Page 34 of Stryker's Ruin
“Steel, you fucking know me. I did not kidnap her. I did not try to extort money from her grandfather. It’s a lie he’s fabricating.”
“Stryker, what’s going on?” I ask.
He glances my way and holds his arm open to me. Snuggling to his side I lean my head on his chest. His heart is thundering. He whispers, “Fucking Vince.”
He listens to the phone. “Yeah, she’s awake. Fine. I’ll be ready.”
He disconnects. “My boss is going to video call us. Grab yourself a cup of coffee while I set my laptop up.”
On the kitchen counter, he has a tray already prepared with coffee mugs, toast and jelly on the side. I pour a cup for both of us and slide onto the stool next to him at the breakfast bar. A man with more salt than pepper hair glares back at us from the computer screen.
“Ruin, this is Steel. My boss.”
“Good morning, sir.”
“Miss Camassa, your grandfather is making a lot of accusations this morning about our firm and Stryker. I need you to be totally honest with me.”
“You mean Vince.”
“What?”
“I’m not allowed to call him Grandfather. He has never acknowledged my birthright until now when he needs to barter me like a prize heifer for land.”
He squints at me, glances to the side, then focuses on me again. “He wants you back. He’s threatening legal action against our corporation, as well as abduction and rape charges against Stryker. You’re not eighteen. Those would be major charges against him.”
“What about charging Vince with trying to kill Stryker? Isn’t murder a pretty hefty charge?
“Stryker was doing his job just like Vince’s contract required. He has done nothing except keep me safe and protect me. Vince has basically held me hostage. If Vince chooses to proceed, Iwould think his neglect should also be in question. This is the United States. There are laws, correct?”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s selling me to a rival family to buy what he hopes is access into their operations so he can eliminate them and take over the town. His competition has the same plan.”
“How do you know this?”
“Vince and Moe, my real father, talked openly in his office when I sat outside the door waiting to be taken to my lodging after I arrived in the United States. Yesterday he sent me, without Stryker’s protection, with my betrothed so that he could get to know me. Garvey had sex in front of me and openly told his right-hand man in Irish that he intended to kill me and my whole family once the wedding was over.”
“He fucking did what?” Stryker exclaims jumping to his feet, knocking his stool over. “He had sex in front of you? He threatened to kill you? He’s a dead man.”
I place a hand on his arm. “It’s okay. He didn’t touchme. You saved me. You got me out of that place.”
I turn back to the screen. “Sir, I’ve been held against my will my entire life. Moved from place to place, had my caregivers changed every year to two years so that no one would get attached to me. Vince is rushing this wedding to try to use me before I turn eighteen, which is in less than twenty-four hours. I would ask that you keep me hidden and Stryker safe until that time has passed.
“I am capable of making my own decisions should I be allowed to. Both the Camassas and the O’Kelleys intend to use, then eliminate me. Stryker is the only one who has no ulterior motive. This is not, has never been, a loving supportive family relationship. I am nothing but a piece of property to be bartered by Vince. My hope has been to turn eighteen and be independent. Free.”
“I need proof.”
“I can’t prove what I’ve overheard.”
“Wait,” Stryker interrupts. “The necklace. I had I-Tee send me a listening device. They were separating me from her at the dinner and I wanted to know what was going on in case I had to get her out of there. The listening device was on the necklace she wore last night. Knowing I-Tee he may have had a recorder on it as well.”
Steel turns aside and talks to someone else. “Where are you?”
Stryker sighs. “My father’s old house. It was the only place I knew she’d be safe. Where I could count on the back-up to be loyal.”
Steel runs a hand down his face. “Fucking nightmare. Diego is at your apartment. I’ll send more of the team as backup. What elsedon’tI want to know?”
“She’s mine. I’m marrying her as soon as she turns eighteen. I had I-Tee get our birth certificates. My father has a judge friend who’s agreed to approve the licenses and come to us to officiate. I need whatever document Reggie thinks I need. Something to say I have no entitlement to anything that belongs to Ruin. I don’t want them to try to claim I married her for entrance into the family.”