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Ty scoffs. “Trust you!? Are you kidding me!?” Ty is glowers at him. “Did you fucking know Harris Kelly was hurting Rian? Did you sit here and listen to me pour my heart out, worried sick about him, knowing damn well that monster was raping him? Did you fucking know all that shit and still played your damn games, without thinking to tell me the truth? Did you ever fucking believe I was innocent? Or did you just feel sorry for me, completely convinced I did kill Sebastian Scott out of some fucking desperation? Is that why you sat on your hands for so long, ignoring what was going on with Rian? Fuck you if you think you’ll ever earn my trust again!”
Sullivan appears uncomfortable. It’s a new look for him, one Ty is hoping to get in the habit of eliciting many, many, many fucking times. His former friend seems to force himself to maintain eye contact, even if what he is about to say will cause him humiliation. He has well-earned the unpleasant spotlight.
“At first, before the house was under observation, we assumed it was some type of kink. A lot of people do this shit to spice things up and it seemed that he ––”
Ty slams his fist on the table. “Don’t you fucking dare say it looked like he enjoyed it!”
Sullivan winces. “He never filed a complaint or a police report. He didn’t leave. He never called anyone to talk about it. There is this woman there, a housekeeper. They seem close. He never said anything to her.”
“How could he? He’s practically a hostage in his own home! He’s got a small child to worry about. He’s probably fearing for their safety. What the hell were you thinking? You know who Harris Kelly is! How could Rian hope to get help by going to the cops? God knows, with his connections and deep pockets, the whole department might be corrupt. Rian’s got no one. Fuck! No, he’s got me, and I’m fucking here! If you had the power to get me out and you didn’t, I swear to God…”
“No! I didn’t. I really didn’t.”
Tayida believes him. God knows why, but the fire in his eyes is convincing enough. Sullivan’s coal eyes burn into Ty’s. “I couldn’t. I swear to you, there was no way. Not up until now.”
Ty hears the words, but the hurt is still there. The feeling of betrayal is too great.
“You fucked me over. You watched me…you watched Rian, both of us suffer in hell, and you did absolutely nothing! What the fuck is wrong with you? What kind of man are you? Even if you thought I was guilty of murder, what has Rian ever done to deserve your indifference? This thing, this friendship, or whatever this bullshit we had was, didn’t it mean anything to you?”
Finally, Sullivan looks away. Tayida’s fucking right and he knows it.
“I made a mistake Ty. I screwed up. Big time. I can’t even begin to tell you how sorry I am. I know my words ring empty to you, but I swear to you, I had no idea. I had no clue how seriously messed up Rian’s situation is.” He swallows hard. “I’ve been doing this for a long time. Playing games. Getting intel. Making deals. I do what I must to get the bastards who break the rules locked up. To get a leg up, I’ve had to accept that breaking the rules myself, is simply inevitable. I’ve been doing this for almost twenty years. I suppose I forget that innocent people do get dragged into this shit, and my job is to protect them, just as much as it is to catch the criminals I’m chasing. I’m sorry. I failed you and Rian. I let you down in the worst possible way. I knew going into this case, that you may have been set up. But ––”
“But I was just another case to you? A dumb jarhead you had no intentions of actually giving a shit about? Yeah, I get it, Sullivan. Going forward, it can beexactlylike that. You and me – we’re fucking done. But if you want me to testify, you better start talking, and I better like what I hear.”
Sullivan leans back in the chair and surveys the bare room, thinking. This is his friend again, and Ty can read him. He genuinely seems sorry. At least Tayida hopes he’s not wrong about that.
Sullivan might not be able to give him what he wants, an instant happy ending with Rian, but he’ll try his best to make it up to him.
“You need to get Rian and hide. I’m not ready to make an arrest. Yet. I want Kelly to start sweating and making crucial mistakes once the shit hits the fan. There are weak links in his entourage I think I can use against him. I believe I can get them to talk. Turn them against Kelly. They’re all dirty, but I can get enough intel to make that fucker sweat.”
Ty nods. He had not planned his getaway with exactly that thought in mind, but he knows precisely where he is going to take Rian. Sullivan reads him just as well and shoots down his musings. “I hope you’re not thinking about that damn cabin your father left you. There has been a guy there watching it for two weeks now.”
“Fuck! I’m such an idiot!”
Sullivan chuckles and rolls his eyes, looking smug as always. “I told you, you’re no good as a criminal mastermind.”
Ty grumbles. “Fuck!” Sullivan is sniggering at him, “Fuck you dude!” He wants to laugh, but it’s too soon. This shit is twisted, and he can’t get over feeling betrayed. Sullivan’s right though, he needs to come up with a better hiding spot. “I suppose you’ll tell me where to go.”
“Nope. I know you can figure it out. Do what you must to protect your man and the kid. Don’t tell me where you’re going, but I hope you will take my advice on something and stick to it.”
“What?” Ty shoots back, feeling suspicious.
“Don’t trust anyone. Don’t let Rian out of your sight. Don’t stop until you get to your designated safe house. Have a plan in place to get up and go if your location is compromised. Go someplace no one would ever assume you’d choose.” There is a new softness to Sullivan’s tone.
Screw this guy! He betrayed you! He used you!
All of that is true, and yet Tayida looks at him imploring.
Don’t fuck me over, dude. Not this time.
He doesn’t say it. He doesn’t need to. Sullivan reads him perfectly and nods.
“But you’ll find me, anyway, won’t you?” Ty finally says, breaking the silent moment of understanding between them.
“Yes, I will. But let’s hope none of these guys Harris sends after you know you as well as I do.”
“What are you willing to give me?” Tayida asks, giving him a pointed look. He’s ready to argue. He won’t back out on what he’d demanded from Harley, and he wants Sullivan to know it.
