TWISTED FATE (Twisted Path Book 1)

Chapter 31

Shane

With Becca safely in the shower, I sit on the edge of her bed, dropping my head into my hands, exhaustion crashing over me. Tonight was incredible. The second-best night of my entire life—with the girl of my dreams, no less—and yet instead of basking in the memories, my stomach is tied up in knots, and my head throbs with the weight of stress.

"It had to be done," I whisper to myself for what feels like the hundredth time since I decided to have Cedric wire her apartment with security upgrades. Discrete entry cameras, door and window sensors, in addition to the locks I replaced earlier in the week. The locks she knows about, but the cameras and sensors... Those I kept to myself, along with the fact that while we were out on our date, I had people in her home secretly installing the equipment. All because I was too damn scared to tell her the truth. Not because I thought she'd object to the invasion of her privacy, but because I know how sensitive and stubborn she is when it comes to my family's money. Just the idea of me spending anything on her, especially something like this, makes her clam up and shut down.

She only accepts things from me when they feel like simple surprises—like tonight. Small, seemingly inexpensive gestures that don't carry the weight of excess. And with this... I just couldn't risk her digging her heels in, insisting she didn't want me spending the money—especially when it's her safety on the line. But even so, I feel like utter shit for keeping it from her. And now, telling her would only cheapen what we shared tonight. She might see what I did as manipulation. A tactic she's openly accused families like mine of using against others to get what they want. Something her father does regularly, and the thought that she might see my actions in the same light sends a sick feeling churning in my stomach.

Breathing through the sudden wave of nausea, I pull the phone from my pocket, pressing his name before bringing it to my ear.

"Young Montgomery."

"Cedric. Just checking in."

"It's done. Everything's set up, just as we discussed," his deep voice booms through the line, and for the first time in days, a small sense of relief washes over me.

"Thanks, Cedric. I really appreciate everything you've done." From coordinating with Mr. Grady to make our date memorable, to ensuring a security detail shadowed us unseen, and overseeing the installation of the security system in Becca's apartment—he took care of it all.

"Don't mention it. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you, kid. You know that."

"Yeah, I do," I murmur, the weight of his words hitting me hard. "Anything new since the last time we talked?" I ask, wincing as I recall the audio recording Cedric's team obtained the day after Becca told me Charles was her father.

******

Charles: The little shit thinks he can defy me and I won't know.

Marcus: Looks that way. What would you like me to do?

Charles: Start with a warning. Subtle for now, but something that gets his attention and makes him think twice going forward.

Marcus: And the girl?

Charles: She's alone. Vulnerable. Easily expendable. Remind him of that. Make it so he understands that her safety is contingent on his loyalty to me. To his father. To his marriage to my daughter.

Marcus: And if he doesn't listen?

Charles: Then I'll step in. Deal with her myself. Shouldn't take much to put her down, just like I did her bitch of a mother.