Chapter 21

I've had a crash course in Assurance Security and the Cavanaugh family. All I needed was a few basic details, and all other pertinent information spiraled from there.

The only saving grace in my current situation is the favor I've held on to for the last ten years. My cousin Bless was true to her word, at least, according to the chatter I've picked up from outside sources.

As a result, I should have her brother—my other cousin—in my possession by tomorrow morning. It wasn't even a question of if it was time to call in that favor.

Braxton will be a viable bargaining chip. He's close enough to the top to have full knowledge of what my family plans to do and which pies they have their hands in, but also not important enough to initiate an all-out war over getting him back.

If Assurance Security is keen on taking down the families still participating in the skin trade, he'll be a vital asset.

I have no qualms with their mission, and he's the perfect swap for Laken.

If her sister had just come to me initially, we could have avoided all of this. Paying outright for their services wouldn't have been a problem, but I still don't know what occurred that made them reticent to release her.

My eyes fall on Will.

He's bound and gagged, but that's mostly for his own safety. If he says the wrong thing, I'm likely to snap and break his neck.

I intend to toss him in as a bonus incentive to whoever I can arrange a meeting with at Assurance Security.

After all, he's been in communication with my family. He'll have his own knowledge base from attempting to do business with them.

I'd also like to be done with his sniveling ass, and pawning him off on anyone who can use him seems like a fitting end to our partnership.

I toss myself down on the hotel bed.

This area of Virginia is unfamiliar. I'll continue to feel unsettled until I have Braxton in my possession and reinforcements at my side.

I left Chicago with five men I trust, but that won't be enough to go to war with the mercenary group. Truthfully, I hope it won't come to that, but in case it does, Bless will have bodies at her side to back us up.

Adding them to the mix means we might just have a chance if things go south.

I sigh heavily, preparing for another long night of worrying constantly. Even that is preferable to the nightmares that come when I do fall asleep.

All I can hope is that the men of Assurance Security are more honorable than the Andrettis. It's terrifying to comprehend what Laken's fate could have been if they didn't intercede.

Replaying the memories of the nights I snuck in to watch over her as she slept has kept me from going completely feral, but Laken is far too trusting for her own good.

After all, she gave me ongoing consent to fuck her awake until she chooses to revoke the permission.

I'm not a righteous man.

I may not have gone quite that far, but I have definitely taken advantage of that particular sanction on occasion. She's a deep sleeper and very cuddly, which didn't help my obsession in the least.

I did try to warn her to be careful of what liberties she allowed me. It might be questionable, considering she no longer remembers giving me consent.

And yet, I couldn't stop myself if I tried.

It was a pleasant middle ground to be able to watch her while she slept and hold her to my chest on occasion while I got my house in order.

My god.

I need her to be safe and with me. I will fall to my fucking knees and beg her forgiveness for not protecting her the first time around. However, I've more than learned from my mistakes.

Once she's at my side, I won't let her out of my sight.