Eventually the car slows and we roll into a large, secluded parking lot. I must’ve drifted off because when I look at the clock, I see it’s after seven in the morning, and the sun is beginning to rise. Sitting up, I rub my hand across my face and look around. My back and neck hurt for being in the car for so long, but I suck it up. I have no right to complain about any of this.
“Oh, look. Sleeping Beauty is awake,” Tyler teases. Glancing over at him, I notice how exhausted he looks. I feel bad that he drove while I slept on and off.
“Where are we?” I finally ask because nothing looks familiar.
“Portland.”
“Already?” I look back at the clock. He told me where we were going when we first got on the road, and it seems we’ve made good time, though we’ve been driving for nearly nine hours. We only stopped for gas, and Tyler made it very clear there’d be no emergency bathroom breaks. Not as if there were tons of places to go anyway, considering how remote the areas were. I’d much prefer a gas station bathroom than squatting in the dark woods. Regardless, it seemed like time passed in a blink.
“Told you I wasn’t stopping until we got here unless absolutely necessary.” He grins, and I roll my eyes at his stubbornness. “I have some friends who live here. I trust them with my life, so I thought it’d be the safest bet for us.” Tyler pulls his phone from his pocket and sends a text, then reclines his seat back before he closes his eyes. I’m sure he’s tired from driving, so I don’t give him shit about it even if I really want to. At one point, I offered to take over just to give him a break, but he refused to let me and was overly adamant that he had it under control. Since I don’t drive at night that much, I didn’t argue.
Although I slept for a few hours, I’m still beat, and my muscles feel sore and stiff. When I open the car door, I get out and stretch. Tyler rolls down the window and barks at me. “What are you doing? Get back inside.”
“Geez, I just need a minute. My limbs feel like jelly.” I stand tall and raise my hands above my head allowing each vertebra to pop before bending over and touching my toes. Quickly, I do a few arm reaches, then get back in the car. Tyler looks at me when I rebuckle. “We can’t be too safe right now. I don’t know all of Victoria’s connections, considering who her father is, or when she’ll put a search out for the both of us. Perhaps she has already. The fewer people we come across, the better, because she has the money to have us found.”
I look around, not seeing a soul in sight. Not even a freaking bird in the sky. “There’s literally no one around us, but okay, I get it. Victoria kinda gave me PTSD too, especially after I found out she had me followed.”
“It makes me even more happy that she’ll be getting a taste of her own medicine soon. The problem with the O’Learys is no one really questions or tests them. They play by their own rules and laws and aren’t used to anyone retaliating, other than the DeFrancos, which is why they don’t like each other. Everything’s gonna work out, Maddie, but we have to be smart and not make it too easy for her. I promise, she has the money to have the entire underworld searching for us by the time the sun sets again.” Before Tyler can say anything else, his phone buzzes with a text. He opens it and grins. “Finally.”
“What is it?” I study him.
He yawns. “We’ve got a condo setup on the other side of town for as long as we need.”
“How do you know all these people who are so willing to help?”
With a lifted eyebrow, Tyler smirks. “It’s probably best if you don’t know the answer to that question.”
I open my mouth, then close it, knowing even if I push him, he won’t crack. Tyler has given me enough information to feel as if I know him, but he’s still reserved and keeps a lot to himself. He’s more like Liam than he even realizes. The two of them are like vaults, keeping their secrets tucked away.
Readjusting his seat back to normal, he pulls us onto the main road, and we travel through downtown. I can’t help looking at the tall buildings as we pass. Any other time, I’d want to explore it all and do the touristy type things in the city, but it’s not safe for us to be seen. I really hate Victoria.
Eventually, we arrive at a complex, and Tyler drives around to the back, then parks. He turns off the car and sighs before looking at me. “Ready to see your new home for a bit?” he asks with a hint of amusement.
“As long as you continue to cook for me,” I tease with a bright smile.
“We’ll see.”
I follow his lead once he gets out, grabbing our bags from the back seat. After a minute, I ask if he wants help, but he shakes his head. We walk down the sidewalk, and when Tyler punches a code into the door, it unlocks. Once inside, I’m shocked by how big and nice it is. This condo is equally as fancy as Victoria’s mansion, but not as large. It’s an open concept with hardwood floors, a giant ass TV, sectional sofa, and a loft that oversees the living room.
“Whose place is this? Damn,” I say with my mouth open, knowing whoever lent this home to Tyler has a lot of money.
He chuckles. “Yeah, not answering that question either.”
“You are literally no fun.”
Tyler sets my bag on the floor, and I explore the kitchen and bathroom. The fridge is completely stocked with food, and I notice several types of herbal teas in the pantry. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited about the cast iron tub that’s connected to the only bedroom. The master with a king-size bed has a patio with a small flower garden attached to it. This place is gorgeous, and a selfish part of me wouldn’t mind staying here a while.
“You can have the bedroom if you want,” I tell Tyler when I meet him back in the living room.
“Nah, I’m gonna sleep on the couch. I am a Southern gentleman, after all,” he says with a forced drawl, then adds, “And Liam would kick my ass if I made you sleep on the sofa.” Tyler laughs, kicking off his boots. He sits and yawns just as his phone goes off.
“Fuck yes!” He’s grinning wide as if his favorite football team just won the Super Bowl.
“What?” I search his face as he replies to the text.
“Liam did it.” Tyler’s ecstatic, finding a burst of energy, and no longer looks like he’s about to pass out. “He has the laptop with the pictures and audio.”
My eyes go wide, and I start laughing. “Already? That’s incredible!”
“It’s not over yet, though. Now we have to be patient and wait for him to put everything into motion. He has what he needs to take that bitch down a few pegs or completely destroy her. It’s Victoria’s choice. I’d personally destroy her and send it all anonymously to her father without giving her a chance, but I’m letting Liam take the lead on this one.”
I sit next to Tyler on the couch, knowing we can’t celebrate too soon because this is just the beginning. “What do you think she’ll do? Like, you don’t think Victoria will hurt him, right?” Every scenario sprints through my mind, and that’s when the worry begins to take over. It starts in the pit of my stomach and forcefully rushes through me. I don’t think I could handle it if something terrible happened to Liam, not when we’re so close to having it all. As if Tyler reads my thoughts, he tilts his head and pats my hand.