-second decision. Think about what he can accomplish with detailed planning and precision for you. ”
They all look to one another, then to me, contemplating in silent communication as Mitchell goes on selling me like a fucking prize to win if they join our company.
“So, you see now what he can do for nobodies. Let’s see what he can do for somebodies. He will not only protect our empire, but yours too. You each can give me one hit you want to complete. We will get it done.”
We. Meaning me.
Feeling my jaw clench, I roll my neck to try and workout the tension. He’s always a fucking step ahead.
“Not only that, but I have you out of Lannister’s grasp.
See, the girl sent to Tyler’s door is Lannister’s daughter.
She was kidnapped and trafficked. And my boy Tyler here saved her and is ready to serve her up on a silver platter to Lannister in exchange for you to be free of your contracts.
The rest, well, he was just showing off.
Showing you what he can do for you when you become a part of us. ” He shrugs as he puffs his cigar.
“Well played, Mitchell. I have to give it to you, that was a good plan.” Another one of the men says, Greg, who’s a Judge.
“And this will work?” Daniel asks skeptically.
“It always works. If it doesn’t, we will find another way. But how can Lannister say no when we have his baby girl.” Mitchell shrugs, as if he’ll be the one putting in the hours of work it will take.
As if Katerina is a fucking piece to be tossed around.
All the men shake hands with me and Mitchell and exit the room to let me get to work.
“You fucking used me. Used my skills and knowledge as leverage. The skills and knowledge I had to learn to survive this world you forced me into. You used a vulnerable girl,” I growl.
“Oh please, Tyler. Don’t act like you aren’t using it to your advantage, either.
It’s what you do. It’s why we have all the investments and contracts we do.
You know the job. It isn’t always pretty.
Sometimes all it is, is a contract. Sometimes it’s someone’s head on a platter to secure that contract.
I cleaned up the mess you made. You pissed off each of those men and I had to find a way to morph it to work out in our favor and I did. You should be thanking me.”
I let out a snarl, angry at the fact there is truth in his words.
“That’s what I thought.” He takes the bourbon decanter and pours another glass.
“And those women?” I ask.
“A bunch of whores. See, I did a good thing. They have better lives now because of this whole plan.” He sits down, looking smug.
I shake my head. “Why didn’t you just give me the assignment like normal instead of all this bullshit?”
“Because they needed to see you caught off guard and doing your best work to gain their trust. I’m asking all of them to sever their loyalty to a huge company. They needed raw, real proof of your capabilities.”
No other words are shared between us when I exit the room. After hours of working out severing their contracts, I have our guys bring Katerina home safely.
I spend the next few hours creating our own contracts for these bastards, damning myself for even creating ties with men like this in the first place.
We’ll spend one more night here to celebrate and solidify our win with each of the men. Making sure there are absolutely no loopholes for them to leave without crumbling their own empires. That’s all this is. Modern day kingdoms run by stupid foolish kings in suits.
After I do research on their hit requests, I finally make it back to my room and lay on my bed, finally looking at the thread with Sunny. And I wonder if that’s what it’ll be like when she leaves. If she will even let me live in this thread with her or shut me out entirely.
It feels weird being apart.
The words make me smile. Because it means she’s realizing how empty a life apart will be. Maybe it will make her realize she needs to stay.
Just stay with me, Sunny.
It is, isn’t it? I’ll be home tomorrow. I don’t think I can handle another day apart.
I shoot my text to her.
That’s when I realize, I don’t want to spend another minute away from her. I send Mitchell a text, telling him I’ll finalize the contracts from Boston and email them to him to have the men sign.
I don’t care if it pisses them off. I’m going home to my girl. I don’t want more time stolen from us.