Millie’s father would get involved without question if he knew that it was for me. I just wasn’t sure if I wanted him to. He skirted the law more than anyone that I knew, which was why my parents had never wanted me to be friends with Millie.
Carter frowned, and shook his head. “Let’s not involve parents unless we have to.” He took Millie’s hand to soften his words, which made me wonder just what he knew about her father. “I think I know how.” Carter paused. “Give me a day or two to work some things out.” He went silent while we waited for him to give us more, which he didn’t. He shook his head. “I’m not saying anything for now.”
Stryker nuzzled into my neck, and whispered, “I’ve been gone too long.” He kissed my ear and rested his forehead against the side of my head. “I don’t want to leave you, but, for now, I have to.”
My arms wrapped around his shoulders as I turned by body into him. “I know.”
Chapter 18 ~ Stryker
AFTER SNEAKING DOWN THE stairs of the apartment building, I ran through the back alley and came around to the street two blocks over. I continued jogging until I entered through the main doors of the building. With a quick wave to Andrea at the concierge desk, I kept my head down and entered the elevator. Using my keycard, I punched in my floor and knew that all hell was about to be unleashed when I entered my apartment.
My mind was constantly on Evie and what she made me feel. Crave. The attachment I had to her wasn’t going to go away, and I just wanted to be with her. Right now my hope was solely placed on Carter. I believed him when he said that he might have a way out even though it filled my stomach with nerves.
I wasn’t used to living outside of the wall that they’d built around me and had no idea about the technology around today. I remembered the old cell phone that my father had once given me. It was a flip cell and did nothing fancy other than to make calls or send text messages.
Money would be a problem because, walking away, I’d have nothing but the clothes on my back. The biggest prize of all would be Evie and she was worth everything.
The doors slid open and there, waiting for me was Roger and Earl, two of the regular security guards. Roger was okay and, on his own would always appear intimidated by me. Earl was different altogether and I knew he’d love to be in the ring with me.
“Let’s go. The boss is waiting for you. He’s already pissed as fuck that you disappeared.” Earl went to grab my arm when I didn’t budge, but for once, one look from me had him taking a step back.
I smirked, which angered him more. “I’m going, and I wasn’t exactly stopped from leaving the gym.”
Moving forward, I felt them right on my heels, but decided to behave for now, considering I had no idea who was in my apartment, and what they knew.
Patrick would be there especially after word got out that I’d left with Evie…and the bastard was with his bodyguard, Oliver.
My heart thundered in my chest, the blood pounded through my ears, partly with fear of not being in the position to defend Evie. I didn’t fear for me because I knew what I was capable of. I had a whole lot of fear for Evie if these bastards chose to go after her. Carter had promised to protect her when I’d left them in Millie’s apartment and I’d hold him to that.
The end of this life would soon be over and I only prayed as I walked toward Patrick that I’d survive to spend a new life with my woman.
“The wanderer returns, I see.” Patrick sneered, his anger close to the surface. “Where is my fiancée?”
My fists clenched of their own accord at my side while my jaw clenched together in anger, and jealousy. He didn’t have the right to use that title when discussing Evie. The only person I intended to use that was me. “She isn’t your fiancée anymore,” I ground out. “No wedding.”
A muscle twitched in Patrick’s cheek. “You don’t have any say in it, and from now on, you’ll stay away from her.”
“He’ll be kept away. Don’t worry, son.”
My body froze and all my senses went on alert.
That voice.
From that night.
My gut clenched as I slowly turned and found him standing in front of me, the man I presumed was the Irishman.
“You,” I hissed through clenched teeth, part in anger and part in total surprise.
I’d hoped to see him again. I had so many things planned in my head, but now having him standing in front of me, I couldn’t think of one.
“It’s been a long time, Jake. I think it’s about time that I introduced myself.” He sat on the sofa and directed me to do the same. “Declan Fitzwilliam, the Irishman.” He waited for something from me, but I guess he was disappointed. His jaw clenched before he visibly tried to relax. “You’re screwing things up for Patrick and, indirectly, me.”
I dropped onto the opposite sofa and tried not to let him see how rattled I was at seeing him.
“Why now? Why are you letting me know who you are?”
“Evie is going to marry Patrick, and you’re going to stay well out of it. I thought you might need a reminder of who owns you. For the past decade, you’ve been mine and you’ve behaved. Beautiful women have been given to you time and time again and you haven’t played…until now. Evie is special, and on the weekend she’s going to be a beautiful bride for my son.”
I bit back the growl that rose up my throat and kept my lips clamped together. For now, I wanted him to talk while it gave me a chance to work out just what was going on.
No way would Evie go ahead with the wedding. That I knew for certain. I also knew her father was a senator and, surely, he had ways to help his daughter get away from Patrick and his father.
“Still not got anything to say?” Declan glanced at Patrick who’d moved to stand over his father’s shoulder. “My son wants to know where his fiancée has disappeared to. Apparently she isn’t at her apartment, and her best friend gave up her last lease. So, where is she?”
Shock had worn off and anger thrummed through my blood again. He sat there and honestly believed I’d tell him where my girl was.
No way in hell.
Earl moved to Declan’s other shoulder, whispering in his ear. Declan’s face whipped around to stare at the man, and by the tightening of Declan’s face, it wasn’t good news.
I used his distraction to weigh my escape if things went sour. Earl was big, bigger than me, but I doubted he’d been trained as well as I had. He thought he could take me, but I knew that he couldn’t. I wasn’t sure I’d get past them all though. One on one yes, not all of them together.
“You’re going nowhere, Jake… Earl, call Greg and ask him to take two others to apartment 1908 and to bring the inhabitants up here.”
My heart dropped now that our place had been discovered, but Evie and the others were safe, thanks to Carter. They’d all left the building together and Carter had them with him.
“Will do.” Earl turned and made the call.
Patrick frowned. “Who’s in 1908?”
“Millie Michaels.” Declan sneered, anger behind his words.
Patrick hesitated, his eyes widened in surprised. “Millie Michaels? I thought she was Green. The same person right?”
“Whoever checked the lease for the apartments in this building didn’t do a very good job. Apparently, your fiancée’s best friend is Millie Cora Michaels, the daughter of Jordan Michaels. Her new apartment is under the name of CM Michaels. She switched her initials around.” Declan clenched his fists and stood to face his son. “You told me that a search had been done on anyone associated with Evie. Why didn’t I know this about Miss Michaels?” He growled. “Jordan Michaels isn’t anyone to piss with.”
Patrick looked like a fish out of water, his complexion a hell of a lot paler than it had been.
He was saved from answering his father when Greg walked in, alone.
“Spit it out,” Declan demanded.
Greg hesitated, and then found the balls from somewhere. “Empty. We used the passkey, and found nothing, but th
is.” He passed the note to Declan who scanned it.
“Fuck.” Declan turned back to me, his face was filled with fury and it was clear he struggled to control his temper. “They’ve ran to Jordan fucking Michaels,” he spat.
My surprise at his words was kept hidden, I hoped anyway. I knew they hadn’t gone to Millie’s father, but either way, where they had gone they’d be protected for as long as they didn’t discover Carter’s involvement. I sure as hell had no intention of telling them anything different.
Declan glared at me while I could see the wheels turning in his head. “The fight with Lethal Black will be this weekend, so we’ll get him to Chicago early. Make it happen, Patrick. I want everyone involved in this fight to be on the road by tomorrow morning.” He tapped his chin with his fingers and appeared to look through me. “Earl, in the morning,” he paused, “I want you to get Carter Stone when he turns up at the gym, and take him to Chicago with you.”
“Are you sure you just want to drag him off the street? Won’t it complicate things?” Patrick surprised the hell out of me with his question. Moments before, he’d seemed to cower when his father spoke.
Declan gave Patrick a glare of promised retribution before he turned to Earl. “I want you and Greg to stay inside until everyone leaves for Chicago.”
“Understood.”
Everyone just kissed the bastard’s ass, but I’d finally had enough of listening to his, “Bullshit.”
Yeah, I called it and had their attention.
“There are so many flaws with that plan.” I stood and breathed through the anger and the inner voice telling me to fight. “I’ll go to Chicago and fight, but there is no way that you’ll get Evie to go ahead with the wedding. Her father didn’t get to be a senator by being walked all over. And I’ve watched Carter at the gym. He’ll have friends outside of the gym. How are you going to explain his sudden disappearance?”
“He’s right about Carter,” Patrick backed me up. “Carter stood beside him when I cornered him in the gym earlier today…we need Carter’s address. The girls might be there with him. I’ve seen how he looks at Millie and she’s just as bad.”
Declan smiled and my heart fucking sank to my toes. “They went to Millie’s family.” I hoped they’d take the bait.
“Hmm. Maybe. Maybe not. Check out Carter’s place, and Patrick you try and get hold of Evie and tell her what we’ve planned.”
“What?”
What the hell were they talking about? Planned? Evie wouldn’t do anything they wanted. The only way she’d go through with it would be if she were forced. Blackmailed. My eyes snapped to his. No fucking way.
“I think Mr. Rivers has just realized how we plan to bring Evie to our way of thinking.” Declan smirked and moved toward the door. “No one leaves or enters until the morning when everyone does.”
Silence followed Declan and Patrick’s departure.
I seethed wanting to go after them. I needed to warn Carter but had no way of doing so, unless he realized once we’d partied ways that they might look at his place. I could only hope.
Not wanting the fuckers who were left behind to know how rattled I was, I went into the kitchen area. Opening the fridge, I grabbed my prepped meal along with some milk, water and fruit before heading into my bedroom where I slammed the door closed.
There was nowhere for me to go, but I knew that I wouldn’t get to go anywhere tonight. I was well and truly fucked.
I didn’t give a shit about me, but I’d give anything to protect Evie.
If Carter came to Chicago with us, then who the hell would be left to look after the girls? I prayed they’d go to Millie’s father who I now knew worried Declan.
I was angry.
Angry that they’d planned on getting to Carter my one and only friend.
Angry that I had no way of protecting Evie.
The only way I actually knew how to protect her was to stay away no matter how much it killed me, but I had a feeling that wasn’t an option now. Nothing I did while I was with them would help her. They’d use blackmail so that the wedding would go ahead, but who would they blackmail? Evie or her senator father?
I’d go with the senator, but I had a really bad feeling.
Evie
I HID MY TEARS from Stryker when we went our separate ways, but they flowed freely as Carter led Millie and me to his car. I also hadn’t missed the way he held onto Millie. My friend seemed hooked, which was a change. I just hoped it lasted because Carter seemed like a really nice guy, and I trusted him to help Stryker and, indirectly, me.
But as we raced through town to an apartment belonging to a friend of Carter’s, my brain worked overtime as to how I could help Stryker. I needed to be doing something instead of sitting on my bottom doing nothing. I also needed to be kept busy so that I wasn’t worrying about how he was being treated now that they knew the truth.
“I can hear you thinking from here, Evie.” Carter glanced into the backseat, briefly meeting my gaze before he turned back to watch the traffic. “You have to promise me that you’ll stay out of trouble and let me help Stryker.”
“I can’t promise you that. Not when I need to be doing something.”
“Why don’t we go to your parents’ place,” Millie suggested. “At least, that way, we won’t have to worry about cooking.”
Surprised, I chuckled. “You don’t fancy burnt pasta?” I replied, my voice full of amusement.
“Well, I can’t even make toast.” Millie fluttered her lashes at Carter. “But, if you’re going to be staying with us then I guess we could live on your omelets and other things.”
Shaking his head, Carter laughed. “You’d soon get sick of eating omelet.”
“I’d rather live on that than burnt pasta and toast,” Millie grumbled.
About to add more to the conversation, I had a sudden thought and shot up in my seat. Quickly scrabbling for my purse, I pulled out my laptop.
“What are you doing?” Millie turned in her seat to watch me.
“Peter Rivers is Stryker’s father. What if we managed to find him? I don’t know if it’s the right thing to do or even if he could do anything to help us. I’m clutching at straws but it has to be worth a try.”
I looked between them and sighed in relief that they were both on board with my idea.
“I have a wireless card in my computer so I can at least try to find something on Google.”
“Wait.” Carter pulled to the side of the road and left the engine idling. “Pass me your computer. I can get the information you want a lot quicker than you.”
He didn’t give me chance to pass it over as he took it.
“Right then.”
“Evie, I have access to places you don’t.” Carter turned the computer on his lap so neither Millie or me could see what he was doing. “Anyone have an idea as to how old his father is?”
“No. But Stryker’s twenty-four, so if he was born when his father was, I don’t know, around twenty maybe, then he’d be at least forty-four.”
“Okay. I have eight under fifty in the New York area. He could have moved, let his driving license laps or completely dropped off grid.” Carter watched me over the top of the computer screen.
“I know. Don’t get my hopes up. I don’t even know what to say or how he can help if we do find the right Peter.” I sat back and saw nothing but Stryker as I looked through the window.
“I think he’d help.” Carter focused on me. “At the last fight, he thought he saw his father in the crowd. It shook him up.”
“He didn’t say anything.” I bit my lip wondering why he hadn’t mentioned anything to me.
“A lot’s happened in the last twenty-four hours, Evie. Don’t think things that aren’t there please.”
“I won’t.”
He looked like he didn’t believe me.
“I promise, Carter. I love him.”
“I know.” He looked back to the computer. “I’ve narrowed it down to three. Let me cross check them
with something else.”
I stayed silent and stared at Millie who watched me closely.
She grabbed my knee. “Are you really okay?”
Tears gathered on my lashes, but I was determined to keep them from falling. “I will be.” I covered her hand with mine.
“Well, one has been in prison for four years so it can’t be him if he was at the fight. Another one lives miles outside of town, but the one remaining lives in a nice neighborhood, about fifteen minutes from here and he’s forty-seven. Let me check if anything was ever filed for Jake Rivers, and we have…a missing person report.” Carter read and did a few more clicks, and then, “Bingo,” burst from his lips. “The date of birth that Peter Rivers gave as his when he filled the missing person report for Jake matches the guy who lives close…in the end Jake was filed as a runaway.”
“Wow. That’s sad.” I sat back stunned. “How’d you find all that out?”
“I’m not just a pretty face.” Carter gave us both a smug look, and laughed before he pulled out into traffic. “Let’s go and visit Peter Rivers and find out how he can help his son.” He clenched his teeth in anger.
Millie glanced at me before concentrating on her man. She rested her hand on his thigh, and I smiled when he intertwined his fingers through hers.
They stayed like that until we entered the residential neighborhood that Carter had found. My nerves got the better of me and I chewed on my bottom lip wondering whether or not it was Stryker’s father that he’d found.
The houses that I looked at from the car window would have a nice price tag to them, which begged the question as to why would he have sold his son if he owned such a large house. I knew a lot could change in ten years, but still.
A well-maintained lawn with a large SUV parked alongside the house. Carter navigated their car onto the driveway beside the SUV, bringing it to a stop. The engine idled while we looked at the impressive house.
It was built of red brick with a dark wooden front door and matching window frames. Flower planters covered the bottom of the windowsills, which gave the property a welcoming feel. While I admired the outside a curtain twitched to the left of the front door. I couldn’t make anyone out, but I knew we were being watched.
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