In bed with Havoc

CHAPTER NINE

AVA

I stayed in my room for two days.

The guards brought meals I barely touched.

Someone left fresh clothes outside my door but i ignored them. I spent most of the time staring out the window at the estate grounds trying to map possible exits.

There were none. At least none I could see. The property was massive with walls surrounding everything. Security cameras were mounted on every corner. Guards patrolled in shifts that never seemed to end.

On the third morning Gabe knocked on my door.

"Mr. Kane wants me to show you around." He said when I opened it. He still had that professional tone of his.

"I don't want a tour."

"It wasn't a request."

I considered slamming the door in his face but I was also going insane in this room and if I was going to escape I needed to know the layout.

I needed to spot every exit, blind spot and weakness in Ryder's perfect security system.

"Fine." I grabbed a jacket and followed him out.

The estate was bigger than I thought. Gabe led me through hallways lined with art that probably cost more than most people made in a lifetime. We passed a library with floor to ceiling bookshelves. A formal dining room with a table that could seat twenty. A living room with furniture that looked like it belonged in a museum.

Everything was perfect, Cold and untouched.

"Does anyone actually live here?" I asked.

"Mr. Kane does."

"This doesn't look lived in."

Gabe did not respond. He just kept walking.

We went outside through a set of glass doors. The grounds were immaculate with perfectly manicured gardens, stone pathways, a pool that looked like it belonged at a resort and cameras of course.

Everywhere I looked there were cameras mounted on posts and hidden in landscaping and pointed at every possible angle.

"You're being watched at all times." Gabe said like he could read my mind. "Every inch of this property is monitored."

"I figured."

"Good. Don't forget it."

He showed me the gym next. It was massive with weight equipment, cardio machines, a boxing ring in the corner with heavy bags hanging from chains. Everything was top of the line and was spotless.

"Mr. Kane uses this space most mornings." Gabe said. "You're welcome to use it as well. Just schedule with security first."

"Schedule with security to work out. Got it." I said with obvious sarcasm.

We moved on down another hallway, through a door that required a keycard to open wnd then we were in a room that made my blood run cold.

Weapons.

It was a weapons room packed wall to wall with weapons. Rifles mounted in glass cases, handguns organized by caliber, ammunition stacked in metal crates, tactical gear hanging on racks. This was not a collection. This was an arsenal.

"What the hell is this?" I turned to Gabe.

"Security measures."

"This is military grade."

"Yes."

"Why does Ryder need this many weapons?"

Gabe's expression did not change. "Mr. Kane has enemies. He protects what's his."

The way he said it made my skin crawl. I was part of what Ryder considered his now.

Was that a bad thing or a good one? U guess time will tell.

We left the weapons room and Gabe took me to the command center. It was like something out of a spy movie. Dozens of screens covered one wall showing every angle of the estate from the perimeter to the roads leading in and even the interior rooms. I could see guards on patrol, see the empty gym we just left and even my bedroom door.

And on one screen in the corner I saw myself standing in the command center, being watched in real time.

My stomach turned.

"He watches everything." I said quietly.

"It's his job to know what's happening on his property."

"It's obsessive."

Gabe did not argue. He just gestured to the tech lining the walls. "This system rivals government facilities. We have facial recognition, motion sensors, thermal imaging. You name it and we've got it. If anything moves within a mile of this estate we know about it."

"A mile."

"Mr. Kane doesn't take chances."

I walked closer to the screens and studied the feeds. There were more cameras than I initially thought but they were expertly hidden ones. Ones that blended into the environment so well you would never know they were there.

And on one screen I saw Ryder. He was standing in what looked like an office, staring at a monitor.

I squinted to get a batter look at his monitor and he was watching me… watching him.

"He's tracking me right now isn't he?"

"Always."

Another chill went down my spine. I turned away from the screens. "Where else am I not allowed to go?"

"Third floor east wing. Mr. Kane's private quarters. Fourth floor entirely. Restricted access only."

"What's on the fourth floor?"

"Classified."

"Classified." I repeated. "This isn't a government building Gabe. What could possibly be classified?"

"Things you don't need to know about."

I studied him. He was good at keeping his face blank but there was something in his eyes. A silent warning or a threat.

"Ryder's involved in something illegal isn't he?"

"I wouldn't know."

The perfect aid. He didn't give up anything.

"Yes you would. You're his head of security. You know everything that happens here."

Gabe's jaw tightened. "Careful what you accuse people of Ms. Sinclair."

"I'm a journalist. I investigate powerful men who think they're above the law and everything I've seen here screams criminal enterprise."

"Then maybe you should stop investigating."

"I can't. It's who I am."

"It's going to get you killed."

Before I could respond footsteps echoed behind us. I turned and saw Ryder walking into the command center.

He wore all black. Dark jeans, black shirt with the sleeves rolled up showing the tattoos on his forearms. His expression was thunderous.

"That's enough Gabe."

Gabe nodded once and stepped back. Ryder's eyes locked on mine.

"Giving yourself a tour Red?"

"Gabe was following your orders."

"And you were asking questions you shouldn't be asking."

"About what? Your weapons room? Your surveillance state? Or maybe the fourth floor you don't want anyone to know about?"

His jaw clenched. "Some doors stay locked for good reason."

"What reason?"

"Things you don't want to know."

"Try me."

He moved closer. His presence filled the space between us. "You think you understand this world because you wrote an article about Vargas. You don't. You barely scratched the surface."

"Then explain it to me."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because the more you know the more danger you're in."

"I'm already in danger. You said so yourself."

"This is different." His voice dropped. "Vargas wants you dead because of what you know about him. There are people who would want you dead because of what you know about me."

What?

He stayed silent as he let that confession sink in.

I searched his face looking for some hint of what he was hiding but he gave me nothing.

"What are you involved in Ryder?"

"Nothing you need to worry about."

"That's not an answer."

"It's the only one you're getting."

He turned to leave but I grabbed his arm. He went completely still. Looked down at my hand on his skin then back at my face.

"Let go Red."

"Not until you tell me the truth. What's your connection to Vargas? Why does he want to destroy you? What happened between you two?"

"That's enough." Ryder pulled his arm free. "Gabe take her back to her room."

"I'm not done talking."

"Yes you are."

Gabe moved toward me but I stepped back. "You can't just shut me out every time I ask questions."

"Watch me."

Ryder walked out of the command center without looking back. I started to follow but Gabe blocked my path.

"Don't." His voice was quiet and serious. "Whatever you think you're going to find out about him you're better off not knowing."

"Is that a threat?"

"It's advice."

We stared down each other for a while before I reluctantly looked away.

We walked back through the hallways in silence. As we passed a door on the restricted fourth floor I heard voices. Muffled but angry. One of them was Ryder's.

I stopped. Pressed my ear against the wood trying to hear what was being said.

A hand grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

Ryder.

How did he appear from nowhere?

"Don't."

"What are you hiding?"

His eyes flashed with dark and dangerous. "Things you don't want to know."

"Stop saying that."

"Stop pushing."

I yanked my arm free. "I'm a journalist Ryder. Investigating is what I do and you just became my next story."

His expression went cold. "You're playing a game you can't win."

"Maybe. But I'm going to play it anyway."

I walked away before he could respond. My heart was racing. My hands were shaking. But I meant what I said.

Ryder Kane was hiding something and I was going to find out what.