The Billionaire’s Pawn

STRIKER

I was still in a towel when I heard London yelling my name, and she sounded terrified.

I dashed outside the door and found her curling on the couch. “Vanderford!” Climbing downstairs two steps at a time, Reed also rushed to her.

“What happened?” I knelt before her and pulled her hands away from her face. She was cold and shaking. Her face was wet with her tears. “Hey. Tell me what happened.”

She shook her head violently. Her eyes were still closed, but I could see how terrified she was by something she might have seen. She then threw herself to me, snaking her arms around my neck.

“It’s okay. It’s gonna be okay.” I lifted her to my lap as I sat on the couch.

“I’m-I’m scared. I thought I was okay.” Her voice was still shaky. At least, finally, she said something.

“I’m here. You don’t have to be scared. Can you tell me what happened?”

She shook her head again.

Reed put the phone on the coffee table, still puzzled. “I’ll get her water.”

“Thanks.” I sighed as I tried my best to calm her. Her fingers were cold as I pressed them against my lips. “You need to tell me so that I can help, baby. We’re in this together, remember? Reed is here to help us. I can call Linden to come if you want to guarantee you’re safe and nobody can hurt you. I promise I will be right where you are.”

Reed came back with a glass of water.

I took it from Reed. “Here, take a sip, and open your eyes. It’s just me.”

When she opened her eyes, the great fear was so deep in her eyes. I wiped the tears from her face, but they kept coming. I planted a kiss on her cheek. “I know you are stronger than you thought. To be able to help you, you should tell me something, baby.”

I helped her put the glass of water to her lips as her hands still shook. She finally took a sip.

“That’s it. Let’s take it slow.”

Her gaze dropped to her phone on the table, but she still looked frightened.

“Do you want your phone?”

She shook her head.

“It’s alright. Do you wanna call Neke? Or Linden?”

“No.”

“Okay. Can I take you up?”

“I wanna stay here.”

“Alright. Take your time.” I sighed. I had a few ideas of what she’d seen on the phone that triggered something from her past.

She leaned her head against my shoulder and took a deep breath. “I saw him, Cade. I saw him. It was him. I’m sure of it.”

“Who? Who’s he?”

“I know it’s him.” She began sobbing in my arms. “No matter how much he tried to change his face, I couldn’t forget that voice. It still terrified me every time I went to bed.”

I met Reed’s gaze. He also looked shocked and confused.

“Where did you see him? Can you tell me?”

“On my Instagram. She talked.”

“Who’s she, baby?” Confused, I grabbed her phone. It’s locked.

When she took the phone with her shaky hand, I wrapped my hands around hers. “We can do it later.”

She met me in the eyes and breathed deeply. She did it again before she spoke. “No. I’m done being scared. I’m done being terrified. I’m done being weak. I’m not that woman from two years ago. I’ll make sure he or whoever he is now can’t or won’t hurt me again.”

“Good. That’s good.” I let her hands go. She unlocked her phone and scrolled through her Instagram. She then showed me a picture of a woman.

“Who’s she, Vanderford?”

“He’s the one who kidnapped me?”

“What?” I blinked in shock. “Are you sure? But-”

She nodded. Her eyes filled with tears again.”If your dad doesn’t pay the amount I asked, I will send him your fingers one by one. That’s what he said to me. I can’t ever forget what he said.”

“But this is a woman, baby.”

“Her name is Ivy now.”Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

“Care to explain?” I was so confused. My mind was baffled.

“He changed his gender?” Reed said.

London looked at Reed. “It appears so. He’s trans, but he may haven’t gone Wendler glottoplasty or maybe sooner.”

“What’s that?”

“A surgery to change the voice to feminine.”

“If he’s gone through that surgery, he can get away with his crime,” Reed said.

“Yes.”

“Wait.” I took the phone and checked his photo again. I took screenshots then I noticed something. “What the fuck?” I stared at London. “It’s Magnus’ photo.”

“What do you mean?” Reed asked me.

“That’s what terrified me. What if he’s been watching me all these years and befriended Magnus?”

“He’s a friend of this asshole?” My blood began boiling. I hadn’t told her what Magnus did in the restaurant.

“It looks like it.” She shrugged and wiped her tears. “That asshole. How could he do this to me?”

“Maybe Magnus just met him recently. And your asshole ex took a video of me while I was in the restaurant with my father. He insulted me. He asked how I could afford a reservation at a restaurant like that one. He was with a woman, but not her. I’m sure of that.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It’s slipped my mind. And honestly, I don’t wanna waste my time talking about a guy like him.”

I sent a copy of his photo to Linden and shared the video link. I gave the phone to Reed. “Can you get a copy of this video? I wanna make sure we have copies before he could take it down.”

“Of course.”

“And call Linden. I sent him copies of the photo.”

“Got it.”

“Baby, can I wear something first?”

She nodded. “You’re not even wearing underwear.”

“You noticed. Sorry.” I stood up the moment she sat on the couch.

“Reed, stay with her until I’m back. Let me just wear my clothes.”

Reed went to sit beside her. “It’s gonna be okay. He doesn’t know where you are. Cade and I will protect you and probably the entire police in Burkhese.”

I put on my clothes and grabbed my phone. I had a call from Moses, but I would have to return a call once I was done with my current problem.

“Linden is on the line,” Reed said as I descended downstairs.

“Thanks.” I took the phone from Reed. “Are you free?”

“Aren’t you supposed to be enjoying your honeymoon?”

“Something came up. Did you check your email?”

“From London’s business email, yes.”

“I didn’t know it was her business email. Check the attachment.”

“Yeah, I saw it. Who’s the woman?”

“I want you to check her. A thorough full background check. I mean, thorough from his birth, childhood, his parents, where he came from, when did he change his gender, his income, his previous and present job. I want to know what he eats for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I want to know if he’s seeing a doctor or therapist, his past relationships, and his friends. Everything.”

“I know what thorough means, brother. What is it all about?”

“He’s probably our guy.”

“Our guy? The one we’re working on?”

“Yes.”

“Jackpot. How did you find out?”

“Check the account who posted the picture and the video. London recognized his voice.”

“Is he a he or a she? I’m confused.”

“She. I mean he. Whatever his gender now. He’s trans. He probably changed his identity to get away from his crime.”

“Should I inform anyone? Your dad, your father, or Mr. Vanderford.”

“No. Keep this between us. When you find something concrete, you can inform the officer involved in the case.”

“Got it. I’ll give you an update soon. You must have to shorten your honeymoon when I find something that can link to that motherfucker.”

“Thank you, Linden.”

“You don’t have to thank me. You’re my brother. How’s she doing?”

“Shaken up, but she’s strong and gonna be okay.”

“I got to go. I have works to do.”

“Bye.”

I followed her when she decided to go to the room. I cuddled her in my arms as we lay in bed. She calmed down a little, but I knew she tried hard to look okay.

“Do you wanna talk about it?”

“Are you my therapist now?”

“Sorry. I just want you to talk to me.”

“Just kidding.”

I lifted her chin so that she could see me. Her hazel eyes locked mine as she looped her hand around my neck. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“I know. I’m grateful.”

“I will always be here for you. You need me, or you don’t. Just remember that.”

She tilted her head and pressed a soft kiss to my lips. I kissed her back, deepening until it was opened mouth kiss. Our tongues tangled each other. I moved my mouth across her jaw to her neck.

My hand came forward to palm her breast, and her nipple peaked, sensitized to my touch. Then I dragged my body down until her tits were at eye level. Lifting her shirt, I dipped my head in, and she pushed her chest forward to my opened mouth. I captured her tit and teased her sensitive nipple with my tongue.

Moaning softly, she wrapped her leg around me, pushing her soft body against mine as an invitation. I traced my fingers up and down between her thighs before slipping my hand into the waistband of her shorts. With my mouth sucking her nipple, my finger stroked her throbbing clit before I slipped into her pulsing wet pussy.

London shuddered, throwing back her head at the first penetration of my finger. I added another, moving in and out. She grew wetter instantly, thrusting her hips into my fingers. I kept my mouth sucking between tits, nipping the tout pick between my teeth.

I was so hard as steel. My hips rolled to her leg of their own accord as waves of pleasure rolled through me, meshing with my devotion for her.

“Sweetheart. Cade,” she hummed my name. Her body began to tremble. Her breaths were broken, panting.

Fulfilled something deep inside me, I groaned against her tit as I fastened my thrust. She purred, stilled, and came around my fingers, making her body languid.

I pulled my fingers out and let go of her breast before I brought my creamed-coated fingers into my mouth.