“What’s the plan?” Millie asked, breaking the silence having focused on the twitching curtain.
“Let’s just see what happens.” I opened the door and jumped out.
I needed to do this for Stryker.
He wouldn’t talk about his father, but my heart wanted to believe that there was something more going on back then because the thought of his father just handing him over to Declan was wrong on so many levels, and it hurt.
“Show time?” Carter fell into line beside me.
“This has to work out. It has to, Carter.” I watched as he rang the bell, followed by a couple of raps of his knuckles against the hardwood door.
“Just remember you’re not alone, Evie.” Millie put her arm around my waist.
The door opened a fraction, the security chain still up, and all we could see was a tanned face behind a trimmed beard. “Can I help you?”
My voice wouldn’t come to me but Carter had no trouble. “We’re looking for a Peter Rivers who filed a missing person report ten years ago.”
Surprise crossed his features. “Why do you want him?”
“Is it you?” I stepped forward and asked. “Please…”
His eyes looked resigned, as he whispered, “Yes.”
“We’re friends of Jake.”
His eyes widened in surprise.
“Mr. Rivers, I don’t know why we’re here other than Stryker needs our help.” I paused. “My name is Evie, and I’m in love with your son. These are my friends, Millie and Carter. We know what you did to him ten years ago.”
Peter Rivers flinched, looked from one to the other before he closed the door in our faces. Seconds later, the door opened wide and he ushered us inside. He looked outside and slammed the door closed, the security lock going back on.
He was a tall man, not as broad in the shoulders as Jake, but even for forty-seven he was a handsome man. His trousers and shirt looked good quality, which gave the feel of money. He had lots. I wasn’t sure what I’d expected but he was a surprise.
“I wondered if he’d ever get friends to help him. I’ve hoped. Longed. But no one has ever showed up here before.”
“Mr. Rivers, please help me, us, understand what happened back then and maybe we’ll be able to help him now. I want to have a chance at something with him. But even if things don’t work out, I want him to have a life.”
“Let’s go through to the kitchen and I’ll put some coffee on, and then, I’ll tell you about back then as well as how I’ve come to have this.” His arms spread wide and his meaning was clear. He’d tell us how he has such an amazing house.
He led us through the foyer of his large home, which made my head hurt. Why would he sell his son when he had this? I couldn’t get that thought out of my mind. Why? Why? Why?
And then I caught a glimpse inside of another room and became rooted to the spot.
Stryker was everywhere.
As if in slow motion, I moved into the room, not knowing where to look first. Each wall had an assortment of pictures in different sizes and they were all of Stryker. No one else, just the man who held my heart.
Before I’d even considered moving closer, I stood in front of a large framed picture of Stryker as a young boy of maybe eleven or twelve with his father. There was no doubt in my mind as I looked at Peter’s face that he loved Jake very much. The same expression was reflected on Stryker’s face.
“I love my son, Evie,” Peter whispered, unable to hide the emotion behind his words. “I’ve loved him since the day he was born, and through the struggle of being a single man with a baby. My girlfriend left when he was two weeks old… I’ve always loved him, and all that I have now I’ve done so that he’d have something when I managed to buy him back.”
I wiped at my cheeks and took the offered Kleenex from Carter. “I don’t understand.”
“I know.” Peter dropped his eyes and slowly made his way out of the room. “Come. I can’t talk in here.”
I glanced at Millie and Carter, who stood silently beside the door before they followed us into the kitchen.
Even this room had a picture of who I presumed to be Stryker on the wall as a baby.
“That was taken when he was eight months old.” Peter smiled. “A handsome boy, even back then.”
We sat at the kitchen table as Peter placed mugs of coffee in front of us.
My mom would love this kitchen with the country feel to it. Displayed on the walls alongside the family pictures were dried herbs. Wicker bowls sat on the dresser to the side of the room and the very large range cooker took up a good space on the opposite wall. It made a person feel welcome, but right now I needed answers.
“Please tell us what happened to Stryker?” I asked, my hands cupped the coffee for warmth because I felt chilled.
“Why do you call him Stryker if you love him?” Peter asked puzzled.
“So I don’t slip up when there are others around. No one can know that I know he’s Jake.”
Peter looked at me carefully and nodded. “I’ve always loved my son, Evie. So much that it’s a physical pain knowing how he lives.”
“Then why—”
“Please let me talk.” He smiled to take the sting from his words. “I’ve held my tongue for so long that I need to tell you everything.”
I nodded and took hold of Carter’s offered hand to keep me grounded because I felt like I was going to lose my composure with the nerves playing hell in my stomach.
“Ten years ago, I was pretty bad off. I loved the ring…or rather, what happened in the ring. I gambled on the fighters, and not just a bit either. I had an addiction and, in the end, I lost the one thing that mattered the most—Jake. I owed a lot of money and Declan Fitzwilliam gave me an ultimatum… I either handed over Jake to them to raise as their prime fighter, or they’d make sure he spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair.” Peter paused and tried to take a sip of his mug of coffee, but his hand shook too badly to get it to his lips. He gave up.
“Declan was feared, and not just by me. People whispered that he had death on his hands, and it was more widely known that he was a thug. I don’t think he did his own dirty work because he had a lot of men working for him. But I was scared for Jake. It killed me handing Jake over to them, but I loved him too much to have him beaten so badly that he’d never walk again.” He paused to catch his breath.
“Even as a child he loved to run track, and he was always pretending to spar with someone as he ran.” Peter smiled at the obvious memory. “He didn’t know that I watched him, and I didn’t know at the time that others watched him as well. In the end, I realized that Declan wanted Jake. Even if I hadn’t owed him money, he’d have somehow gotten his claws into him.” He wiped at a tear.
“That night I promised to never go to a fight again, or bet on a fighter. I didn’t for a long time because I drowned the pain of what I’d done at the bottom of a bottle, until I met Alice, who is now my wife. The night I met her, I was drunk and she called me on it. A total stranger, huh.” He smiled and it was clear how much he loved the woman called Alice. “I blurted out everything. She basically saved me, and helped me. Her whole family did.”
Peter offered us a wry smile, and continued, “Alice has six brothers who would go to the fights and bet what little money I had, and eventually, I started building my savings up. I used it to go to college and get a degree in computer science. That led to a very well paid job, the house, and everything. Her brothers then started betting on Stryker and he won us lots of money.”
My shock must have shown because Peter paused and glanced between us before he continued, “It’s not what you’re all thinking. Yes, in the beginning I used the winnings to create a better life for myself. You see, I realized that if I had any chance of helping Jake, that that was what I needed to do. Now, because of my job, every dime I made through betting on Stryker is in a separate account to the one I use daily. That money is there for him and has been for a few years. I add to it when he fights, but i
t’s his money. Not mine.”
“I’ve heard everything you’ve said,” Carter frowned, “but I haven’t heard you say once that you’ve tried to help him. Get him back.”
Peter shook his head. “I have. It took awhile for me to get enough money to even try to buy Jake his freedom. Every year for the past four years, I’ve gone to Declan and asked to buy Jake back. And each time he laughs in my face. Why wouldn’t he though? Jake makes him a rich man. I can’t compete with him and I doubt I’ll ever be able to.”
“What about the police. Why did you never go to them?”
I was glad that Carter could think because my mind couldn’t form any questions. It was obvious that his father loved him, which was why I couldn’t get there with my anger. I wanted to be angry at his father, and to shout and blame him. But I couldn’t after listening to the broken man before me.
“I was afraid, and I guess I still am. I know that Jake lives in a nice apartment building. I’ve caught glimpses of him running through the park. He does that every Tuesday at around seven-thirty in the morning.”
I frowned, and then it clicked. “You make sure you’re there, and watch him.”
Peter nodded. “I needed to see him and make sure he looked okay. He always moved well as though he was injury free. He didn’t appear to have been…beaten. I know he hates me for what I did, and I don’t blame him.” Peter wiped at his damp eyes, and, reaching out, clasped my hand with his. “He saw me the other night, at least, I think he did, but before that he seemed down, more so than usual.”
Carter admitted, “He saw you after the fight and just the sight of you nearly knocked him on his ass.”
“If you know any way of helping my son, then please help him,” Peter begged, accepting what Carter said.
“We came here hoping you’d be able to help us in some way.” Carter rested his arms on the table. “But all I know right now is that it isn’t safe for Millie and Evie to be anywhere where they can find them.”
“And you,” Millie whispered and grasped hold of Carter’s hand. “You can’t go back. They’ll know.”
“I have to go back, Millie. I can’t leave him alone.”
“Then let me call my dad. I know he’ll help.”
Carter shook his head. “I wish I could say yes, but if you do and something goes wrong, then it might fall back on you and I won’t allow that. You have to be safe in order for me to do this. Do you understand me?”
I certainly did as I looked at my stunned friend who just nodded in response.
“I can’t just sit here and do nothing.”
“You won’t be doing nothing, Evie. You’ll be staying safe for Stryker. And that is everything to him.” Carter tried to comfort me, but I wasn’t sure anything could unless I watched Stryker walk into the room, right now.
“Let me check my cell, it’s been buzzing in my pocket since we arrived.” I pulled it free, and froze. My eyes met Carter’s. “It’s from Patrick.” My hands shook. “He say’s he wants to meet later today. He wants to talk about Stryker. I have sixteen missed calls from him.”
“Don’t panic. If he calls again, answer and listen to what he has to say. Just don’t stay on too long. We don’t want him to track you.”
My eyes widened because I hadn’t even given thought to being tracked. “Okay.” I tried to smile but I think it came off more as a wince. “He knows me, and he’ll know that I’ll meet him because he mentioned Stryker.”
“I’ll go with you,” Millie offered.
“No way,” Carter stated. “Millie, you are going nowhere near Declan or Patrick. I can’t help if I’m worried about you.”
“Evie is my best friend so of course I’m going to go with her for back up.”
Carter growled. “Like hell.”
“You can’t stop me.”
“Children,” I shouted. “You’re both being ridiculous. Millie, when and if I meet Patrick, I will go alone, but I’ll make sure it’s a public area. Carter, please just concentrate on helping Stryker.”
“I don’t like any of this.” Carter ran his hands through his hair in frustration.
“Everyone is welcome to stay here for as long as you need to,” Peter offered. “My wife will be home soon and I know she’ll be happy to help you in anyway that she can.”
“Thank you. I’m going to leave the girls here.” Carter stood and shoved his chair under the table. “Millie, walk me out.” Carter bent and whispered, “Stay safe,” into my ear.
I watched them leave the kitchen and turned back to Peter who watched me. “You really do love my son.”
It wasn’t a question, more of an observation so I stayed silent.
“You don’t like me, do you?”
I sighed. “I came here not expecting to, but you’re a surprise. I believe what you said and I still want to be angry with you because of Stryker, but I can’t get there. It’s obvious that you still love your son, and I want him to be here. I want him to see that room, this house. I want him to have a life with me.”
My tears came quicker than I could wipe them away.
Peter moved and crouched down beside me with a handful of Kleenex shoved toward me.
“Thank you,” I mumbled.
“All the other times he had no idea that I was here or even trying to help get him free. Now he knows that you’re here waiting for him, he’ll try as well.”
“I know.” I smiled through my tears. “I’m just afraid that he’ll try too hard to get to me and something bad will happen to him.” I shrugged and wiped my face.
“Let’s try and be positive.” He stood. “Now, are you hungry because I know that I am.”
I chuckled. “I’m not sure you want to let me loose in your kitchen.”
He grinned. “I’ll cook and you can wash the vegetables.”
“Okay.”
“I’m still going with you,” Millie stated the minute she reappeared.
“Does Carter know just how full his hands are with you?”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re my best friend, the sister I never had. I’m going with you.”
“Let’s not argue, otherwise, no one will want to eat, and I hate wasting food.” Peter passed us both aprons, shoved a large chopping board onto the countertop before placing an assortment of vegetables in front of us. “I’m sure you both can chop just fine.”
“We can do that,” I agreed.
“I’m still going with you,” Millie mumbled.
I laughed and ignored her for now.
Chapter 19 ~ Stryker
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. KICK.
The thumping sounded good in my ears. It meant that I could shut everyone else in the gym out and concentrate on my fists hitting the bag. Sweat ran down my body as I danced back and forth in front of my hard, leather, sparring partner.
I kept my back to the others because I wanted and needed to believe that I was alone. No longer watched. No longer on a fucking leash.
Coach stood to the side and watched in the gym in Chicago, having arrived a few hours before. He counted, watched, and finally gave up the counting as usual. I worked out harder than anyone else, although Carter was a close second. Half the time I was sure he only persevered so that he’d be picked to match me in the ring as a sparring partner. I wasn’t about to complain because I now considered him a friend. My only friend.
That wasn’t true.
Evie was more than a friend. A hell of a lot more. She was the girl I loved, and the reason why I was more determined than ever to be free of them so that I could be with her.
My hands flexed as I remembered the feel of her skin beneath my fingers. My cock started to rise as I remembered how it felt when she rode me. How it felt to spill my seed deep inside her.
Fuck!
I growled and breathed through the pain of arousal, knowing that I had to shove my need for her to the back of my mind. It only needed to stay there until I could be with her where I knew it would be safe. That she would be safe.
; “Concentrate,” Coach hissed between his teeth.
Without breaking from the jabs to the bag, I slid my eyes to him and nearly stumbled. He’d never shown me sympathy or anything other than that of a trainer. His expression was worried. For me.
“Just get through these next couple of days, and then you’ll be back home to your girl…just do what they want.” He grabbed my arm. “Don’t believe everything that you’ve heard about your father.”
I did stumble then.
Wrapping my arms around the bag, I breathed heavily and stared at him. “What do you know?”
“Enough to know that what Declan wants, Declan gets. Your father didn’t have a choice when he traded you. Declan led your father to believe he’d traded you for his debt. His debt was wiped clean, but he only got into that debt because Declan wanted you.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, and I didn’t know whether or not to believe what was coming out of his mouth. So I asked, “How long have you known?”
Coach closed his eyes and all the color drained from his wrinkled face. “I’ve known a while.”
“How long is a while?” I ground out through my teeth.
All this time I’d thought Coach was oblivious to most of what had happened to me. I shoved the bag out of the way and got in his face. “How long, Coach?”
“Don’t draw attention to us,” Coach hissed. “I’ve known, okay.” He became agitated. “My niece is married to him.”
“What?” I snarled, stunned.
“You heard me. I haven’t done or said anything because I love my niece, and regardless of what Declan has done in the past, he really does love her.”
I paced back and forth in front of him, not giving a shit who watched. “Does she know what he does? And why hasn’t she helped you?” It felt surreal that Coach would allow his niece to be with Declan or that his niece would allow Coach to live the way he did.
“I doubt very much that she knows a lot of what he does, and I can see the wheels turning. My niece has tried to get me to leave the gym over the years. This is all I know, Stryker. I can’t survive doing anything else, and, I feel that if I spend all my time alone at home that I’d just shrivel up and die. I’m not ready for that yet. I just don’t want Declan’s wrath coming down on me if I go to her and tell her about you and the real situation. I don’t want him major pissed at me for telling Nina…or you.”
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