Chapter 12 #2
“Somewhat. It had names, amounts, services requested. Everything documented." There was something dark in his voice. "Some of those names you'll recognize."
“Correct.” I let that word carry all the weight it needed to. "Thomas is making a copy. You'll receive one soon.”
"What do you want us to do with them?" Alastair's quieter voice joined the channel.
"I want every name on that list erased." I made it clear and simple; there was no room for misunderstanding. "Every client, every facilitator, every person who paid to hurt those women. I want them dealt with permanently."
Silence on the other end. Then Kyan spoke up. “That's a lot of names. It could take a while.”
"Then you'll have a while of work." I paused to let the next words carry their full weight. "Do this, complete the entire list, and I'll accelerate your enrollment to Dominion Hall to this fall instead of next year."
Their sharp intake of breath told me I'd hit exactly the right nerve.
Dominion Hall was an exclusive and elite academy that opened doors and created opportunities most people couldn't imagine.
Kyan and Alastair had been on the waiting list for two years, and I'd just offered to cut that time in half.
"We'll start immediately," Alastair declared, his voice carrying absolute certainty. "Every name. You have our word."
"I know I do." I smiled slightly, satisfied. "Good work tonight, both of you. Get some rest, then begin as soon as you have the copy.”
I closed the channel and turned back to the monitors. The extraction had been flawless. Nineteen women were now secured without a single injury to any of them.
This is what I was good at. What I'd built over decades—teams that operated with perfect efficiency, operations that ran like clockwork, problems that disappeared before they became complications.
Everything in my world worked exactly as I designed it to work, because I accepted nothing less than perfection. And tonight had been another demonstration of that.
I glanced at the iPad, at Marie still sleeping peacefully in my bed. Sunrise was painting the room now, catching in her dark hair spread across my pillows.
Soon, the brave girl who’d corrected my coffee-kiss and demanded I let her see the ocean would come back, and I’d be waiting.
She'd wake to the news that everything had gone perfectly. That the girls were safe, that justice was being served, and that she could finally let go of the guilt she'd been carrying. She’d be angry at first, but it would be manageable.
"Teams are returning to base," Thomas reported, closing down various feeds. "Medical confirms the women are stable and receiving care. No serious injuries, though several will need extended treatment for malnutrition and trauma."
"Keep me updated on their progress." I wanted details so I could tell Marie with certainty that they were safe. "Arrange for family notifications to go out with their permission. I want those women talking to their loved ones as soon as possible."
"Already scheduled." Thomas made more notes. "What about Ms. Rivers? When do you want to take her to see them?"
I considered the question, thinking about Marie's guilt and her need to prove she'd done something good. "This afternoon. It will give the women time to stabilize and understand they're truly safe. Then Marie can see them and hear directly how much she helped them survive."
Maybe then she'd start to believe she deserved to be saved too, and I’d get to see more of her without that shadow of guilt.
"The facility will be prepared for her visit," Thomas confirmed. "I'll have everything arranged."
"Good." I stood, stretching muscles that had been tense for hours. The operation was complete, my teams were safe, and Marie would wake up to the best news she'd had in five years. Everything had gone according to plan.
Perfect, as always.
I took one more look at the monitors, which showed the now-empty underground structure at The Orion, the teams returning home, and the women being cared for in the medical facility. Satisfaction settled in my chest from using my power and resources to create the outcome I wanted.
This was what I was built for, what I excelled at, and Marie was about to learn what it meant to have Wade Easton on her side.
"I'm going to sleep,” I told Thomas, already heading for the door. "Call me if anything needs my attention."
"Yes, sir." Thomas was already organizing the ledger copy, efficient as always. "Congratulations on another successful operation."
"Thank you." I paused at the door, looking back at the monitors one more time. "This one mattered more than most."
Thomas smiled slightly, understanding exactly what I meant. "She's lucky to have found you."
"I'm the lucky one." And I meant it. So many years of living exactly as I pleased, and Marie Rivers had crashed into my life and made everything else feel meaningless in comparison.
I climbed the stairs to my bedroom, pushing open the door quietly. Dawn light now filled the room, softening everything to a golden hue. Marie was where I'd left her, curled in my sheets, breathing deep and even.
Everything she'd hoped for had come true, the girls were safe, and she would be mine to protect.