15. Phoenix

15

PHOENIX

T illy is now irreversibly mine. No one will come looking for her. I ensured that.

My plan was intricate, but it worked. I got the records switched at the morgue, a simple hack into their system. Now, they believe Tilly Jane Lawson’s body was charred beyond recognition in a car accident. Her DNA “matched” that of the victim. What people will believe when presented with “scientific evidence.”

I admit, a part of me feels guilty for causing her loved ones pain. But it was necessary. They’ll move on; people always do. And Tilly will be forever mine.

I watch Tilly as she sleeps, her chest rising and falling gently. We’ve been moving for days, and the trailer has finally stopped. We’ve reached our next destination, a new state, a fresh start.

I knew this trip would be ideal. It’s far enough that no one will recognize her, and the distance provides the perfect opportunity for Tilly to adapt to our new reality. She needs time to accept what I’ve done and why. Time to understand that there’s no going back to her old life.

Tyson thinks I’ve been working in the trailer during the trip, taking advantage of the rare opportunity to have my tech haven to myself as we traveled. Usually, we’d take the carnival bus when moving on, but this time, I had a different plan.

I glance at Tilly, admiring her beauty and innocence. Soon, she’ll wake, and I’ll ween her off the drugs that have been keeping her sedated and calm for the trip.

For now, I’ll let her sleep, enjoying the peace of this moment before the storm. I know the coming days will be a whirlwind of emotions as she grapples with her new reality. But in the end, she’ll see that everything I did was for us.

Stepping out of the trailer, I admire the new scenery. We’re surrounded by lush greenery, with towering trees blocking the harsh sunlight and providing a sense of seclusion.

I double-check the window and door locks, ensuring everything is secure. Tilly is safe inside, and I’ll keep her that way.

My phone buzzes, signaling a message from Tyson. It’s time to meet and discuss our distribution plan for this state. He also wants an update on the two men we took care of.

I set out toward the designated meeting spot, a secluded area on the outskirts of the carnival. Along the way, I reflect on the steps I took to squash any rumors about those men’s deaths. It took some clever manipulation on the dark web. Still, I managed to make their deaths seem like an accident, with no traces leading back to us.

As I approach, I see Tyson leaning against a tree, his muscular frame relaxed but alert. He greets me with a nod.

“Good work with those guys,” he says. “Any rumblings on the web?”

“None. The accidental fire story is sticking. No leads, no suspicions.”

Tyson grins. “Always a step ahead, Phoenix. Now, let’s talk distribution. We’ve got a sweet deal set up with a local contact. We’ll need to lay low until the shipment arrives. In the meantime, keep an eye out for anything suspicious. We don’t want any unexpected complications again.”

“Don’t worry, I’m on it,” I assure him. He trusts me to handle the tech side of our operations, and I won’t let him down, even though my mind is elsewhere. Tilly is my secret project. My obsession. But Ty doesn’t need to know about her.

Thinking about Tilly brings a smile to my face. My captive princess, sleeping peacefully in my trailer. She’s safe, away from the world, and all mine. I can’t wait to wake her up and see her eyes sparkle as she realizes the truth of her new reality. It’s just a matter of time before she accepts that she’s mine forever.

“Oi, Phoenix.” Tyson’s voice snaps me back to the present. “You good?”

I nod, my focus returning. “Yeah, just eager to get this distribution plan rolling. The quieter we keep things, the better. I’ll make sure our digital tracks are non-existent.”

“That’s my man.” Ty slaps me on the back, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “Now, about those guys we dealt with. I want to make sure there are no loose ends. We can’t have any surprises popping up later.”

“I’ve got my eyes and ears open. Nothing’s slipping past me. Our little empire will remain unnoticed.”

He grins, his enthusiasm matching mine. “Exactly. We’re building something here, Phoenix. Something big. And our tech wiz is a key player.”

Tilly may be my primary focus, but I can’t disappoint Ty. He’s counting on me. We’re building something that will leave our mark on this world.

As we step further into the shadows of the carnival, I feel a surge of adrenaline. This is my element—the hidden underworld I command with my tech skills. Tilly is my obsession, but my partnership with Ty fuels my desire for control. We’ll rule this hidden empire together, leaving a trail of secrets in our wake.