Chapter 104

* Ryder *

Good, she’s finally relaxed. We sat on the couch in her New York Highrise, looking out at the city skyline at night. She’s been a bit tense the last couple of days leading up to the first show, which is normal, but there was an added nervousness that she was trying to hide from me.

I could take a wild guess at what was going on in her mind, but there really wasn’t anything I could do to ease her fears since I, too, was a bit on edge. If this was just about us reconnecting with our fans it would be a breeze, but knowing what I now do about what goes on behind the scenes, it’s kind of hard to just ignore it. This was just one more reason to hate my ex.

“You expecting someone?” We both looked at the door as the bell rang a second time. I got up to answer, thinking maybe it was one of the men Lyon had protected us since it had been a while since they checked in, but I was surprised to see the man himself standing there.

“Lyon, you’re here. I didn’t expect to see you until we reached the venue.”

“Ah, yeah, I thought I should come by and make sure you two were doing okay. You ready for this?”

“As ready as we can be, I guess. I guess you know that Elena found out what’s going on from Janie. About the trafficking thing, I mean.” He followed me back into the room, where she stood to greet us.

“I’m aware, yes, that’s why I’m here, to put your minds at ease. My guys said you’ve been a bit stressed.”

“Oh? How so? I mean about putting our minds at ease.” Elena asked. She finally showed some of the worry she’s been carrying around for the last few days.

I guess Lyon has that effect on people. On the one hand, he reminds me of that saying that serving an emperor is like being close to a tiger, and on the other, he has this way of putting you at ease with his presence alone.

“No one is going to go missing, for starters. I’ll have men covering everything as well as enough security to ensure that doesn’t happen.”

“But how? There will be so many people there.”

“They know what to look for. Not to mention, there’s going to be face recognition employed, so everyone going in and out of that place will be recorded.”

I knew he was holding back information, but I didn’t bother asking him, not in front of her, though I, too, was very relieved by what he had to say. I didn’t realize how much I myself had been stressing over the thought of people being taken while I was performing until I felt my body at ease.

There was so much on our plate the last few weeks that this had taken kind of a backseat, I hate to say, but now it was front and center and there was no way to ignore my part in it or the guilt that brings. Me personally, I would like to out everyone involved, though most of them were either dead or in jail.

Matt, I still had no idea where he was, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Lyon might, or at the very least, his daughter does. It’s all I’ve been able to think about these last few days while getting ready for the show. The fact that all of this happened right under my nose, and I had no clue.

I’ve had moments of feeling selfish, especially where Elena was concerned, but on some level, this whole trafficking situation kind of opened my eyes even more to the fact that I was a selfish prick all these years, even long before I almost fucked my life away for good with that marriage.

Now that the dust had settled somewhat, I had nothing but time to think, and I can’t say that I liked myself very much, not the person I had become. But in thinking that way, it led me to want to be a better man for her and for me. I want to be someone she can be proud of, someone she looks forward to spending the rest of her life with.

I haven’t touched a drug in months now and am all the better for it, and knowing how against it she just makes me work harder not to slide back into that way of life again. Don’t get me wrong, some days I look back on my life and the way I used to be and wonder what the hell I was thinking.

All of my memories before the wedding fiasco are of her and me together, but now I see those times in a different light, and it scares me half to death how close I came to losing her for good. I wish like hell that I could erase those years without her and make them disappear for her as well, but that’s not going to happen, so I can only promise to do better going forward.

Now that I had worked on my personal life and was somewhat on firmer ground, this was the last thing I had to deal with from my past. The last thing I needed to get right before I could truly move on.

Elena had mentioned us doing something for the victims that had already been found along with the money I had already offered, she wanted to do more. I knew she would that this was just the sort of thing she likes to sink her teeth into, but I also saw the toll it was having on her.

So, the fact that Lyon came all the way here like this, days before the concert was supposed to go on, raised my opinion of him even higher. It’s like he knew what we were thinking and feeling without being told, and I wish I’d have met him long before my life went to shit.

Sometimes, I find it hard to believe that his kid was the one who had set this whole thing in motion from beginning to end. It was she and her friends who had sent the Saunders kid to me in the first place, all because she liked Elena and wanted to see us back together. I still have yet to think of a gift good enough to thank her.

“Like I said, I just wanted to put your minds at ease, and I hope this helps. While you’re on stage, I don’t want you to act any differently than you’re accustomed to. The night is about the two of you and your fans; leave the worrying to me and my guys, okay.”

“Yeah, but how? It’s all I think about, all I’ve been able to think about for the last few days.” I reached over and grabbed her nape gently to offer comfort. He wouldn’t understand because he doesn’t know her that well, but I know my girl and I know that no amount of words were going to stop her from worrying. That’s why Janie had done it. Her last fuck you, I guess. At least, I hope it’s the last one.

“I understand, that’s why I’m here. I know telling you not to worry isn’t going to stop you from doing just that. I just want to put your mind at ease with the fact that for at least the nights you’re on stage, nothing is going to happen. The truth is, you’re just a cover.”

“Come again.” This was new to me as well, and we both sat forward to hear what he had to say.

“I’m not going to tell you everything; just know that this concert has nothing to do with your side of things. The people who were using your concerts have pretty much been taken care of. But there were others, which is too much to get into right now. Just know that your concert is not going to be used like that again.”

Again, he was saying a lot without saying much, which I’ve come to realize is his way. “Okay, for some reason, I trust you; plus, Ryder seems to think you’re some kind of superhero, so I guess I’ll have to take your word for it that everything is going to work out fine. Anything I can do, we can do, please let us know.”

“You’re doing it already, and thanks for agreeing to do it in the first place.”

“What about the girls you’ve rescued? Where are they? What’s going to happen to them? Should we be doing something for them? Besides money, I mean. I’m sorry, I’ve been reading up on this trafficking stuff lately, and there doesn’t seem to be a lot of information about how to help the victims get back to a normal life.”

“We’ve got that taken care of. We have a facility with medical personnel and other professionals who help them make the transition no matter how long it takes.”

“Should we donate the proceeds from the concert? Will that help? I think we should.”

“Honestly, we don’t need the money, but if you want to add it to what Ryder has already offered to give directly to the victims, that can be done.”

“Yes, I’d like that, and anything else you can think of that we can do just let us know, please.”

“I will, and thanks. So, you two good now? No more worrying? We don’t want to tip off anyone that we know what’s been going on at your concerts. As I said, most of them have been detained already, but there are still some players at large. We don’t expect them to make a move, not with their people being apprehended; they’ll lay low for a while at least.”

“Is there something bothering you, Lyon?”

“Why do you say that?”

“I don’t know. You seem a little bit distracted.”

“Nah, I’m good. I just wanna make sure everything goes as smoothly as we’ve planned.” I couldn’t put my finger on it, and I mean, I don’t know him that well or for that long, but there was definitely something on his mind.

***

* Lyon *

I must be slipping if even this kid who barely knew me could see under my guard, but he’s right; there is something on my mind. I have no idea what my daughter is up to. If I’d taught her the shit she knows, this would be a case of the pupil surpassing the teacher, but I didn’t teach her shit.

I’d come here only to put these people’s minds at ease, hers especially, because no matter what some new age hack preaches, women are always worrying about shit. Not that men don’t worry as well; we just do it in a whole different way to our women.

Once I realized what Mengele was up to, though, I thought the least I could do was put these two out of their misery. It had gone completely over my head; the fact that the people who were part of the ring that used his concerts to snatch kids had all been taken care of, at least the stateside ones anyway.

I believed her when she floated the idea of the concert as a way for these two to reintroduce themselves as a couple, though I could care less. But now I know that she’d set up a sting operation in such a way that I didn’t see coming.

That fucking kid scares me. The fact that she could hold a grudge is nothing new; she’s been doing that shit since birth. But I had no idea that she was going after the people who had been after her sister when she was younger. Her mind is on some whole other shit that not even I can understand.

Now I feel like just another pawn in her damn schemes, and I’m floundering to catch up. I’m not sure what the hell she’s up to now after asking to attend the concert. I’d like to believe it was just a young girl’s interest in two pop stars or whatever the hell they call themselves these days, but I know better. My kid is up to some shit.