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We both laugh, but I feel better knowing I wasn’t going as crazy as I thought I was being stuck there.
“So, how’d you become one of Victoria’s guards anyway?”
He looks over and smirks. “Now that’s a story for another day. Right now, we need to get into a different car since this one has a GPS tracker.”
I nod, understanding. “Can you at least tell me why then?”
“I knew Liam was in trouble with the O’Learys, and when I offered to help, he told me to stay out of it.”
“Which clearly you didn’t.”
“Nah, not my style. I told him I’d figure out a way to help him but didn’t tell him what I was planning in the event they found out. That way he wouldn’t be forced to give up any information on me. I knew what Victoria wanted from him and how she was playing him. I fuckin’ hate them all, so I was ready to go undercover to get information that’d help Liam out of his fucked-up deal.”
“And did you?” I ask eagerly, staring at him in hope. “Get info that’ll help him?”
“Oh, I sure fucking did.” A wide grin splits his face. “I hadn’t expected this little detour assignment to Montana, and I sure as shit wasn’t expecting you.”
“You knew who I was then?”
“As soon as I heard your name was Maddie, I did. Playing hard ass while wanting to protect you wasn’t a walk in the park, and hell, you didn’t make it easy either, but I don’t regret it.”
“Wow…” I say in amazement, my heart softening for this man who’s so damn selfless. He risked his own life to help save not only Liam’s but also mine. “I don’t know how to thank you, Ty. I wish I’d known so I didn’t get you into trouble.”
“I’m not fucking concerned about Victoria, so don’t worry. She’ll be handled accordingly,” he reassures me. Ty’s a fucking badass, and I have so much respect for him that I don’t even know how to express it properly.
Twenty minutes later, we’re in a little town and switching into a different vehicle outside a brick building. It’s pitch black outside, and I can’t see a thing, but I trust Ty wholeheartedly.
After an hour passes, his phone rings, and we both see Victoria’s name flash on the screen. He previously mentioned he needed to deal with her, but I wasn’t sure what that meant.
“Don’t say a word,” he warns, then answers the call on speakerphone.
“Blackwood,” he says in a deep commanding voice.
“What’s going on with the generators? Eric isn’t answering his phone.”
Ty handed me Eric’s phone earlier before we switched cars and instructed me to throw it out the window.
“The generator’s out of fuel. I’m heading into town to fill up some gas tanks,” he answers. “Eric’s with Maddie, but if he’s not answering, I assume his phone died, and he can’t charge it until the power is back on.”
“I could’ve sworn Eric took care of that recently…” she mutters as if speaking to herself. “I want those cameras back up and running immediately!” she barks.
“Yes ma’am. As soon as we get power, they should reboot.”
“It’s late, and I don’t have time to worry about this, so I expect you to handle it.”
“Absolutely. I’ll text you as soon as it’s taken care of,” Ty says.
“Good,” Victoria says and then hangs up.
I blow out a relieved breath. “What a bitch.”
Ty chuckles. “You have no idea.” Then he turns off his phone and hands it to me. “Throw this one out too. It has a tracker on it, and I bought a burner phone when I went shopping the other day.”
I roll down my window and chuck it. “Now what?”
“I’ll text Liam when we’re closer to Oregon.”
My heart drops into my stomach.
“Wait. We’re not going to Sacramento?”
“Not yet. I’m taking you somewhere safe for now. You gotta trust me, okay?”
I do, mostly. But that was when I thought he was taking me to California. Now I’m being moved from one secret location to another.
“Okay,” I whisper. “How long until I can go home?”
Ty doesn’t respond right away, which means it’s not going to be an answer I like.
“It depends.”
“On?” I prompt. “Tell me.”
I don’t want to be handled with kid gloves. I want to know all the possibilities of how this could backfire and keep me away from everyone I love.
“On when Victoria releases him,” he finally says. “I have enough shit on her to give Liam leverage for a divorce, but it doesn’t mean she’s gonna let him go without a fight.”
“Of fucking course not,” I grumble.
“Don’t worry.” He reaches over and squeezes my hand. “You have me on your side, and I’ll stop at nothing to help Liam. Or you.”
Resting against the seat, I try to relax. I’m still comprehending this whole fucking day, but it’s hard to wrap my mind around it. Memories of every encounter I’ve had with Ty over the past two weeks flash in my head. Why he was so invested in me, why he’d be hot one moment and cold the next, why he cared more than Eric did—these questions are finally answered.
