10
RYDER
Dropping onto my bed, I release a heavy sigh and drag my hands down my face. Kelsey’s my weakness. I couldn’t even make eye contact with her, or I would have broken and gone against everything I’ve done to try and push her away. The way my heart pounded, and cock hardened at the sight of her in my shirt. It barely reached her mid-thighs, and I couldn’t miss the way her nipples hardened beneath my stare as I stood at the top of the staircase.
I had our maid wash her clothes last night, and she delivered them back upstairs while Kelsey was still asleep. She must not have noticed them on the floor by the door, because when I slammed the door behind me, they were still there—neatly folded. I dropped them in the hallway and locked myself back inside the room. I couldn’t risk seeing Kelsey again without snapping and dragging her assin here to do everything I’ve been obsessing over since finding her here at the party last night.
She kept me awake all night. It wasn’t her fault. I just couldn’t sleep with her lying next to me. Her soft snores and breathy sounds kept me on edge, and now I have blue balls. I had to leave before she woke up, so I went downstairs to the living room and sat in silence.
The sound of a bedroom door creaking open pulls my attention. I’m betting it’s Kelsey finally waking up, confused and hungover. She was intoxicated when I laid her to bed. I doubt she has any recollection of how she ended up in my room. What I didn’t expect was the conversation between Kelsey and my sister that followed.
My Little Bird really didn’t remember anything that happened.
It’s my fault for the way Jessie behaves. Since she was young, I’ve given her whatever she’s wanted, because I hated the idea of her living the same life I had before our parents ran off— scraping pennies just to eat.
I was sixteen, and Jessie was twelve the last time we saw them. They gave us a bank card and told us to buy whatever we wanted or needed. In that moment, it felt incredible. Freeing. But it wasn’t good enough for me. I needed security and stability for me and my sister. I couldn’t trust our parents not to drink themselves back into debt. I never questioned how they came up with the money. In reality, I never cared. So, I built this organization entirely on my own.
It wasn’t always dangerous, it used to be a fun way towin money. Racing twice a week against rich as fuck competitors. I never did bet any money. The competitors did. They swore I couldn’t beat them, but I did every single time. Eventually, the payouts climbed into the thousands, and I couldn’t decline that kind of bet.
That’s when everything took a turn.
Fifteen minutes later, I hear the front door slam shut, rattling the walls. Leave it to my sister to jump on my last damn nerve. From my window, I watch as Kelsey flicks the last of her joint, dropping it to the ground. Then she slides into Jessie’s passenger seat, looking up at my window, but she can’t see in. The tint hides me, although she glares back as if she feels my eyes on her.
I pull out my Mac and do some research on Kelsey. I never would’ve considered digging into her life like this until Jessie got her involved. So, now I need to dig up everything I can about her.
Full name: Kelsey Renee Anderson.
Age: twenty.
I find her address. She lives in a small town about twenty-five minutes away from me. Still living with her parents, so she wasn’t lying about that.
She has a spotless record, not even a traffic violation. Her credit score is even perfect.
She’s too clean. Too good for this lifestyle.
I’ll deal with Jessie later. For now, I need to meet up with one of the guys, Tucker, to discuss business.
Pulling my keys from my pocket, I start my Bugatti Noire and head to the office. Ten minutes later, I park inthe back of the parking lot, taking up two spaces to prevent anyone from parking close to me.
Jessie and I purchased the basement of an old bank in downtown and turned it into our office. The upstairs is still a functioning bank, but the basement is all ours. Three offices line the hall. One for me, Jessie, and Hayden. Each of us has our own role in keeping the operation alive.
I work in the shadows, controlling every little detail and task. Jessie handles the numbers. She’s the manager, the accountant, the backbone of the society. Hayden is whatever I need him to be. He’s my right-hand man, and he’s ruthless at his job.
I’m sitting at my desk when the elevator speaker buzzes.
“It’s Tuck.”
I grant him access, watching the camera feed as he fidgets with his phone. I’d never allow entry to the heart of our operation based on a voice alone. Verification is mandatory. I take security seriously around here. Paranoia is what keeps people alive.
I control all entryways with a control panel in my office or with my handprint. Anyone besides Hayden, Jessie, or myself have to be buzzed in and allowed access down here. Teegan created replicas of governmental devices for our security system. Making it merely impossible to access this floor. Instead of calling the city police, it calls my own, who are always on standby. Nobody would make it back out alive.
The elevator dings as the doors slide open, and Tuckerexits, making his way to my office. His ripped jeans and grease-covered white T-shirt let me know he just came from the shop. He’s a hard worker and not afraid to get his hands dirty. He’s the best mechanic in the area, which is the sole purpose of this meeting that I called him in for.
“Hey, man. What’s up?” Tucker asks as he slumps down in one of my plush leather office chairs.
“I’ve got a job for you,” I say, leaning back in my chair, steepling my fingers over my stomach.
My car is my most prized possession. It’s a Bugatti La Voiture Noire. All black exterior, all black interior leather, and she’s worth over twelve million dollars. There are only ten worldwide, and I paid top dollar for this one-of-a-kind beauty, that I call Night. She is equipped with all upgrades. Tucker is the only man I trust to do work on my car.
