Page 101 of Laila Manning
“Yeah.” He nodded firmly, “Just don’t touch that slimy bastard before I get there.”
The Senator.
Ryker ordered the hit on him the moment I called him with Laila’s suspicion, before we even had confirmation that Kade was there.
And now the sitting Senator was hanging from chains in The Shop.
Alongside his wife.
Though she was still unconscious from the injuries that Laila had given her. Pride didn’t even fucking cover the emotions that hit me when I heard what Laila had done, facing the wife of her biggest monster.
She did it for Kade. She did it for herself.
And I would finish it for her.
“You have my word.”
When we got to the Lupold Mansion, police had the property marked off with caution tape, keeping reporters and media at bay. As the police officer waved us through the barricade, Jed jumped out, gave me a pointed look, and approached the Police Chief, who nodded to me as I drove away.
The story broke an hour after Laila left with Kade safely in her arms.
And the headlines all said the same thing, thanks to Ryker’s influence.
Tragedy Strikes at California Senator Charles Lupold’s Home:
Murder-Suicide or A Bitter Betrayal Between a Jaded Wife and Wandering Husband?
The world thought they were already dead. Which meant they wouldn’t care what we did to them at The Shop. The world would never even know.
Which was a kinder fate than they deserved, to be sure. Their victims deserved to know how much they suffered, but there were limits even to Ryker’s powers. But Laila and Kade would know.
Ryker’s estate was crawling with Crew—armed guards covering every inch of the place while we held the Lupold couple in The Shop. Last I heard, there had already been 3 offers sent to Ryker looking to exchange cash for the privilege of killing them. But they’d never leave the property.
They’d live there for as long as we could keep them alive while torturing them, and then they’d be cremated and disposed of from there. Until there was nothing left of them.
When I parked at the building Laila and I shared, Ryker and Elora stood outside talking with Carly, who had just walked out.
Carly handed me a to-go cup of tea that I recognized as Laila’s favorite. “She wouldn’t drink it, but she needs it.”
“Is she with Kade?” I asked, taking the cup.
“He’s asleep in her bed, the doctor sedated him.” Ryker replied. “He didn’t want to go to the hospital, so I brought one here.”
“And Laila?” I asked, but he looked away at Carly.
“She showered at your place, and I sat with Kade. That was the only way she’d leave him. She was terrified he’d wake up alone in an unfamiliar place. She was covered in blood, Zeke.” Carly warned, “But she didn’t seem shaken by it.”
“She did it for him.” I gave her a small shrug, “Maybe that’s why. Either way, thank you.” I said, and they all cleared to let me pass. I silently walked down the hall, finding both of our doors open, though I knew where Laila would be.
Her apartment was dark, only the light from the hall lit up the floor inside the doorway, and that’s where I found her. Sitting on the floornext to her couch, staring at the tiny unmoving ball curled up asleep in the center of her bed.
I didn’t say anything, but she must have sensed me because she looked over her shoulder as I walked in. Instead of trying to convince her to do something that would be impossible for her, I lowered myself onto the cold floor behind her, bracketing her with my legs and pulling her back against my chest. “Lean on me, Dove.”
She pulled my arms around her body, engulfing her in them as she snuggled into me. I hated that I wasn’t there for her today, but I was with her finally, and I’d be whatever she needed me to be.
“They hurt him, Zeke.” she whispered, staring at the curled-up boy. “She abused him.”
“I know.” I groaned softly, kissing her temple. “And you’ll never know how sorry I am for not seeing him for what he is—a kid. I should have protected him like you asked me to, but I let my own jaded experience keep me from seeing it your way.”
