Chapter 9
TYSON
I have had the day from hell. My stress level is going through the roof. Between trying to organize my line of attack for Andrea’s initiation to dealing with my very own family drama. I woke up this morning to William standing over my bed. Does no one have boundaries anymore? He was on my ass for how I dealt with the meeting last night. Then was on my ass for how was I going to deal with the Peter Flint issue. My only option is to delegate.
My only happiness is when I think of Jewels, but then I stop, not wanting to taint her memory with the hell breaking loose in my world.
I walk right past Chase’s secretary, ignoring her calls for me to stop and that I need an appointment. I’m family, no appointment necessary. He has helped build this company from the ground up and it’s impressive. Part of me is impressed and awed, the other part realizes that I like to play a little too hard for the dedication something like this needs. I would rather invest my money into something like this for the financial gain. Other than that, I like to keep to the computer work. It allows me to do my work from anywhere in the world. No need to be strapped down to one place.
I walk right in, slamming the door behind me. Chase looks up in confusion as I barge in. Placing his phone down on the desk, he stands. I lift my chin in greeting, taking in his impressive office. I don’t come to his office very often. This is his baby, his passion. He did it all by himself.
“What’s up?” He shrugs his shoulders, acting casual. I wish I felt that calm, but I hate that I am here, having to do what I am about to.
I get straight to the point. “I need a favor.”
“No problem,” he says it casually, without thinking about it.
“No, an I-owe-you type of favor.” I exaggerate the I-owe-you part. I hate having him dealing with shit that was to be mine. It’s not as if I can say, hey just found out about your deadbeat dad and I’m going to get you to check on it. His hands swipe through his hair, a tell sign that he is uncertain.
“I need you to go to Three Rivers for me.” My face is serious.
“No,” he says flatly.
“No?” One side of my mouth twitches up in disbelief.
“No.” His jawline is hard, reminding me of when he first began living with us all those years ago.
“You have to do it, man.” He knows the rules.
“I’m not going back there.” He stands up and goes to sit on the edge of his desk.
“You get to walk into that town and show them you made it.” My hands rise up, trying to show him his empire. He’s made it; he’s there. He could easily retire.
He shakes his head, looking determined. “There is no one else to ask?” His jaw twitches with each word, but I can see I’m chipping away that wall of his.
“You’re my brother, I know you’ll do the best job.” And it’s true; I’d never bullshit my brothers.
“What do you need me to do there?”
I pause, debating how much I should tell him. I decide he needs to stay in the dark about his dad or he will never go back. So I tell him the next best truth. “I need you to look into Luke Rogers for me.” Jewels isn’t telling me everything about her family. I need to know that secret.
“What’s the full story here?” He looks me in the eyes with that look on his face. He always thinks the worst-case scenario.
“He’s into illegal betting, and I need you to find out everything about it.”
His eyes narrow. “Do you owe him money?”
I’m insulted. “No. Just fucking do it.” Now that I know I have him on the hook, I turn to leave before he starts to argue with me.
*
It really pisses me off that Chase thinks I would owe money. Fuck him. I don’t bet unless I know that I will win. It might look like I am reckless but I do everything with a calculated risk. I don’t ever do reckless or forbidden. If the stakes are too high, I walk away.
I pound on the keyboard, finishing everything I need to know. It looks like Mr. Clay Cannon has some nasty habits of his own. High-end escorts and blow. This man must be destroyed publicly. With each stroke of a key I’m finding more dirt on him.
I just need to get some hard evidence, that’s where Andrea comes into play. She can deliver some blow and I can take photos. I consider making her pose as an escort but it just doesn’t seem right. She is a nice girl deep down, just low self-esteem. I’m not a big enough dick to cash in on that. Not even for a deal.
With my help this will be a walk in the park for Andrea. She will finally get the queen part she has always wanted. I hope she finds her king soon.
I have the contacts for the drugs, and no, I don’t touch the shit. But I have contacts from all walks of life. No one is ever too low for me to network with. You never know when they may come in handy or finally get their big break.
I also happen to be on the in with the madam he likes to get his girls from. Personally, I’ve never used her before and I don’t see the appeal. Where’s the fun if there is no chase? For enough money, I know I could persuade her to help me.
Picking up my phone, I give Andrea a call.
“Hello?” She sounds out of breath.
“Uh, did I interrupt something?” I tease her. “If this is a bad—”
She interrupts me. “Shut up.” Then laughs. “Why are you calling?”
“I have done some research and found that—”
“He likes blow and easy women.” She finishes my sentence.
“How—”
“Do I know this? You’re not the only one with talents, Tyson Bennett.”
I grunt and can’t help but feel a little caught off guard by her having done her homework.
“You could never see past me as a one-night fuck, you know.” She sighs out, but doesn’t sound angry.
“I have a plan I think we should go over,” I respond, getting us back on topic.
“Good, I have one, too. I think you will like it better than yours.”
Now I’m reminded why I work alone. People work too fast on motivation and forget to take the calculated steps.
“Please don’t tell me you have done anything yet.” I pinch the bridge of my nose, starting to feel the fun of this slip away and be replaced with anxiety. “There is no room for error on this, Andrea.”
“This may be my first time, but I am no rookie, Tyson,” she reminds me.
“Can you meet quickly tonight?” I ask, wishing I could postpone this until the morning. I would much rather go see Jewels. I felt like things were left a little awkward still from the previous night.
She huffs like she is working on something, that worries me. “Um, maybe. Can I call you back in twenty minutes?”
“Please don’t tell me you are in the middle of fucking right now.”
“Oh please, you just want a visual.”
“Get over yourself.” No thank you. “Call me when you’re not busy, I’d like to finalize this so that we both are on the same page here.”
“Whatever.” And she ends the call.
I lean back in my plush leather chair and shake my head. I would much rather be going to Three Rivers than dealing with this issue. Faack!
Getting up from the office, I leave to go back home.
*
As I walk to my front door, an overwhelming exhaustion hits me. All I want to do is grab a beer and veg out in front of my TV. Something I never do. But today I need that mindless activity. I check my phone and it’s been almost an hour since I talked to Andrea last, so much for calling me back.
I go to place my key in the lock but the door slightly moves open at my touch, allowing me to walk right in.
My senses are on high alert immediately. Slowly, I place my foot through the door and begin to open it a fraction at a time before peering through.
That’s when I see Andrea pacing, her black mascara running down her face. I take another step in, still remaining vigilant to my surroundings.
As she turns in her place, she squeals at the sight of me.
“What the fuck?” I ask, still on high alert. Slowly, I take a three hundred and sixty degree view of my home.
“I thought I had it under control!” she says hysterically. Her usual perfect blonde hair looks messy, her face not the schooled calm look she normally beholds.
She moves past my large entranceway that leads into my living room where I see a plump, gray suited man tossing and turning on my white leather couch.
I freeze. “What’s wrong with him?”
“I think he’s overdosing.” She is quiet, her voice a whisper, and she stares at the man I don’t recognize while biting her plastic nails.
Taking out my phone, I dial the one doctor that will make house calls off the books, his services, of course, cost a fortune. I leave a vague message, but he knows the drill and where to find me.
“Knock, knock.” A soft melodic voice that I recognize all too well sounds behind me.
By the time I turn around she is in the middle of my entrance, looking at the same fucking brutal mess in my fucking house. A hint of horror washes over her face as she stands frozen while looking at me, a twenty-four pack of beer in her strained hand. It’s the first time I truly see the situation in someone else’s eyes.
Andrea is scandalously dressed, her tits practically out for everyone to see, there is a man choking on my couch, a dildo lying beside him, and lines of white powder on my glass table.
I must be dreaming; this is not the plan. I know enough to realize right away that Jewels is now implicated in my dealings. She was the one thing in my life that did not have rules or codes to live by.
I look back at Andrea, who looks like she is now in self-preservation mode. Her spine is straight, her mascara is wiped, and she is back in control of herself.
“Did she come to get another taste of your charm?” Andrea sneers, and I quickly see the two of them in each other’s lines of sight, ready to pounce. I need to get Jewels out of here.
“She’s still giving you her magical pussy after you took those pictures of her drunk at Brody’s?”
The moment it leaves her lips, I know she has been more hurt than I realized and Jewels will be the collateral damage. And I am the fucking idiot to do it.
“Oh, honey, don’t look too shocked. It’s Tyson’s way. I can email you the pictures if he didn’t show you all of them.” Andrea is smiling like she is talking about the weather to a best friend.
I want to ask her how the fuck she knows about them. I planned to destroy those. What the fuck was I thinking?
Jewels drops the beer, the cans causing a small hiss when they hit the floor. She begins to take small steps backward, looking betrayed and hurt.
“Jewels, wait, I can explain.” It’s lame, I know, but what else is there to say? I fucked up. I take a step toward the door, my hand already extended to catch her.
“Mr. Bennett.” The doctor walks in wearing street clothes, you would never know he’s an MD. And Jewels takes that moment to run away far from me. She doesn’t even chance a glance back.